Former REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall has weighed in on the band's former singer Kevin Cronin being upset with not being part of the band's June 14th reunion show in their hometown of Champaign, Illinois.
On Facebook, Hall says, "Happy to set the record straight. We were all (including Kevin) invited to participate in this event in early January. Kevin states he’s been 'falsely accused' of turning down the invitation. I’ve seen no where it’s been said he turned it down and I know he’s been asked to participate virtually. I truly hope he does.
"This event was created to provide the founding fathers, original singers and classic REO lineup a chance to reunite and say a proper goodbye. A chance to honor [guitarist] Gary Richrath and [bassist] Gregg Philbin’s memory.
"Most importantly, proceeds are going to the REO Speedwagon fund for rare GU Cancer Research at Moffitt Cancer Center, the hospital that saved my son’s life. How anyone can be 'deeply disturbed and hurt' by this is beyond me.
"Neal [Doughty], Alan [Gratzer] and I are not being paid. We are thrilled to have this amazing chance to rock together one last time and raise money and awareness for such a wonderful cause."
We reached out to reps for Cronin, who tell us, "Kevin will not be commenting any longer on any of this. We’re moving forward."
Over the weekend, Cronin reacted to an online post about him not being part of the event.
He said, "The organizers of the Champaign event could have picked a date when all of the former members of REO were available to participate. Instead they chose June 14th, 2025, a date where it was public knowledge that I was previously committed to perform with Styx and the Kevin Cronin Band in Bend, Oregon.
"Bottom line, I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I can’t possibly be there in-person. And then being falsely accused of turning down the invitation. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this.
"After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded.
"[And] 35-year REO veterans Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt were not even shown the respect of being invited to the Champaign event."
That event, Back Where It All Began, will feature, in addition to band founder and keyboardist Neal Doughty, drummer Alan Gratzer, bassist Bruce Hall, guitarist Steve Scorfina, and singers Terry Luttrell and Mike Murphy, with the previously mentioned in memoriam segment for guitarist Gary Richrath and bassist Gregg Philbin.
Hall, who, along with Doughty and Cronin, owns the name REO Speedwagon, says, "So excited for this ONE night only event, back where it all began, in MY hometown! Looking forward to reminiscing, rockin' with the founding fathers and saying a proper goodbye. Most importantly, this celebration benefits the REO Speedwagon Foundation for rare GU cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center. I truly believe Gary is proud and smiling down on us. Let's rock!"
The decision to retire the REO name last year came about after Cronin wanted to continue without Hall, who was sidelined with a back injury that required surgery.
Doughty and Hall voted against Cronin's continuing under that name unless Hall was part of the lineup.
Check out Bruce Hall's original post about it here from his official Facebook page.