Defending the Indefensible 3: REO Speedwagon

Reo Speedwagon were OK. Not a fan in any way, but there are thousands of acts way more indefensible.

i have a big soft spot for hi infidelity because it was all over radio at exactly the time i started listening to radio. i also like kevin cronin's overbearing dylanisms. "in the grEEE-AAAss, all kiled up n HEEE-i-seen".

and in high school, the lousy band i was in convinced this girl i was sort of in love with to sing a few songs with us and one of the songs was "take it on the run," so that was kind of sweet. (although she actually hated the song. it was just something we could play in her range.)

i'm sorry but i'm completely into REO at this point in time. i hope that isn't upsetting to anybody. i find this quite amazing.

Is this perhaps the most misguided thing EVAR?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/business/media/02adco.html

Special preview graf:

“I was struck right off the bat by the dazzling good looks of my avatar,” Mr. Cronin said, laughing.

Mr Veg downloaded 'Take It On The Run' for Rockband, and since 'Keep on Loving You' was the only REO song I could immediately call to mind from the title, TIOTR didn't ring a bell. So he's playing it one afternoon as I'm sitting on the couch reading, and I find myself singing along. Crazy thing is I don't remember EVER hearing TIOTR...it was like some weird Manchurian Candidate trigger buried in my subconscious. So, they're pretty classic. I think REO are pretty genius at doing those huge building cresendoes...sure they are kinda cheesy but damn they're fun.

Kevin Cronin looks like a fucking anthropomorphic poodle

in defense, from the letters section of the October 1973 issue of Creem:

Thank you for being one of the few, if not the only, "Rock" magazines in existence that believes in, or even believe that there are any bands that make less than $10,000 a night. Believe it or not, Rolling Stone, there are some that are talented.

Gary Richrath
R.E.O. Speedwagon

he meant EVERY word he said

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/gary-richrath-dies/

He was REO's lead guitarist and one of the main songwriters from the band's start all the way through the end of the 80s. He was only 65.

saw them open for Def Leppard the other day and lord is Kevin Cronin long-winded and corny live.

oh man, I bet.

still got a soft spot in my heart for these guys

I never paid REO Speedwagon much mind, but one of their videos (Time for Me to Fly) came up on a Vevo channel I was watching the other day and I found myself really enjoying it and decided to check out some other stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR8CnXn8LY0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeHkaSH0Xw8

I find this all very defensible. Am I just getting old?