REO Speedwagon Information

REO Speedwagon was formed in 1967 by Neal Doughtry and Alan Gratzer. They would find fame in the Midwestern United States in the '70s and '80s. Their name comes from REO Speed Wagon, which was a truck manufactured by REO Motor Company.

Gary Richrath joined REO Speedwagon and then the band began performing covers at campus bars at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. East Coast producer Paul Leka brought REO Speedwagon to the recording studio for their first album. REO would go through three lead singers before Kevin Cronin kept the role for good in 1976. The self-titled REO release came out in 1971 through Epic Records. Two albums later came REO Speedwagon's Ridin' the Storm Out, which was followed by their first live album, You Get What You Pay For in 1976.

REO Speedwagon released the live album You Get What You Play For in 1977; the album would be their first commercial success en route to going platinum. You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish, released a year later, hit REO Speedwagon's first Top 40 hit "Roll With The Changes." The 1980 release Hi Infidelity saw their sound change to more of a pop sound rather than rock. Not only would Hi Infidelity see a number of hit singles, but it also lasted on the charts for 65 weeks.

A few more album releases later, and it was the early '90s. REO Speedwagon was beginning to lose their popularity. More band members came and went, as Gratzer retired and Richrath was asked to leave. With Bryan Hitt and Dave Amato, REO Speedwagon released The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and A Chicken in 1990 but the album was deemed a disappointment. REO Speedwagon would lose their contract with Epic, and they were left to self-finance Building the Bridge in 1996.

Since 1995, REO Speedwagon has continued to release albums, but most of them are greatest hits releases, either live or a collection of older hits. REO Speedwagon has yet to release an album of new material, but they remain a popular touring band.

We accept all major credit cards.

Our tickets are shipped via FedEx.