Kevin Cronin Rejoins REO Speedwagon for 2026 Concert

A group of former members of REO Speedwagon reunited with longtime frontman Kevin Cronin for a surprise performance in Peoria, Illinois, on March 7, honoring the late guitarist Gary Richrath during a special museum gala.

The short but emotional set featured fan favorites including “Ridin’ the Storm Out,” “Take It on the Run,” and “Roll With the Changes,” along with a cover of Van Morrison’s classic “Gloria.” Cronin was joined by original drummer Alan Gratzer, bassist Bruce Hall, and keyboardist Neal Doughty for the performance.

Former vocalist Mike Murphy—who fronted the band for several albums in the 1970s—also took part in the evening, while Richrath’s son Eric joined the musicians onstage, adding a personal touch to the tribute.

The performance took place during a private gala hosted by the Peoria Riverfront Museum, attended by roughly 200 invited guests, celebrating the opening of the first exhibition dedicated to Richrath, a Peoria native.

A Rare Onstage Reunion

One of the night’s most memorable moments came when Murphy and Cronin shared lead vocals on “Ridin’ the Storm Out.” According to Eric Mills of the Dan Fogelberg Foundation of Peoria, the performance ended with an emotional gesture between the two singers.

“Complete with a triumphant hug between the two at the end,” Mills said, noting that the moment marked the first time the two vocalists had ever performed together.

Local band Revel on Red also participated in the celebration, with several members joining the REO alumni during the set.

Following the performance, Hall reflected on the experience in a post on social media.

“It was an amazing tribute for Gary at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Being back on stage with Mike, Kevin, Alan and Neal was awesome. Having Gary’s son, Eric, join us made it all the more special,” he wrote. “We ended the week with a private showing at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66. Big thanks to Ron Romero for an awesome tour and lunch!! Good things are happening. Long Live REO Speedwagon!!”

Healing Old Divisions

The reunion also carried deeper significance given the band’s recent history. REO Speedwagon stopped touring at the end of 2024 due to what members described as “irreconcilable differences,” leaving the future of the group uncertain.

According to Mills, all six surviving members of the band were invited to attend the tribute and quickly accepted. However, original lead singer Terry Luttrell ultimately had to withdraw at the last minute.

Richrath’s widow, Justine, was present for the event and played an important role in making the exhibition possible by donating guitars and other memorabilia from the guitarist’s career.

The Peoria performance followed another notable gathering in September 2025 in the band’s hometown of Champaign. During that appearance, Gratzer, Hall, and Doughty performed alongside more than 400 members of the University of Illinois marching band, while Cronin addressed the audience before the show.

The events have led some fans to wonder whether relations between the band members may be improving.

“I’m not sure of the future of REO, but I can say that everyone was getting along well last night and shared a lot of smiles and good memories,” Mills said.

Following the Champaign performance, Doughty and Gratzer also left the door open to future possibilities.

“You never know,” Doughty said when asked if it might be the final time they would appear together.

“One never knows,” Gratzer added. “We don’t know. We can’t read the future, the magic ball,” he joked.

Celebrating Gary Richrath’s Legacy

The reunion coincided with the opening of a new exhibition dedicated to Richrath at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, which debuted in late February.

The exhibit explores the guitarist’s early musical development in Peoria, where he honed the melodic instincts and gritty guitar style that would later help define the sound often described as “Midwestern Rock.” Before achieving international fame, Richrath built a reputation performing in local venues and regional bands, including the garage group Suburban 9 to 5.

After joining REO Speedwagon in 1970, Richrath played a crucial role in the band’s evolution from a hardworking bar act into a major arena-rock powerhouse. As both lead guitarist and songwriter, he helped craft many of the group’s defining songs and left an unmistakable imprint on rock music of the 1970s and ’80s.

The exhibition, titled Richrath, launches the museum’s “Peoria Plays America” series, which highlights globally recognized figures from the Illinois city. Alongside a look at his formative years, the display features several of the guitars Richrath used throughout his career, offering fans a close-up view of the instruments that helped shape the sound of one of the Midwest’s most influential rock musicians.