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REO Speedwagon/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| REO's First Singer | 1/14/2012 | Kathy |
| Q: There was a trivia question on a local readio station asking who the first lead singer of REO was. I ... A: That local radio station needs to do some serious REO fact checking! Gary wasn't a founding member ... | ||
| Abbey Road Live | 1/12/2012 | Kathy |
| Q: Kathy, just curious if you had an opinion of the Abbey Road cd's, or if you know anyone who has? I ... A: Believe me, yours is the not the first complaint we've heard about Abbey Road Live's (ARL) CD ... | ||
| Obsessed Teenager Q's | 1/1/2012 | Kathy |
| Q: I am a teenage girl obsessed with REO and Kevin Cronin and I have quite a few questions. Who was ... A: I think these are very curious questions from a teenage girl "obsessed" with guys old enough to be ... | ||
| Kevin's College | 10/21/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: just out of curiousity, where did Kevin Cronin go to college? Also what was he majoring in? Thanks! A: In the fall of 1967, when REO keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer were starting the ... | ||
| Alan Gratzer, before the band? | 10/19/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Here's a question that has had me very curious for the longest time: Where was Alan Gratzer born and ... A: Hey Phil: Alan was born in Syracuse, New York on November 9, 1948. Both he and REO co-founder Neal ... | ||
| Re-releases | 9/24/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: In October of this year Sony Japan re-releases REO Speedwagon's first 10 cd's in mini lp format: ... A: There's no plans that I'm aware of, but I just sent an email to my SONY contact reminding them that ... | ||
| Flying Turkley Trot (Live) | 9/22/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Are they ever going to re-make the famous "live CD" ("You Get What you Play For"; the best ... A: I think the chances are slim to none for a re-make that includes full versions, but a lot of fans ... | ||
| Gary's Departure | 8/10/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Once again a big thank you your the great job you do keeping us posted on our favorite band. My ... A: You're 100% correct that virtually ALL of the band members have suffered through (and are still ... | ||
| "Don't Let Him Go" | 8/2/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Recently I re-discovered Hi-Infidelity as I strive to educate my teenage daughter on the concept of ... A: because it's VERY important to educate those youngsters! Lead singer Kevin Cronin, who wrote the ... | ||
| Retirement | 7/25/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: REO has been around almost 45 years and counting, and since it looks like Gary will not be back to ... A: The guys have been asked this question so many times, they've actually posted the answer on their ... | ||
| Early years | 7/9/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Did REO ever play high school dances in their early years? A: They sure did! In fact, Kevin and Gary used to joke that before they hit it big, they'd played every ... | ||
| Golden Country | 6/8/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: I've just watched the disappointing "In the heartland DVD" and was concerned to see REO are a shadow ... A: The "Heartland" DVD, which will be released on Blu-Ray in September, was indeed disappointing to ... | ||
| Mike Murphy | 5/23/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Why did Mike Murphy leave REO? I thought he did an excellent job while he was with the band. Thank ... A: That's a tough question. Murphy hasn't done any post-REO interviews, and declined to be interviewed ... | ||
| "You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish" remaster? | 5/4/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: I've been trying to locate a single disc, remastered copy of "You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't ... A: If you're looking for just a remastered copy of Tuna on CD, you can find a used copy for under $15 ... | ||
| Gary Richrath | 4/26/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: I read something about you saving some stuff for a future book about REO. Are you really working on ... A: Brian: Gary's alive and well, and living in California. Since he recorded "Only the Strong Survive," ... | ||
| Abbey Road Live -- IN & MI | 3/16/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Abbey Road Live offered two more recorded REO CD Collections from their Michigan and Indiana ... A: Here's the set list for REO's concert at Belterra Casino in Vevay, Indiana on February 12, 2011: 1. ... | ||
| Hi Infidelity Deluxe version | 1/30/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Is it still coming out the next couple months with demos of whole album and is there any demos of ... A: The band's still aiming for 2011, and it would make sense to release it in time for their summer ... | ||
| Track Lists | 1/29/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: What are the official track lists on the 2 live albums offered by Abbey Road Live? A: Here's the Milwaukee set list: 1.Don't Let Him Go 2.Keep On Loving You 3.In Your Letter 4.Take It ... | ||
| REO "Behind the Music" | 1/22/2011 | Kathy |
| Q: Is the Behind the music bio of Speedwagon available for viewing anywhere online that you are aware ... A: The full length video is no longer online due to copyright restrictions. Lots of fans have both ... | ||
| REO Speedwagon | 10/20/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: how many band members has been in REO Speedwagon including the one now? A: REO's original drummer and founder, Alan Gratzer, once told me, "Before we made our first record, we ... | ||
| REO on NYE | 8/24/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: did the boys EVER play at Market Square Arena on New Years Eve? I think they did on the H.I. tour ... A: Yes, REO played a New Year's Eve gig at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis but it was on December ... | ||
| REO Origination | 8/12/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: What year and what city did the band originate? And where did they attend college? A: According to founding member Alan Gratzer, REO Speedwagon was formed in the fall of 1967 on the ... | ||
| REO on VH1's "Behind the Music" | 7/25/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: REO Speedwagon did a "Behind the Scenes" on VH1 around 2000 or 2001 if I'm not mistaken. We only ... A: There are actually two versions of REO Speedwagon's "Behind the Music" episode. The original program ... | ||
| Hi InFidelity Anniversary | 7/14/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: I just bought REO's new Setlists, the best of REO live that came out on July 13, 2010. Inside is a ... A: The band has been promising something like this for literally decades. When REO contemplated the ... | ||
| KC-pre REO years | 7/8/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: Kevin,being the great front man,that he is,had to develop some of it prior to joining REO! please ... A: Since Kevin Cronin was only 21 years old when he joined REO, his pre-REO experience was pretty thin. ... | ||
| Gary Richrath vocals | 6/18/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: Did Gary sing lead vocals on Only a Summer Love for REO Speedwagon. It sounds like Kevin, especially ... A: Yep, that's Gary on lead vocals. He's got a great voice and also sang on several other albums: Find ... | ||
| "Ridin' the Storm Out" Vocals | 5/6/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: I was wondering if there was or is any plan on releasing the recordings kevin did for ridin the ... A: Kevin Cronin allegedly recorded all the vocals to REO's 1973 album, "Ridin' the Storm Out" in Los ... | ||
| REO @ Red Lion in Bloomington | 4/27/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: We are having a debate over whether REO played at one of our local haunts from the 70's--the Red ... A: REO Speedwagon regularly played the "Red Lion" circuit which included gigs in Champaign, Bloomington ... | ||
| Past recordings | 4/2/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: First off, thanks for your hard work in keeping us REO fans updated!! I was wondering if the ... A: Sony released REO's "COW" album on CD back in 1991. Used copies are available from Amazon for under ... | ||
| Kevin's return | 3/24/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: Lots of people ask about why and when Kevin first exited the band, but what prompted his return? ... A: Actually, it was a mutual decision. Initially, the guys in the band were fed up with Kevin's prima ... | ||
| "Live Infidelity" | 3/24/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: Didn't REO release a live album in the early 80's with a version of 157 where the "story" is that ... A: The version of "157 Riverside Avenue" that refers to a "white courtesy phone" is from REO's April ... | ||
| Re-masters | 3/21/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: Is it true that the remasters of all the REO classics have Amato's guitar work instead of Gary's? ... A: No, it's not true. REO albums that have been remastered still feature Gary's guitar. However, the ... | ||
| REO 1976-1981 | 3/18/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: There is no doubt that 1976-1981 was Reo's most successful years commercially, but wondering what ... A: This is a difficult question, because REO has always been panned by critics and never considered a ... | ||
| Winterland....San Francisco | 3/17/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: Been checking you out for a coupla yrs.Thanx for all the info.Did you ever get to see the band play ... A: I never had the chance to see the band at Winterland, but I've heard plenty of stories. Although I ... | ||
| "Easy Money" | 3/10/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: I have heard many times over the years that the REO song EasyMoney, was loosely based on what ... A: The rumor about Gregg Philbin is an urban legend, loosely based on the fact that an airplane the ... | ||
| Without Expression (Don't Be the Man) | 2/26/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: Is there ANY way to obtain a version of Kevin singing Don't be the man (without expression)? If so, ... A: Terry Reid's song, "Without Expression (Don't Be the Man)" has been covered by a lot of artists ... | ||
| Reo Speedwagon HS Prom | 2/25/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: My name is Nate, I'm 30 years old and going to see my first REO Speedwagon concert tonight in ... A: I'm inclined to believe your Dad. REO certainly played a lot of high school dances, college events ... | ||
| Former Members | 2/23/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: Just a simple question, or two...first of all this site is cool, just stumbled on it as I was trying ... A: Yes, REO played at Ted's Warehouse in Charleston, Illinois. In fact, Ted's has a special place in ... | ||
| '84 Rockumentary rides | 2/18/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: In the opening sequence to the Wheels Are Turnin' 1984 rockumentary, the band members are shown ... A: Kevin doesn't bike so much anymore, but you can usually find him working out at hotel gyms when the ... | ||
| King's Island | 2/15/2010 | Kathy |
| Q: I saw some photos of concerts years ago of REO Speedwagon. One was taken at King's Island. I was ... A: Yes, REO performed a concert at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio in the summer of 2005. There's a video ... | ||
Kathy
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
History of the band, their music, lyrics, instrumentation, touring, hits, chart activities, and just about everything else in between.
Experience
President of REO FANS, the band's largest international fan club, and REO fan for over 35 years, having attended hundreds of concerts all over the world.
Publications
Editor & Publisher of REO FANS NEWS
Education/Credentials
Washburn Law School
Awards and Honors
With a 30+ year photographic history of the band, one of her photos was selected to appear on the band's 25th anniversary t-shirts. She was also featured on VH-1's "Rock Collectors," where her rock photography was displayed.
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