Gary Richrath’s son Eric blamed Kevin Cronin for the issues with REO Speedwagon.
Mitch Lafon shared Eric’s words on X where he said, “This is such a petty, pathetic way to go out. The fans deserved to have a proper run of ‘farewell’ shows… Bruce deserved to have a proper run of ‘farewell’ shows… Perhaps Alan and Neal would have liked to have had the opportunity to pop back in to help send off the band they founded.”
Eric continued, “It could have ended in a way that they all could have been really proud of… Instead… it is going to end like this. A lead singer with a God complex has decreed that his opinion is the ‘consensus opinion’…and that’s it. He’s gonna take his ball and go home…”
“Can’t wait to see the announcement of his new musical endeavor ‘The Kevin Cronin Experience: featuring Kevin Cronin – All Kevin, All the Time’ embarking on the ‘Just Kevin’ Tour in 2025. It didn’t have to end this way,” he lastly added.
REO Speedwagon announced last week that they stopped touring because of ‘irreconcilable differences.’ “To our fans: Bruce 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 band said in a statement on Facebook. “The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect.”
The group then shared, “Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that Matt 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 Kevin’s 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,” they revealed.
The band added, “So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025. Neal, 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.”
Bruce Hall also recently replied to a fan’s idea to keep the band going without Cronin. “Replace Kevin then. [The] rest [of the] band is more important than him. Never thought I would need [to] say that,” the fan said.
Hall responded, “I would never do that to him. He’s our lead singer just as I am the bassist. Together we are REO. I can’t stop him from leaving though.”
The band decided to stop touring because they had a disagreement about bassist Hall’s return after his back surgery in November. Matt Bissonette has been playing for him since 2024.
Eric Richrath (Gary’s son) has checked in with his PoV of the whole REO ‘drama’
“This is such a petty, pathetic way to go out. The fans deserved to have a proper run of “farewell” shows…Bruce deserved to have a proper run of “farewell” shows…perhaps Alan and Neal would have… pic.twitter.com/zFQUtCxUXA
— Mitch Lafon (@mitchlafon) September 23, 2024