REO Speedwagon Reunion Back on the Table as Bruce Hall Reaches Out to Cronin

After decades apart, REO Speedwagon’s classic lineup reunited on a stage in September 2025, and bassist Bruce Hall says the experience sparked conversations about giving fans a proper farewell. Speaking with Harmless Dave, Hall reflected on the University of Illinois halftime performance and what it might mean for the band’s future.

A Halftime Show to Remember

The September show wasn’t just another gig—it was a rare and joyful reunion for a band that hasn’t performed together in decades. “University of Illinois, then that went over really well, that show. And they invited us to come back in September to play at the halftime show,” Hall recalled. “We got to play with the marching band, which was so much fun. It was cool. I mean, we’ve never done anything like that before in our whole career.”

The experience left an impression not just on the audience, but on the band members themselves. “And Kevin made it for that. So, he came back and we kind of got along,” Hall continued. “It was nice to be back together. And that kind of got everybody thinking… wouldn’t it be nice to go out and say goodbye to the fans the proper way, the right way, and give them closure and give us some closure, too.”

For Hall, it was a rare moment of nostalgia mixed with excitement, playing alongside Kevin Cronin, Neal Doughty, and Alan Gratzer—members who hadn’t shared a stage together since December 31, 1988. The nearly four-decade gap underscored just how significant the reunion was for both the band and their fans.

The Roadblocks to a Full Reunion

Despite the optimism, a full-scale tour isn’t guaranteed. Hall admitted that securing Cronin’s commitment has been challenging. “I can’t seem to get Kevin’s answer to it,” Hall said. “I don’t know what to say about it. I mean, I’m not sure if it’ll work or if it’s going to happen or not, but I think the fans deserve it. I would love to see them… just to have it fall apart at the end, it feels like we just drove it off a cliff. I would like to be able to go off and at least say thank you to everybody.”

The obstacles are both personal and practical. REO Speedwagon announced in September 2024 that they would stop touring due to “irreconcilable differences” between Cronin and Hall, compounded by Hall’s back surgery and Doughty’s retirement from touring. Their December 21, 2024 Las Vegas show was billed as the band’s final performance, making the September 2025 halftime appearance even more unexpected—and emotionally charged.

Earlier in 2025, a retrospective concert in Champaign featured Hall, Doughty, Gratzer, and other former members, but Cronin couldn’t attend due to his “Brotherhood of Rock” tour with Styx and Don Felder. These conflicts illustrate the delicate balance of personal, professional, and logistical factors that make a full reunion challenging.

Hope and Closure for Fans

For Hall, the September performance was more than a nostalgic reunion—it was a chance to reconnect with the music, his bandmates, and the fans who have supported them for decades. “It was nice to be back together… wouldn’t it be nice to go out and say goodbye to the fans the proper way?” he reflected.

While no official plans for a full reunion tour have been announced, Hall’s comments suggest a strong desire to give fans closure—and to honor the band’s legacy. The University of Illinois performance demonstrated that the chemistry of REO Speedwagon’s classic lineup endures, even after decades apart, and for fans, the hope remains that the band might yet deliver a proper farewell, one last time on stage together.