In early January, REO Speedwagon postponed its tour dates due to lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Kevin Cronin requiring a “routine procedure … so simple it can be performed by a robot” at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
Before the rerouted affair has even begun — and intermingle with a string of continued dates on the United We Rock tour with Styx and Don Felder — a new co-headlining tour with Chicago also was announced, including a stop June 24 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
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So it’s a good thing Cronin, 66, now says he is “all good and ready to rock.”
Cronin, REO’s frontman since ’76 who wrote “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” among others, is a Brother Rice High School graduate whose parents still live in the Oak Lawn house he grew up in on a street renamed in their honor.
He replied via email, per his request, to an interview recently. Here are excerpts.
On his health: “My procedure came off seamlessly, and I would say I am 95 percent recovered. I was never in any life-threatening danger. As the years pass certain parts need to be repaired.”
On fans’ support: “Our fans sent thousands of get well messages to the REO Facebook page, and their support really made me feel great. I am a very lucky guy.”
On the rerouted tour starting March 8 at Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre: “It is a drag that so many people had to change their plans, but it makes me want to give them an extra special show. Joliet will be my first since the surgery, so it should be a lot of fun. We do like to start our tours in the Midwest. Our most loyal, longstanding fans come from the Heartland. Midwest is the best.”
On local fans: “The people of Illinois gave us our start, and have stayed with us through the years. We know the people from Illinois on a whole different level because we are them. We are an Illinois band and proud of it.”
On REO’s own concert dates intermingled with the continued Styx/Felder tour dates: “We love touring with Styx and always look forward to seeing them. Our bands have a very special connection. Back in the ’80s there was this perceived competition, but then we did a tour together in 2000, and we have been best of friends ever since.”
On REO’s tour with Chicago at indoor arenas versus past summer tours of outdoor venues such as Tinley Park’s Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre: “We don’t really decide which venue. It comes down to scheduling and availability. That said, it is nice to mix it up a bit. There are so many great venues all over Chicagoland, and I like to play them all, and I really like playing in my home town.”
On any new REO music (Last year “Whipping Boy” was a new song REO performed on tour): “‘Whipping Boy’ is just such a fun song for the band to play. Everybody gets to stretch out musically, I love to dig into that vocal, and we feel the message is pretty strong.”
On the “Hi Infidelity” album receiving the Diamond Award for official U.S. sales of over 10 million copies in 2017: “The idea that 10 million people know those songs is such an honor and equally humbling.”
Vickie Snow Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
REO Speedwagon
When: 8 p.m. March 8 (rescheduled from Jan. 13)
Where: Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St. in Joliet
Tickets: $44.50 to $92.50, with Suite Life upgrades available
Information: 815-726-6600 or www.rialtosquare.com