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The world of music, like many forms of collaborative creative projects, is as often a place of incredible collaboration as it is filled with potential inner turmoil, and band dynamics can be as fragile and delicate as it is ever enduring and the very long and popular journey that “REO Speedwagon" experienced now reached an impasse and that leads to interesting conversations about shared legacy, power struggles between individuals that often seem invisible in plain sight, and more than that: the ability for someone with a particular level of renown in their chosen trade to maintain relevance once the original setting (which initially set all grounds for their current form) is no longer fully available. So today we explore this aspect as we dissect the end of the REO era, through the viewpoint of lead singer Kevin Cronin.
The recent disbanding of “REO Speedwagon," as per information, came after the band members struggled to continue under a shared consensus as health issues within the team seemed impossible to work out while maintaining core identity values. What's important is how band main voice Kevin Cronin was completely against the choice and through all announcements made it very obvious ( if in somewhat bittersweet) about those sentiments regarding any form of end and this conflict shows very important power struggles for fans to dissect; he, as the ‘main core identifiable member’ through his very particular vocals as well as public persona of the group, was never in control to shape the entire production as that relied on the others to agree on his points and with such creative structures very rarely all parties will act in direct harmony so disagreements of that nature tend to always appear which means the end, despite clearly not being anyone's single action (but that of all acting with their rights, for better or for worst ) becomes a unique case for creative collaborative groups. As each side had very unique reasons to make their choices it was a clash that might’ve seemed unavoidable.
While the official press releases indicate that both Kevin and bassist Bruce Hall intended to continue it's with the vote of the sole founder member of REO Speedwagon ( keyboardist Neal Doughty ) that any choice of ‘next move’ must be done and it was this power structure with each member holding direct voting and ownership rights within REO, that lead to the eventual official band breakup and what clearly shows an imbalance when regarding the public perception (Kevin’s side) and the power structure that it was set upon (Bruce, Neal). This was less a single person responsible and more about collective, albeit not entirely shared agreement between bandmates.
With "REO Speedwagon’s” original structure concluded (as per their last concert) Kevin Cronin now begins what can be understood as his very own individual career path, under his name rather than a group name. In that next step Cronin’s challenges become: how does a creative entity remain relevant after a previously very well defined identity must go and its with that transition that many previous core character elements that may appear hidden before begin their process of fully emerging to then create another new story framework. He is no longer limited to being simply the lead singer of “REO" , that singular element becomes a strong challenge for his own ability as well. With his clear desire and need for his career continuing that responsibility also translates on how well his future output can capture his core fan base while being different enough to justify his independent journey now devoid of that previous popular framework and setting which will also translate on new viewing experiences from old shows too.
By openly ( if a little sadly ) claiming that he “never quit” REO, he sets a tone for his next move and highlights he is still connected with everything he achieved previously. His next move does show all of this when his concerts are specifically called “ The Songs of REO Speedwagon". This specific element serves not simply to re-brand but showcase clearly that new and old can co-exist without the ‘original’ label. In these situations what really stands out is how a shared label from other members carries so much power over individual choices even if its for the main creative voice. Through all that change however, Cronin clearly is focusing to offer that core "REO experience’ for all of his fanbase despite all difficulties or obstacles. All that shows ( once more) some complex situations and also character’s dedication to his fan base.
The very last days from REO and its very abrupt ( and public) end showcase that complex human interaction: the desire to honor tradition whilst also accepting personal artistic ambitions isn't always easy, as seen throughout most band dynamics that all seem so clearly defined and set for many casual fans but never are, in particular through what Cronin openly displays as his desire for band members to follow through with his level of dedication to their craft. What’s crucial about all this is to recognize that none of this was ‘evil’ but instead all actions were the results of different approaches, personalities and motivations. While most artists seem set as an ‘either or’ with personal egos colliding here, that’s presented mostly in terms of different ideas and approaches rather than someone trying to deliberately disrupt from malice as a main motivator; a very interesting point that few often realize when analyzing creative band members collaborations as each is often their own person with set goals and personal values that are in place before their band roles.
Cronin wishes for new avenues to experiment within, showcasing clear need to remain creatively relevant whilst honoring past accomplishments. He wishes for a method to give classic old band hits for new generations of potential viewers. These all highlight a deeper sense for human character, when that core group interaction changes so much and in cases where shared control is so high this shows that a brand name carries a large weight not simply for fans, but for the original authors behind its music too. He shows a desire to build something new, as he creates and collaborates through new music but at the same time never lets go what worked before through various established REO fan favorites all this without an explicit demand (but rather an invitation ) showing the fine subtle balances between honoring the past while building future endeavors in a creative manner; a situation that most artists with long-running production history often have a complex relationship about and this is rarely highlighted in similar cases.
What truly seems remarkable after looking at that REO case through Kevin’s own viewpoint; shows more about the process for transition into solo work: is that how despite this end, Cronin seems completely resolved about using that moment for growth not as a negative aspect to hold him back as often this is the first assumption that most often appears when those events like that do take place and to a certain extent you must respect any creative individual who wishes to keep expanding his reach rather than simply rest on long past fame; he continues to move and that all shows not just his talent but personal level of strength in character values, regardless if “REO” can or will ever perform again as originally presented.
Through this we now learn that sometimes great collaborations that reach those incredible moments do always have the potential of a break and for those moments it also helps to realize how a single band name might end; its up to individuals and that process provides great context; as in many cases a split is the moment that then makes room for new creative avenues to manifest that otherwise would’ve remain unexplored within a stable context and by taking this point of view one may also better appreciate both past and what is still coming in the future when dealing with any artistic endeavor. For many it will signal as a clear ‘end' but when viewed within an accurate individual perspective one sees it instead as the start for a new, unique, and exciting, yet unexplored pathway for all sides.