REO Speedwagon will come to a grinding halt in 2025 as the band has announced its plans to stop touring at the end of this year. Members of the chart-topping soft rock act will finish their remaining tour dates and then go their separate ways due to “irreconcilable differences” between singer Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall.
“Bruce has intended to be Back On the Road Again by now. If it were up to just him, he’d be back on tour… but it’s not up to just him,” the band wrote on social media, referring to Hall’s back surgery earlier this year that kept him from touring while he recovered. “The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect. Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that [replacement bassist] Matt [Bissonette] has been around to keep the Wagon rolling through the summer tour. Bruce never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans, and crew he has loved for almost 50 years.”
The band stated that Cronin also has “never had any intention of leaving the band, and the fans and crew mean the world to him.” Given that neither Cronin nor Hall has had any intention to walk away from the band, it’s somewhat perplexing why they’re doing exactly that.
“Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin. So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025,” the band concluded. “Neal [Doughty], Kevin, and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever.”
In his own post, Hall wrote that he and fellow founding member Neal Doughty “did everything in our power to try and keep the Wagon rolling. I am so appreciative of ALL the amazing love & support. You guys have been very vocal and clear in your wishes for me to return to the stage. Trust me…that’s all I wanted too. We all deserved a farewell tour.”
“For the record, I wanted REO Speedwagon to continue to tour with the lineup of Kevin, myself, Dave [Amato], Bryan [Hitt] and Derek [Hilland],” Hall concluded. “Just as it was prior to my necessary, planned and successful back surgery.”
Though Cronin made no personal declaration other than reposting the band’s group message, a Facebook post he made over the weekend may have hinted at the band’s impending dissolution. Last week, REO Speedwagon canceled a pair of shows in California and Arizona after the singer came down with an unspecified illness. The band was on a co-headlining tour over the summer with Train, who performed the shows in Chula Vista and Phoenix on its own.
While in the hospital, “lying here tethered to various beeping machines,” Cronin reflected, “I have had plenty of free time this past week to appreciate the love in the eyes of my wife and kids, as they have gathered around me here every single day. I have so much more life to live, and have re-examined what I want to do with the rest of my time here, and who I want to be surrounded by while I do it. I need to be lifted by those around me, and in return, to lift them.”
REO Speedwagon has 19 tour dates left including a three-night stay in Las Vegas and a string of Midwest dates with Loverboy. The band is currently slated to give its final performance on November 23rd at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. Find tickets and a list of remaining tour dates on Ticketmaster.
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