They named the band REO Speedwagon, from the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 truck that was designed by Ransom Eli Olds.
REO Speedwagon's mainstream popularity waned in the late 1980s, but the band remains a popular live act. ==History== ===Formation=== In the autumn of 1966, Neal Doughty entered the electrical engineering program at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, as a junior.
Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s.
The members returned to school in the fall of 1967 and had their first rehearsal before classes started.
Christmas with REO Speedwagon (2009) ==See also== List of artists who reached number one in the United States ==References== ==External links== How REO Speedwagon Got Their Name REO Speedwagon Live Photo Gallery 1967 establishments in Illinois Ballad music groups Epic Records artists Hard rock musical groups from Illinois Musical groups established in 1967 Musical groups from Champaign, Illinois Musical quintets
The first lineup consisted of Doughty on keyboards, Gratzer on drums and vocals, Joe Matt on guitar and vocals, Mike Blair on bass and vocals. In early 1968, Terry Luttrell became lead singer, and Bob Crownover joined as the guitar player, replacing Matt.
Fiorio then departed in late 1969, eventually assuming the name Duke Tumatoe, and went on to form the All Star Frogs.
Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s.
Steve Scorfina (who would go on to found progressive rock/album-oriented rock band Pavlov's Dog) came aboard for over a year, composing with the band and performing live, before being replaced by Gary Richrath in late 1970. Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitarist and prolific songwriter who brought fresh original material to the band.
Louis, Missouri-based radio station KSHE, whose status as one of America's most influential rock stations boosted their platform beyond the Midwest. The band signed to Epic Records in 1971.
Speedwagon, was released on Epic Records in 1971.
Luttrell left the band in early 1972, eventually becoming the vocalist for Starcastle.
Cronin recorded one album with the band, 1972's R.E.O./T.W.O.
but left the band during the recording sessions for 1973's Ridin' the Storm Out because of internal conflicts.
Murphy stayed on for two more albums, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It, before Cronin returned to the fold in January 1976 and recorded R.E.O., which was released that same year. Cronin's return came after Greg X.
Volz turned down the position for lead vocalist after becoming a Christian. In 1977, REO convinced Epic Records that their strength was in their live performances.
That same year, the band moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1977, bassist Gregg Philbin left the band.
The album was released in 1978 and has received FM radio airplay over the years, thanks to songs like "Roll with the Changes" and "Time for Me to Fly".
The album sold over two million copies in the US, ultimately achieving double platinum status. In 1979, the band took a turn back to hard rock with the release of Nine Lives. ===Mainstream success=== On November 21, 1980, Epic released Hi Infidelity, which represented a change in sound, going from [rock] to more pop-oriented material.
Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s.
REO Speedwagon's mainstream popularity waned in the late 1980s, but the band remains a popular live act. ==History== ===Formation=== In the autumn of 1966, Neal Doughty entered the electrical engineering program at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, as a junior.
The album sold over two million copies in the US, ultimately achieving double platinum status. In 1979, the band took a turn back to hard rock with the release of Nine Lives. ===Mainstream success=== On November 21, 1980, Epic released Hi Infidelity, which represented a change in sound, going from [rock] to more pop-oriented material.
"Here with Me" cracked the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten on the Adult Contemporary chart. ===Changes in the 1990s=== By the late 1980s, the band's popularity was starting to decline.
Hi Infidelity sold over 10 million copies. The band's follow-up album, Good Trouble, was released in June 1982.
#34). REO Speedwagon toured the US in 1985, including a sold-out concert in Madison, Wisconsin in May.
Original drummer Alan Gratzer left in September 1988 after he decided to retire from music to open a restaurant.
Lear had already been invited to join REO in September 1988 as Gratzer's successor and Joseph was brought in as a temporary stand-in for Richrath.
In early 1989, Gary Richrath was fired after tensions between him and Kevin Cronin boiled over.
This lineup did only one show, on January 7, 1989, in Viña del Mar, Chile, where it won the award for best group at the city's annual International Song Festival.
After that, Miles Joseph and the back up singers were dropped in favor of former Ted Nugent guitarist Dave Amato (who was brought aboard in May 1989) and keyboardist/songwriter/producer Jesse Harms. The 1990 release The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, with Bryan Hitt (formerly of Wang Chung) on drums, was a commercial disappointment.
"Here with Me" cracked the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten on the Adult Contemporary chart. ===Changes in the 1990s=== By the late 1980s, the band's popularity was starting to decline.
After that, Miles Joseph and the back up singers were dropped in favor of former Ted Nugent guitarist Dave Amato (who was brought aboard in May 1989) and keyboardist/songwriter/producer Jesse Harms. The 1990 release The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken, with Bryan Hitt (formerly of Wang Chung) on drums, was a commercial disappointment.
Richrath (the band) continued to perform for several years before disbanding in the late 1990s.
Harms, disenchanted by the album's failure, left the group in early 1991. Shortly after his departure, Richrath assembled former members of the Midwestern band Vancouver to form a namesake band, Richrath.
After touring for several years, the Richrath band released Only the Strong Survive in 1992 on the GNP Crescendo label.
As a consequence, Epic began re-releasing recordings from older albums with updated artwork and design. Since 1995, the label has released over a dozen compilation albums featuring greatest hits, including 1999's The Ballads which featured two new songs Just for You (Cronin and Jim Peterik) and Till The River's Run Dry (Cronin).
In September 1998, Gary Richrath briefly joined REO onstage at the County Fair in Los Angeles to play on the band's encore song, "157 Riverside Avenue".
As a consequence, Epic began re-releasing recordings from older albums with updated artwork and design. Since 1995, the label has released over a dozen compilation albums featuring greatest hits, including 1999's The Ballads which featured two new songs Just for You (Cronin and Jim Peterik) and Till The River's Run Dry (Cronin).
He then joined REO once again in Los Angeles in May 2000 for the same encore but no serious plans for a reunion ever materialized. Having lost their recording contract with Epic, REO Speedwagon ended up releasing Building the Bridge (1996) on the Priority/Rhythm Safari label.
In 2000, REO teamed up with Styx for an appearance at Riverport Amphitheater in St.
REO once again teamed with Styx in 2003 for the Classic Rock's Main Event tour which also included another band from their common rock era, Journey. ===2000–present=== The band released a self-financed album entitled Find Your Own Way Home in April 2007.
The REO portion of the show was released again under three separate titles: Live - Plus (2001), Live Plus 3 (2001) and Extended Versions (2001) (which was certified gold by the RIAA on April 26, 2006).
REO once again teamed with Styx in 2003 for the Classic Rock's Main Event tour which also included another band from their common rock era, Journey. ===2000–present=== The band released a self-financed album entitled Find Your Own Way Home in April 2007.
They teamed up with Styx to record a new single entitled "Can't Stop Rockin'", released in March 2009, as well as for a full tour that included special guest .38 Special. In November 2009, REO Speedwagon released a Christmas album, Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon.
In mid-2010, the band — then touring with Pat Benatar — announced that it would release a 30th anniversary deluxe edition reissue of Hi Infidelity. REO Speedwagon headlined on the M&I Classic Rock Stage at the Milwaukee Summerfest on June 30, 2011.
On March 11, 2012, Kevin Cronin appeared on the Canadian reality TV series Star Académie.
He sang a sampling of REO's hits with the show's singing finalists. On November 22, 2013, they announced a benefit concert with Styx titled "Rock to the Rescue" to raise money for the affected families of the tornadoes in central Illinois.
The concert was held on December 4, 2013 in Bloomington, Illinois.
Families impacted by the storm and first responders sat near the stage for this special REO concert. In early 2014, it was announced that REO Speedwagon and Chicago would be teaming up for 15 dates throughout 2014.
Gary Richrath died on September 13, 2015, due to complications from surgery.
In 2016 the band went on tour with Def Leppard and Tesla. The band performed with Pitbull the song "Messin' Around" live on the ABC TV show Greatest Hits in 2016; that version of the song was also released as a single on iTunes.
The band toured the UK arena circuit with Status Quo in December 2016.
The band toured the US with Styx and Don Felder on the "United We Rock" tour, debuting June 20, 2017, at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater.
In 2017 the Hi Infidelity album received the Diamond Award for official U.S.
REO and Chicago once again teamed up for tour dates during mid-2018. The band appeared in an episode in the third season of the American TV series Ozark, which was released on Netflix on March 27, 2020.
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