But the records that came before it, the songs that our fans already knew about, like Keep Pushin and Roll With The Changes and Time For Me To Fly which hadnt really been hits, but our fans knew about them. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. I think the opening scene is more a literal translation of what the song is about. When REO Speedwagon were at the peak of their popularity in the 1980s, their tours were known to get pretty wild. says the actress. Thats another way of doing it. I was really focused on my wife, my children and my homemy children are all in high school now. On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with. It was just that I needed to really identify where the heart and soul of this piece that I was working on was. They perform about 100 dates a year. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from, Paul McCartney was in too much 'emotional pain' to keep the Beatles going after John Lennon left. Since starting his career at the age of 19 as the house drummer on Saturday Night Live, hes graduated into, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Steve JordanContinue, If youre a fan of rap music, you might be quite familiar with the name DJ Paul. I saw both seasons, all the way through, and I was like, Im ready to go. As forbes.com reports, the end result was that thousands of viewers flocked out to buy or stream the bands back catalog, leading to a major resurgence on a number of Billboard charts. Then of course, you refine it from there. Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon performs at the Illinois Bicentennial party at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 2018. DK: More recently, REO has released the album Find Your Own Way Home in 2007 and REOs Christmas album in 2009. "It's amazing when I walk out on stage and start playing one of the songs . As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. I can tell when a song is too much craftsmanship and not enough inspiration. You have entered an incorrect email address! ". It was basically Garys responsibility to write the songs, and I think he realized thatyou know what they saythat you have your whole life to write your first album but only a year to write your second albnm. But I think it served its purpose because people at the record company heard it, REO Speedwagon fans heard itif they didnt hear it on the radio they heard us playing it live. Free shipping for many products! In addition, his songs Roll With The Changes and Keep The Fire Burning have had an enduring impact, becoming rock anthems which convey positive and uplifting lyric themes. To hear people say things like this is amazing, said Bruce Hall, bass guitarist and lead and harmony vocalist for REO Speedwagon. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Recording-history.org is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program. Afterwards, she spent time with Cronin, his daughter and his manager. But, spoiler alert: REO plays a major role in one Season 3 episode, which also happens to be named after the band's lead singer, Kevin Cronin. Then when our family sat down to watch Season 3 and I saw they actually kept that name for the episode, it was a kick. How did it come about? ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. So it was literally time for him to fly. Cronin: The first album that I made with them was an album called R.E.O./T.W.O., which was our second album. DK: A few years later, you followed up with another big ballad, Cant Fight This Feeling. Is this song perhaps the most popular song youve written? 'Heartland' Actor Robert Cormier Dead at 33 Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? REO remains a popular live band which tours steadily throughout the U.S. and worldwide. The song was remixed for the re-release to have more Pop appeal. It's one of my favorite moments, because when I play those opening guitar chords, everybody in the place stands, everybody's got their lighters or cell phones up. REO Speedwagon performing on Feb. 5, 1981 in Chicago, Il. With '80s hits like "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling," Kevin Cronin became famous as the lead singer of REO Speedwagon. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Id just started to write a couple little silly songs. When MTV launched in 1981, they played the video, as REO Speedwagon were huge at the time, with a string of hits from their, Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band). REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Youre with another person, youre bouncing ideas around and I enjoy that. But I was looking at the discography of your hits, and I noticed that you wrote your biggest hits by yourself. I think it's a combination of both. I had just stopped at a truck stop in New MexicoI had a brown paper bag that was sitting on the seat next to me, when the thoughts of the lyrics started coming to me. When we play those songs, you can just feel the energy in the room light up. https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/cantfightthisfeeling.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keeponlovingyou.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/takeitontherun.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/rollwiththechanges.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/timeformetofly.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/dontlethimgo.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keepthefireburnin.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/inmydreams.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/onelonelynight.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/inyourletter.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/keeppushin.html, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/reospeedwagon/backontheroadagain.html, Rock Music: 49 Different Types and Their Characteristics, Loverboy Greatest Hits: The 17 Best Songs of All Time, 42 Songs About the Experience of Being 17, 48+ Songs About Good Times and Memories to Look Back On. "It's like a direct connection with my brother that was our song," LaTonya, 52, told PEOPLE afterward. His initial period with the band proved brief. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. The current lineup of REO Speedwagon consists of Cronin, original member Neal Doughty (keyboards), Bruce Hall (bass), Dave Amato (lead guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums). So thats going to be a lot of fun. Considering the band has toured with everyone from Def Leppard to Status Quo and Chicago, it promises to be unmissable. The subjects that we were writing about were what was going on in our lives, since we were all in the same boat in a lot of ways. It was one of those albums which was definitely top-heavy with songs that people, to this daythey come to our concerts and we play at least five or six songs from Hi Infidelity every night. "The lead singer of REO Speedwagon, Kevin - he's a rock-n-roll Hall of Famer - he said, 'How about that LaTonya, your first live performance, and you've got a platinum record already.' ". When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Its a blessing because Ive always got myself (laughs). He was like, 'Oh my God, you're a true fan!' REO Speedwagon has released a number of successful albums, including 1980s Hi Infidelity,which sold 10 million copies in the United States. What are we doing here? I swear to you, all of a sudden from behind one of our road cases pops the ventriloquists dummy. But then once I got done with the craftsmanship part of it, I thought HeyI think I could hear this song on the radiopeople might want to listen to it. Its funny, when youre just starting out as a songwriterwhen youre trying to figure things out and see what your path is and where youre headingas I reminisce and think about it, it seems I have these sweet memories of that time. and still couldn't believe it -- but it is one of the funniest celeb. My biggest successes are songs that I write myself. Kevin Cronin is a member of REO Speedwagon, one of the most popular rock bands of the 1980s. I sat down and started playing those chordsthat was what the song came from. When you write a song, you have no idea the journey that song may or may not take you on. 9/28/2010 1:00 PM PT With '80s hits like " Keep On Loving You " and " Can't Fight This Feeling ," Kevin. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. She was actually going out with one of my buddies. Directed by Arnold Levine, the black-and-white footage was shot at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri at their show on May 13, 1978. So that was the song that kind of got it going. When Mike Blair left the band in the summer of 1968, Gregg Philbin replaced . Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Who knows what came first, the chicken or the egg there. achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s. So well seethis year should be interesting. Guess what he looks like now! Joined my first band in 2008 (a Metallica cover band) and. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. He needed the money to buy the group's back catalogue. Formed in 1967, the group originally included guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Blair, keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer. How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Formed in 1966, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Roll With The Changes was personally about me moving from Chicago to L.A.I was quite literally rolling with the changes. Tickets start at . These days, though, its a different story. Cronin: Theres no real formula with it for me. So that was special. I couldnt do it the real way that human beings communicate (laughs). After releasing one album (1972s R.E.O./T.W.O,), he left the band during the recording of 1973s Ridin the Storm Out over creative differences. When youre writing a song, you have no idea where that songs going to end upyou dont know whats going to happen. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. But, spoiler alert: REO plays a major role in one Season 3 episode, which also happens to be named after the band's lead singer, Kevin Cronin. I had the verses already written. Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon: 'Memba Him? "When the call came in for us to appear in, REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin on the band's surprising. Although Philbin left the band just before they reached the heights of their commercial success, lead singer Kevin Cronin wrote that no one should forget his contribution to REO Speedwagon's sound. In addition to being in the band Carcosa, he has also been in Galactic Pegasus and One More Slice. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. In addition to REO's jaunty 1978 hit Time for Me to Fly being used during a drug cartel kidnapping sequence, the group also makes a cameo, playing a concert at the casino and entering into a money laundering arrangement with Marty (Jason Bateman). Well, that got dropped. I think the main reason that I got the gig, was that REO had released one album, and they were working on songs for their second album for Epic Records.