AT THE REQUEST OF THE ARTIST AND DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR SCHEDULING CONTROL, REO SPEEDWAGON HAS MOVED THEIR CONCERT FROM APRIL 29 TO SUNDAY, MAY 21 AT 7:30 PM. ALL PREVIOUSLY PRINTED PURCHASED TICKETS WILL BE HONORED ON MAY 21. REO Speedwagon and the Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation appreciate your understanding of this unforeseen change.
Release Date: Wed. Feb. 1, 2016
Formed in 1967, signed in 1971, and fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972, REO Speedwagon is a band where the main constant over the decades is a never-ending desire to give their all to their fans, year in and year out. Formed loosely in the late ‘60s at college in Champaign, IL, REO (named after the pre- cursor to the light truck) rode to gigs in station wagons, hopping from small gigs to even tinier gigs, just to get their name out. It worked, as fans quickly realized there was much more going on here than your average college party band.
By the early ‘70s, the band’s unrelenting drive, as well as non- stop touring and recording, jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. It carved a path that was eventually followed by STYX, Kansas, Cheap Trick and more. Platinum al- bums and freeform FM radio staples such as “Ridin’ The Storm
Out” followed, setting the stage for 1980’s explosive Hi Infidel- ity. REO rode the top of the charts with a RIAA-certified 22 mil- lion albums sold in the U.S. and 40 million around the globe, with a string of gold and platinum records and international hit singles. Even now, fully established with songs on the radio in every city and town they ever set foot in, REO Speedwagon still has that Midwest work ethic. The band has gone on stage and in the studio to work– dozens of albums, thousands of concerts, and countless radio spins. Their eyes have always been on the future and on the road – not a year has gone by where REO Speedwagon didn’t perform live, thrilling fans with hit filled sets.
At the center of REO’s desire to keep it rocking for the fans is Kevin Cronin, who looks like he’s found the fountain of youth- -along with the secret to penning some of the biggest hits in rock. With bandmates Bruce Hall on bass, keyboardist Neal Doughty, Dave Amato on lead guitar and drummer Bryan Hitt, REO has remained busy since the band celebrated its 40th an- niversary in 2007.
This American Rock Classic will keep you rockin’ with their big- gest hits “Keep on Lovin’ You,” “Time for Me to Fly,” “Roll with the Changes,” “Ridin’ the Storm Out,” and more favorites from their 40 million albums sold. What else can we say? They are an American Rock Classic!
