Kevin Cronin did his first performance as The Kevin Cronin Band Saturday at the Treasure Island Resort in Welch, Minnesota.
On Sunday he took to Instagram to say the show was "obviously very special to the boys and me. The audience at Treasure Island was filled with REO Speedwagon level energy, and we delivered 2024 level REO excitement. I appreciate each and every one of the awesome fans who came out to support our first public performance. The party will continue starting on April 25th in Lincoln, California with our longtime touring buddies Styx."
Cronin will also team with Styx and Don Felder on this summer's Brotherhood of Rock tour...the tour will make a stop at Dos Equis Pavillion in Dallas on August 1st.
In case you're wondering why Cronin is out with his own band and not REO, that's because REO is no more.
Last September they released a statement saying, "To our fans: [Bassist] Bruce [Hall] has intended to be back on the road again by now. If it were up to just him, he’d be back on tour…but it’s not up to just him. The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect. Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that Matt [Bissonette] has been around to keep the Wagon rolling through the summer tour. Bruce never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans, and crew he has loved for almost 50 years.
"For [singer] Kevin’s [Cronin] part, he too has never had any intention of leaving the band, and the fans and crew mean the world to him, as well.
"Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin. So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1st, 2025. [Founding and now retired keyboardist] Neil [Doughty], Kevin, and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever."
So Kevin, with REO's hired hands in tow, set out on his own and spoke more about the split in December when the Brotherhood of Rock tour was announced.
As for the name REO Speedwagon, despite Doughty and Hall outvoting Cronin, they can't tour under that moniker unless Cronin is included.
Check out the original post about it here from REO's official Instagram page.