List of REO Speedwagon members
REO Speedwagon is an American hard rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Formed in 1967, the group originally included drummer and backing vocalist Alan Gratzer, guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Matt, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Blair, and keyboardist Neal Doughty.[1] Matt left early the next year after graduating from school, with Terry Luttrell taking his place on lead vocals.[2] Bob Crownover took over as the band's guitarist, but was replaced after a brief tenure by Bill Fiorio and later Steve Scorfina.[3] Blair left a few months after Matt, with Gregg Philbin taking his place.[4] The band also briefly added saxophonist Joe McCabe and trumpeter Marty Shepard to its lineup in 1968.[3]
By late 1970, REO Speedwagon had finalised its first recording lineup with the addition of guitarist Gary Richrath in place of Scorfina.[5] In early 1972, shortly after the release of the band's self-titled debut album, Luttrell left REO Speedwagon following a disagreement with Richrath.[6] The vocalist was replaced by Kevin Cronin, who performed on the group's second album R.E.O./T.W.O. before leaving during sessions for the 1973 follow-up.[7] Mike Murphy took over and recorded Ridin' the Storm Out, Lost in a Dream and This Time We Mean It, but was replaced by a returning Cronin in 1976.[8][9] Philbin left the following year, with Bruce Hall taking his place.[10]
The band's lineup remained stable thereafter for more than ten years until Gratzer decided to retire in 1988, with Graham Lear brought in as his replacement.[11] Richrath also left early the next year, with Miles Joseph filling in for a show before Dave Amato took over in May.[12][13] Also in 1989, Bryan Hitt replaced Lear on drums,[14] while Jesse Harms joined as a second keyboardist, performing on the band's 1990 album The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken.[15] Since the end of Harms's brief tenure with the group, REO Speedwagon has retained a consistent lineup of Neal Doughty, Kevin Cronin, Dave Amato, Bruce Hall, and Bryan Hitt[16] until 2023 when Doughty announced he was retiring from touring. His touring replacement was announced as former Iron Butterfly and Whitesnake member Derek Hilland.[17]
Members
[edit]Current
[edit]Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Neal Doughty[17] | 1967–2023 (non touring 2023–present) (founding member) |
|
all REO Speedwagon releases from R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971) to Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon (2009) | |
Kevin Cronin |
|
|
| |
Bruce Hall | 1977–present[19][20] |
|
all REO Speedwagon releases from You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978) onwards | |
Dave Amato[21] | 1989–present |
|
all REO Speedwagon releases from The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken (1990) onwards | |
Bryan Hitt[22] |
|
Former
[edit]Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alan Gratzer | 1967–1988 (founding member)[23] |
|
all REO Speedwagon releases from R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971) to The Hits (1988) | |
Mike Blair[24] | 1967–1968 |
|
none | |
Joe Matt[25] |
| |||
Terry Luttrell | 1968–1972[citation needed] | lead vocals | R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971) | |
Bob Crownover | 1968–1969[26] | guitar | none | |
Gregg Philbin | 1968–1977[27] (died 2022) |
|
all REO Speedwagon releases from R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971) to Live: You Get What You Play For (1977) | |
Joe McCabe | 1968[28] | saxophone | none | |
Marty Shepard | trumpet | |||
Duke Tumatoe (Bill Fiorio) | 1969[29] | guitar | ||
Steve Scorfina | 1969–1970[3] | |||
Gary Richrath | 1970–1989[30] (died 2015) |
|
all REO Speedwagon releases from R.E.O. Speedwagon (1971) to The Hits (1988) | |
Mike Murphy | 1973–1975[31] |
|
| |
Graham Lear | 1988–1989[32] | drums | The Second Decade of Rock and Roll: 1981 to 1991 (1991) | |
Miles Joseph | 1989[33] (died 2012)[34] | lead guitar | none | |
Carla Day | 1989[35][36] | backing vocals | ||
Melanie Jackson | ||||
Jesse Harms | 1989–1991[15] |
|
The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken (1990) |
Touring
[edit]Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
John Aldridge | 2005–present |
|
John Aldridge, Bryan Hitt's drum tech since July 2005, performed additional percussion parts live from around July 2005 until the present day.[37] He also performed drums at soundchecks when Bryan was running late. | |
Joe Vannelli | 2007 (substitute) | keyboards | Doughty was absent from the REO Speedwagon Unplugged Live in Washington XM Radio show in early April 2007, with producer Joe Vannelli filling-in on keyboards.[38] Vannelli also performed additional piano, Hammond organ, and synthesizer on the 2007 album Find Your Own Way Home.[39] | |
Derek Hilland | 2023–present (substitute) |
|
With Doughty's retirement from touring being announced in January 2023, Derek Hilland has been filling-in for Doughty live since January 2023.[40] | |
Matt Bissonette | 2023–2024 (substitute) |
|
With Hall's hiatus to have back surgery in November 2023, Matt Bissonette has been filling in for Hall, who is expected to return in 2024.[41] |
Timeline
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/96tdmdyjbcllt0i1kipnzlxayzl7175.png)
Lineups
[edit]Period | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
Fall 1967 – early 1968 |
|
none |
Early – summer 1968 |
| |
Summer – late 1968 |
| |
Late 1968 – summer 1969 |
| |
Summer – late 1969 |
| |
Late 1969 – late 1970 |
| |
Late 1970 – early 1972 |
|
|
Early 1972 – mid-1973 |
|
|
Mid-1973 – January 1976 |
|
|
January 1976 – early 1977 |
|
|
Early 1977 – September 1988 |
|
|
September 1988 – early 1989 |
|
none |
Early – spring 1989 |
| |
Summer 1989 – early 1991 |
|
|
Early 1991 – present |
Notes: Derek Hilland is currently the touring replacement for Neal Doughty. Matt Bissonette is currently the touring replacement from Bruce Hall, who plans to return in 2024. |
|
References
[edit]- ^ Allen, Craig (July 27, 2013). "Meet REO Speedwagon (Photos, Videos)". New Jersey 101.5. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Wright, Jeb. "REO's Neal Doughty: Back on the Road Again". Classic Rock Revisited. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ a b c "REO Speedwagon: Niagara Falls Events". Facebook. November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Graff, Gary (October 23, 2014). "10 Bands that Changed Bass Players..." For Bass Players Only. Notehead Media Group. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Gary Richrath, guitarist - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. September 21, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Burke, David (September 10, 2013). "Former REO singer has Tons O'Fun". Quad-City Times. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Sheff, David (March 23, 1981). "Now It's Cheat to the Beat, as Reo Speedwagon Finally Arrives with 'hi Infidelity'". People. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Graham, Samuel (November 28, 1981). "The REO Speedwagon Story" (Scan). Record World. Vol. 18, no. 1791. New York City, New York: Record World Publishing. p. 14 (Section II). Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Sharp, Ken (December 2, 2013). "A Chat with Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Henke, James (March 19, 1981). "REO Speedwagon's Big Breakout". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Fell, Ron (August 26, 1988). "Biofeedback" (Scan). Gavin Report. No. 1721. San Francisco, California. p. 21. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Fell, Ron (April 14, 1989). "Biofeedback" (Scan). Gavin Report. No. 1752. San Francisco, California: Gavin Report, Inc. p. 23. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ Erickson, Anne (October 13, 2016). "REO Speedwagon Guitarist Dave Amato on His New Gibson Custom". Gibson. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon Talks About His Classic Hits and His Songwriting". REO Speedwagon. January 22, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ a b Giles, Jeff (August 30, 2015). "25 Years Ago: REO Speedwagon Regroup with 'The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ "The Band". REO Speedwagon. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- ^ a b "REO SPEEDWAGON Announces DEREK HILLAND As New Keyboardist". Sonic Perspectives. 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ "Kevin Cronin - REO Speedwagon". Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "Bruce Hall - REO Speedwagon". Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "Bruce Hall of REO Speedwagon - Official page". Facebook. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ James Wood (December 4, 2012). "Interview: Guitarist Dave Amato Talks Les Pauls, Touring and REO Speedwagon". Guitar World. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
- ^ "Bryan Hitt". Conn-Selmer, Inc. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "Grater Central's Bio Page". gratzercentral.freeservers.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "REO Speedwagon hometown, lineup, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "50 Years Later, REO Speedwagon Keeps On Rollin'". The Saturday Evening Post. 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "Bob Crownover - Musician Profile". www.spirit-of-metal.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ Johnson, Kevin. "In Memoriam: Gregg Philbin". No Treble. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ Jessica (2021-07-04). "How REO Speedwagon Got Their Name | 80s Music Blog". About the 80s. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "BIO". Mysite. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "FIVE YEARS GONE: REO SPEEDWAGON'S GARY RICHRATH REMEMBERED". Nights with Alice Cooper. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ H, Amal (2022-03-21). "Who was the original lead singer of REO Speedwagon?". Famuse : #1 Models, Actors, Agencies, Photographers & Talents Booking Platform. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "Graham Lear". Graham Lear. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "Miles Joseph - Musician Profile". www.spirit-of-metal.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "Miles Joseph Obituary (2013) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ "REO Speedwagon (Music)". TV Tropes. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
- ^ The Second Decade Of Rock And Roll 1981 To 1991 (liner notes). Reo Speedwagon. Epic Records. 2009. EK 48527.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Aldridge, John. "John Aldridge | Linkedin". LinkedIn. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ Patel, Nilay. "An Apology to REO Speedwagon Fans". Gapers Block. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ REO Speedwagon - Find Your Own Way Home Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-11-17
- ^ Cronin, Kevin (February 2, 2023). "Introducing Derek Hilland - REO Speedwagon". Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ Cronin, Kevin (November 7, 2023). "Update On Bruce - REO Speedwagon". Retrieved 2023-11-17.