Formed loosely in the late ‘60s at college in Champaign, IL, REO (famously named after a fire engine) and its fans quickly realized there was much more going on here than your average frat-party band.
By the early ‘70s the band’s unrelenting drive, non-stop touring and recording jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. It carved a path eventually followed by STYX, Kansas, Cheap Trick and more. Platinum albums and freeform FM radio staples such as “Ridin’ The Storm Out” followed, setting the stage for 1980’s explosive Hi Infidelity.
The band’s younger fans might not realize the sheer impact Hi Infidelity had on music and the culture of rock ‘n’ roll. Its 9 million in sales was fueled by huge hit singles in “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run.” High Infidelity spent months in the #1 slot, a feat simply unattainable in music today. The strong run continued with hits like “Can’t Fight This Feeling” up through the new “Can’t Stop Rockin’.”
Today it’s all about what it has always been – taking good care of the band’s legacy while keeping the focus on the future.
REO Speedwagon’s latest CD: “Find Your Own Way Home” is available via www.reospeedwagon.com
Tickets are $65 (+handling fee) and go on-sale Friday, March 9th at 9:30am. Skip the line – tickets for REO Speedwagon at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium can be purchased online at http://tickets.tbca.com