REO Speedwagon keeps playing for loyal fans

Ask REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin about playing in Kansas City and plenty of memories come to mind over the band’s more than 35 years together.

The band will add another memory to the bank when it plays Thursday with Styx and .38 Special at Starlight Amphitheatre.

REO Speedwagon, which formed in the Midwest, has had success touring the region, especially in Kansas City, Cronin said. He recalls a memorable performance in the late 1970s at Royals Stadium where the band headlined a gig with Fleetwood Mac and Ted Nugent, among others.

“Right before we went on stage the power went out in the stadium,” Cronin said. “The weather was terrible and it had rained all day. There were 40,000 people in the stadium. The promoter said, ‘No way you guys are going on.’ We said, ‘Oh yes we are.’ The stage power was the only power that was working, so someone was holding a flashlight over our heads. The place went nuts. The power finally came on, but then halfway through our set, the scoreboard flashed for everyone in the upper balcony to come down to the field because a tornado had touched down three miles away. Everyone stayed and we finished the show.

“I meet people from time to time from Kansas City and always ask if they were at the Royals Stadium show. It was a surreal experience to connect with the people there.”

With 1970s and ’80s hits like “Keep on Loving You,” “Take It on the Run” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” the band was one of the hottest acts in the country. The band has continued to tour through the years, especially each summer.

Cronin said REO Speedwagon songs fit with Midwestern philosophies.

“We really embrace the Midwest ethic,” Cronin said. “They take care of business Monday through Friday and on the weekend they let loose and have some good times. That taking care of business is care for their family and loving their family. But it’s also not losing track of your youth and the music that brings you joy.”

After performing for more than 35 years and playing the same songs thousands of times, Cronin said “If I ever get to the point I’m mailing it in, I will just stay home.” “Why bother ripping people off? We’re so fortunate to still be doing this now,” he said. “If you were telling me at 12 years old I would be doing this, I would have never believed it. So many good things have happened to me because of REO and because of the fans. I couldn’t sleep at night going through the motions.”

While the No. 1 hits are more than 20 years old, REO Speedwagon has stayed in the public consciousness for a number of reasons.

“Classic rock radio has always been good to us,” Cronin said. “Some songs are on adult contemporary radio. But what’s been amazing are the games ‘Guitar Hero’ and ‘Rock Band.’ I play with my nine-year-old and we’re doing it together. … Now that REO and Styx are on ‘Rock Band,’ I’m the coolest dad at school. ‘Rock Band’ is actually sponsoring our tour now.”

Cronin said the band still looks to Kansas City as a highlight on any tour.

“A bad gig in the old days was the next day after Kansas City,” Cronin said. “But we don’t have a whole lot of bad shows these days. Back then we would party our brains out. There were so many pretty girls. We would go wild. The next show we would all have splitting headaches. That doesn’t happen to us anymore. It’s as fun as it ever was. We just don’t have hangovers anymore.”

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