Three acts dominated early-'80s arena stages above all others—Styx, Journey, and REO Speedwagon—yet none reached that summit overnight; each had first explored alternate paths, prog for Styx, fusion for Journey, and unvarnished hard rock for REO, before gradually reshaping themselves into mainstream radio favorites. REO Speedwagon itself began in 1968 when University of Illinois classmates keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer assembled the initial lineup. Once studies ended, the fledgling band enlisted an up-and-coming manager named Irving Azoff, later renowned for steering multi-platinum outfits including the Eagles and Steely Dan; relentless regional gigs soon cultivated a loyal Midwest audience. By the start of the following decade Doughty and Gratzer added guitarist Gary Richrath, whose fiery playing quickly established him as the ensemble’s driving force and one of the era’s unsung guitarists, along with bassist Gregg Philbin and vocalist Terry Luttrell. That exact roster recorded the group’s 1971 self-titled debut for Epic Records.
The album failed to register nationally, and uncertainty mounted when Luttrell departed soon afterward. Folksinger and guitarist Kevin Cronin stepped in despite scant prior experience leading a high-volume rock band. The Cronin configuration seemed promising after 1972’s R.E.O. T.W.O., yet impatience with sluggish commercial growth prompted the others to dismiss him. Mike Murphy took over vocals; his first effort with the band, 1974’s Ridin’ the Storm Out, became REO’s initial Billboard-charting release and introduced the enduring concert staple that served as its title track. Murphy remained for two further albums, 1974’s Lost in a Dream and 1975’s This Time We Mean It, neither of which elevated the group’s profile decisively.
Another vocalist switch followed, this time a return to Cronin. The decision quickly paid dividends as REO refined its approach toward concise, radio-friendly rockers and emotionally direct power ballads. The 1976 album R.E.O. inaugurated a sustained run of success; both the 1977 live set You Get What You Play For and 1978’s You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish achieved gold and platinum status. A second live collection, Live Again, surfaced later that same year, succeeded in 1979 by the gold-certified Nine Lives. Still, nothing prepared the musicians or their label for the phenomenon that arrived with Hi Infidelity. Released near the close of 1980, the record ranked among 1981’s biggest sellers, anchored by the signature power ballad “Keep on Loving You” and additional airplay favorites “Don’t Let Him Go” and “Take It on the Run.” Ultimately Hi Infidelity surpassed nine million copies sold, elevating REO to consistent arena-headliner standing.
Subsequent releases 1982’s Good Trouble and 1984’s Wheels Are Turnin’ yielded further hits such as “Keep the Fire Burnin’” and the chart-topping ballad “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” but momentum faded soon after. Although 1987’s Life as We Know It earned gold, waning fan interest and internal friction precipitated the exits of both Richrath and Gratzer by decade’s end. The band persisted with newcomers Dave Amato, formerly of Ted Nugent’s group, on guitar and Bryan Hitt, ex-Wang Chung, on drums; the 1988 anthology The Hits continued to sell steadily over time. Additional studio efforts arrived with 1990’s The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken and 1996’s Building the Bridge. Interest had ebbed to its lowest point when a broader resurgence of classic-rock nostalgia swept the country in the late ’90s, prompting REO to mount lucrative co-headlining tours alongside Styx, Fleetwood Mac, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Journey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Bad Company, among others.
Numerous compilations appeared throughout the decade, among them The Second Decade of Rock n’ Roll: 1981 to 1991, Only the Strong Survive, The Ballads, and a budget-priced three-disc package combining You Get What You Play For, You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish, and Hi Infidelity. Additional concert documents emerged as well, including Live: Plus, Extended Versions, and the 2001 set Arch Allies: Live at Riverport, which split tracks evenly with touring partners Styx. A 2001 installment of VH1’s Behind the Music devoted to REO featured Cronin and Richrath dispelling rumors of lingering animosity and expressing openness to a future reunion.
When the group eventually reentered the studio in the 2000s, Richrath was no longer present. Find Your Own Way Home, the first collection of original material in more than ten years, featured Cronin, founding keyboardist Neal Doughty, longtime bassist Bruce Hall, and the 1980s additions Amato and Hitt. The same configuration issued an unapologetic holiday album, Not So Silent Night, in 2009. Richrath passed away in September 2015 at age 65. REO Speedwagon maintained an active touring schedule through the latter half of the 2010s, frequently sharing bills with Styx and Chicago. Hi Infidelity received diamond certification from the RIAA in 2017. Original bassist Gregg Philbin died on October 24, 2022, at the age of 75.
