AboutKathy Expertise History of the band, their music, lyrics, instrumentation, touring, hits, chart activities, and just about everything else in between.
Experience
REO Speedwagon fan for over 35 years, having attended hundreds of concerts all over the world
Organizations belong to: President of REO FANS, the band's largest fan club with members in all 50 states and 26 countries overseas. Check us out at SPEEDWAGON.INFO and REO-FANS.COM!
Other great REO sites? SPEEDWAGON.INFO: http://Speedwagon.info
REO FANS eGroup: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/REOFANS
Gary Richrath: http://GaryRichrath.com Gary Richrath eGroup: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Gary_Richrath
Publications: REO FANS NEWS, Editor & Publisher for the last 15 years
Education/Credentials: Attorney
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" program in January 2000 where her rock photography was displayed.
Question QUESTION: I am from Southern Illinois & have been told that they played at my high school (Mt. Carmel) Before they were REO. Does anyone know the name they used before REO?
ANSWER: Hi Steve:
REO Speedwagon's original name IS REO Speedwagon. Drummer Alan Gratzer and keyboardist Neal Doughty started the band in September, 1967 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where they were dorm-mates. Shortly before their first gig, Doughty saw the words "REO Speedwagon" written on a blackboard in his "History of Transportation" class, and brought it back to the band. It worked, and the band has been called "REO Speedwagon" ever since. Unlike many bands of that era, REO didn't start off as something else, and then morph into REO.
For a trip down memory lane about the beginnings of the band, check out my interview with Alan Grazter:
Thanks for a great question about a great classic rock band!
Kathy
REO FANS Prez
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: any way to find out if they ever played in Mt. Carmel Illinois? I cant
Answer Hi Steve,
Unfortunately, we don't have records that go back that far, and neither does the band. It might be worth your while to contact the high school directly, and see if any "old timers" remember REO ever performing. They certainly played for quite a few high schools in Illinois during their early years. Mt. Carmel isn't out of the question.
