REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin Teases Possible Reunion Show

Despite months of public tension and an official touring split, REO Speedwagon bassist Bruce Hall has announced that he and frontman Kevin Cronin will reunite later this month for a special performance at their alma mater.

Band Reuniting for Illinois Homecoming Celebration

Hall shared the news on Facebook, confirming that REO Speedwagon will return to the University of Illinois — where the band was originally formed — to serve as grand marshals of this year’s Homecoming Parade on Friday, Sept. 26.

“REO Speedwagon is coming back to campus, the place where it all began,” Hall wrote. “We’ll lead the parade, participate in game day as the pregame Siren Sounders, and join Barry Houser and the Marching Illini for a one-of-a-kind REO-themed halftime show featuring a medley of our hits.”

Hall also confirmed that founding members Neal Doughty (keyboards) and Alan Gratzer (drums) will participate in the event. Both musicians attended the University of Illinois in the mid-1960s and were among the original lineup of REO Speedwagon, making the event a full-circle moment for the classic rock legends.

As of press time, Kevin Cronin has not issued a public statement regarding the reunion or Hall’s announcement.

A Rift That Stalled the Band’s Touring Career

The reunion comes just one year after REO Speedwagon announced a halt to touring amid a public dispute between Hall and Cronin. The disagreement centered around Hall’s attempt to return to the band after taking time off to recover from back surgery. Cronin was reportedly concerned about Hall’s ability to perform physically.

“The consensus feeling is that I don’t have good enough posture to perform at a level expected by our fans,” Hall said at the time.

Cronin later elaborated:

“I saw the X-ray [of Hall’s back] and I’m like, dude, ‘I don’t see how you’re going to be ready by March 1st, June 1st.’ I said, ‘If I were you, man, I would just sit out the year.’ And he didn’t take very kindly to that.”

With no agreement in sight, the band effectively disbanded its touring schedule in late 2025.

Kevin Cronin’s Solo Efforts Fall Short of REO Legacy

After the split, Cronin launched the Kevin Cronin Band, which included the same musicians who had been touring as REO Speedwagon during Hall’s absence. The group opened for Styx on the Brotherhood of Rock Tour earlier this year.

However, Cronin soon acknowledged the challenges of distancing himself from the REO Speedwagon name.

“It’s not easy going out as the Kevin Cronin Band,” he told UCR. “You can’t overestimate the power of the name REO Speedwagon and that ubiquitous, winged logo. They mean a lot to people.

“I can sit here and say that the Kevin Cronin Band is doing the same thing until I’m blue in the face, but when people see the Kevin Cronin Band, there’s a question — ‘I wonder what this is gonna be?’ — whereas if you see REO Speedwagon and the winged logo on the bill, it’s ‘I know what that is.’”

The lukewarm response eventually led to Cronin dismantling his touring crew, effectively ending the Kevin Cronin Band’s short-lived run.

With all founding members set to reunite at the University of Illinois, fans are left wondering: Is this a one-time homecoming celebration, or could it signal a path toward healing and a future full-band comeback? For now, the band that helped define arena rock in the ‘70s and ‘80s is, at least briefly, back where it all started.