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HistoryFormationREO Speedwagon took its name from the REO Speed Wagon, a truck manufactured by the REO Motor Car Company (the predecessor to today's Nucor). ("R.E.O." are initials of the company's founder, Ransom Eli Olds, who also founded the Oldsmobile division of General Motors.) The name was suggested to fellow bandmates by keyboard player Neal Doughty, who learned about the truck at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in a class about the history of transportation. REO Speedwagon was formed in the fall of 1967 by Doughty and dorm-mate drummer Alan Gratzer to play cover songs in campus bars. Numerous early personnel changes eventually resulted in Gary Richrath's joining the band. Richrath was a Peoria, Illinois-based guitar player and prolific songwriter who brought original material to the band. With Richrath on board, the regional popularity of the band grew tremendously. The Midwestern United States remains an REO Speedwagon fan stronghold, and has its roots in this period of the band's history. Paul Leka, an East Coast record producer, brought the band to a recording studio, where it recorded original material for its first album. The lineup on the first album consisted of Doughty on keyboards, Gratzer on drums, Richrath on guitar, Gregg Philbin on bass, and singer Terry Luttrell. Early Years
Although the rest of the band's line-up remained stable, REO Speedwagon switched lead vocalists three times for their first three albums. Luttrell left the band shortly after the group recorded its debut album and was replaced by Kevin Cronin. Cronin recorded one album with the band, 1972's R.E.O./T.W.O., but left the band soon after, because of missed rehearsals and creative disagreements. Ridin' the Storm Out was the band's third release with as many singers; this time Mike Murphy took the microphone. Murphy stayed on for two more albums, before Cronin returned to the fold in 1976. REO Speedwagon's first live album, You Get What You Play For (1977), was the band's first real commercial success and was certified platinum. The band was always dissatisfied with the producers on their studio albums, because they continually failed to capture on tape the quality of the band's live show. The live album, which was self-produced, changed that. Indeed, all subsequent albums would have band members participating as producers. Philbin was replaced with Bruce Hall in 1978, in time to record You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish. The album contained the first of many of the band's Top-40 hits, "Roll With The Changes." Mainstream SuccessThe lineup was now set for the band's most popular period. In 1980, REO Speedwagon released Hi Infidelity, which represented a change in the music from hard rock to more pop-oriented material. Hi Infidelity spawned several hit singles, and remained on the charts for 65 weeks, 32 of which were spent in the top ten. It went on to become the biggest-selling rock record of 1981. Good Trouble (1982) and Wheels Are Turnin' (1984) were follow-up albums, which also did well commercially. In addition, the band performed at 1985's Live Aid. Hard TimesHowever, by the end of the 1980s, the band's popularity had waned and the group began to disintegrate. In 1988, the future was uncertain as Gratzer retired and Richrath was asked to leave. The 1990 release The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog And A Chicken, with Bryan Hitt on drums and Dave Amato on lead guitar, was a commercial disappointment. These lineup changes were a stinging blow to many fans, especially those of the band's harder-edged material from the 1970s, which was dominated by Richrath's unique style on the guitar. Shortly after his departure, Richrath assembled former members of the midwestern band, Vancouver, to form a namesake band, Richrath. After touring for several years, the Richrath band released Only the Strong Survive in 1992 on the Crescendo label. Richrath continued to perform for several years before disbanding in the late 1990s. In the meantime, REO Speedwagon lost its recording contract with Epic, releasing Building the Bridge (1996) on the Priority/Rhythm Safari label. When that label went bankrupt, the album was released on the ill-fated Castle Records, which also experienced financial troubles. REO Speedwagon ultimately self-financed this effort, which failed to chart. The commercial failure of the band's newer material with its revised lineup demanded a change in marketing strategy. As a consequence, the band began re-releasing recordings from older albums with updated artwork and design. Revival of the HitsFrom 1995 to the present, the band unleashed over a dozen compilation albums featuring their greatest hits, including 1999's Ballads, which contained two new tracks. The following year, the band re-recorded many of the same songs from 1977's Live: You Get What You Play For, and distributed this live concert under four separate titles including 2000's Arch Allies. CurrentREO Speedwagon released Find Your Own Way Home, their first album of original material in eleven years, to Walmart stores on April 3, 2007. REO Speedwagon continues to perform at county and state fairs, casinos, and clubs, and occasionally tours with other venerable classic rock bands such as Foreigner, Styx, Journey, and Fleetwood Mac. DiscographyStudio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
VideographyConcerts
See also
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