Bruce Hall gives his version about the end of REO Speedwagon

The successful and influential American band REO Speedwagon played their final show last December, 2024. Just a few months before the band’s vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Kevin Cronin announced that due to irreconcilable differences between him and the bassist Bruce Hall the group came to an end and that he would continue to tour as a solo artist in 2025 with REO’s final line-up.

Hall was recovering from a back surgery and in a new interview gave his version about the end of the band. According to him, Kevin didn’t want him to be back on the road and his wish was to continue with the touring bassist Matt Bissonette. Cronin’s wish was outvoted by the other two owners of the REO Speedwagon name: Bruce Hall and the retired keyboardist Neil Doughty.

Bruce Hall just wanted to get back in the band and continue with Kevin Cronin as the frontman

As reported by Ultimate Classic Rock he recently said that Kevin “did not found this band. No one forced him to rebrand. He decided he wanted to tour with the sub bassist instead of me. The other two owners said ‘no’ and I was scheduled to return in 2025… so he quit. He and he alone did this. I wanted nothing more than to continue to tour after my scheduled, successful back surgery. I’ve been cleared to play since January.”

Later on he was asked by Mitch Lafon if he intended to form a new version of REO Speedwagon without Kevin. His answer was: “I don’t want to, honestly. REO is our band and Kevin should always be our lead singer. Fans deserve the real deal, not another tribute band.”

He reaffirmed that on his Facebook profile, saying the Ultimate Classic Rock article was accurate. “This article is accurate. Thank you Ultimate Classic Rock! Lots of other sites alluding that I’m trying to form a new lineup. All I’ve ever stated has been I want REO to tour with Kevin as our lead singer and myself as the bassist. As it has been the last 47 awesome years,” Bruce Hall said.