While the name REO Speedwagon was officially — for now — retired in 2024 when singer Kevin Cronin chose to continue without bassist Bruce Hall, who, along with Cronin and band founder Neal Doughty control the name, there seems to be no shortage of reunion shows in their home state of Illinois.
Their third one and second with Cronin in the last 10 months took place this past Saturday in Peoria at the Peoria Riverfront Museum to celebrate an exhibit on the band’s late guitarist Gary Richrath who was born in Peoria in 1949.
On hand were Cronin, Hall, Doughty, drummer Alan Gratzer, former singer Mike Murphy who replaced Cronin before he replaced him, and Richrath’s son Eric. They performed a four-song set of “Ridin’ the Storm Out” with Cronin and Murphy on vocals, “Take it on the Run,” a cover of Van Morrison‘s “Gloria,” and “Roll With the Changes.”
Afterwards, Bruce Hall took to Facebook to say, “Being back on stage with Mike, Kevin, Alan and Neal was awesome. Having Gary’s son, Eric, join us made it all the more special.”
The band also took part in a Q&A and were given a private tour of the exhibit.
Gary Richrath left REO Speedwagon in 1989 and died in 2015.
