LOS ANGELES — REO Speedwagon is slamming on the brakes: The rock band will halt touring amid the group’s “irreconcilable differences.”
The “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep on Loving You” group announced Monday that it would retire from the road on Jan. 1 because of bassist Bruce Hall’s back issues and lead singer Kevin Cronin’s recent departure from the band after emergency surgery. When Hall stepped away to have back surgery in November, bassist and vocalist Matt Bissonette, who has played with the David Lee Roth Band, Ringo Starr and the Roundheads, and Electric Light Orchestra, stepped in. Hall later said that touring was a challenge because of problems with his posture.
“Bruce (Hall) has intended to be Back On the Road Again by now. If it were up to just him, he’d be back on tour… but it’s not up to just him,” the band said in a statement posted on its social media. “The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect. Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that Matt (Bissonette) has been around to keep the Wagon rolling through the summer tour. Bruce never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans, and crew he has loved for almost 50 years.”
REO Speedwagon wrapped its co-headlining Summer Road Trip tour with pop-rock band Train last week.
