REO Speewagon was one of the Best '70's rock n roll bands! They blew out of Illinois & by the '80's they had two # 1 hit singles; Keep on Loving You & I Can't Fight This feeling. They had the # 1 lp High in Fidelity & sold out concerts everywhere they went. I love their early years w/ Greg on bass & Terry & Michael Murphy on Lead vocals. What a superb band!

Posted by Big Steve on Thursday, 01/24/2013 @ 09:47am

REO Speedwagon

01. Neal Doughty (1967–Present; piano, keyboards, organ)
02. Kevin Cronin (1972-Present; vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards)
03. Bruce Hall (1977–Present; bass guitar, vocals)
04. Alan Gratzer (1967–1988; drums)
05. Joe Matt (1967–1968; guitar, vocals)
06. Mike Blair (1967–1968; bass, vocals)
07. Gregg Philbin (1968–1977; bass, vocals)
08. Terry Luttrell (1968–1972; vocals)
09. Bob Crownover (1968–1969; guitar)
10. Steve Scorfina (1969–1970; guitar)
11. Gary Richrath (1970–1989; guitar, vocals)
12. Mike Murphy (1973–1976; guitar, vocals)

Posted by Roy on Thursday, 03/6/2014 @ 07:09am

You listed KC as 1972-present that is incorrect, 1972, then 1976-present. Graham Lear Drums 1989, Miles Joseph Guitar, 1990-present Brian Hitt Drums and Dava Amato guitar. They also had Jesse Harms on keyboards in 1990.

They should be in. They brought the power ballad to the top, out charted Billy Joel and others in 1981. Listen to their earlier music and you will clearly hear some interesting music that was pre fusion of the late 70's. They were always ahead of their time.

Posted by James on Saturday, 03/15/2014 @ 16:25pm

I only listed the members who have a chance at induction.

Posted by Roy on Saturday, 03/15/2014 @ 16:48pm

Only thing i noticed about Speedwagon was the singe. sang with some type of accent. Then High Infidelity came out and we had our first rock/pop ballad Keep on loving you. They had other good songs and if you watch live footage they had more musical chops then they ever got credit for, but not Hall worthy.

Posted by Rock Authority on Thursday, 08/28/2014 @ 22:14pm

Only thing i noticed about Speedwagon was the singe. sang with some type of accent. Then High Infidelity came out and we had our first rock/pop ballad Keep on loving you. They had other good songs and if you watch live footage they had more musical chops then they ever got credit for, but not Hall worthy.

Posted by Rock Authority on Thursday, 08.28.14 @ 22:14pm

A little geography lesson for you to understand the accent:

On the South side of Chicago you have the Roseland neighborhood. To the west of that is Morgan Park then Mt Greenwood neighborhoods. West of that is the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn.

Chuck (guitar) and John Panozzo (drums) and Dennis DeYoung of Styx are from Roseland. Peter Cetera of Chicago is from Morgan Park. Kevin Cronin, lead singer for REO was raised in Oak Lawn and went to Brother Rice high school in Mt Greenwood. I should also note that Jonathan Cain, keyboardist for Journey is one of the survivors of the Our Lady of Angels fire - that puts him on the West side and same area as Terry, Danny, Lee, Walt and Jimmy of Chicago.

I feel you may need to rethink REO's worthiness. REO and Journey and maybe Styx and Chicago to a smaller extent are forerunners of the power ballad. Riding the Storm Out is regularly used at Hawks games. Adam Sandler is known to include REO songs in his movies. Van Halan is pretty much a Californized caricature of REO. Personally i much prefer Kevin's sense of humor over DLR's posturing and Gary Richrath's underrated guitar playing over EVH's hotdogging. Right now I have been looking into Chicago but when I get into REO I will start adding other influences.

By the way REO has been around since the early 70's so you might want to check out some of their earlier songs such as Flying Turkey Trot and 157 Riverside Avenue

Posted by Zuzu on Friday, 12/19/2014 @ 11:39am

1st album was the absolute best. With Terry Luttrell as lead singer - their 1st album was hot.

Then Luttrell left on came the band that begin to write and play to kiss the radio's ass.

Everybody loves money.

Gypsy Woman's Passion still one of the most bad ass songs written.

Posted by Yellow Barrel on Thursday, 01/8/2015 @ 15:15pm

RIP, Gary Richrath

Posted by Aaron O'Donnell on Monday, 09/14/2015 @ 10:53am

I didn't see t coming, but in the most recent photos, Gary Richrath looked pretty bad. May he rest in peace.

Posted by Joe on Monday, 09/14/2015 @ 11:34am

I saw Aaron's post and I had to find my favorite live version of 157 Riverside Avenue to listen to.

RIP Gary Richrath

Posted by Zuzu on Monday, 09/14/2015 @ 13:08pm

Throw out everything they did after 1980. Their work from the 70's is more than enough to get them in the RR-HOF. REO T.W.O. is a masterpiece.
RIP Gary R.

Posted by Bob on Wednesday, 12/9/2015 @ 11:44am

I would have thought that Ridin' The Storm Out and Time For Me To Fly would have been essential songs.

Posted by Brian on Sunday, 10/23/2016 @ 16:25pm

I have been looking for REO in the HOF for a while now. I guess this year answered one question - Journey is in. But Journey does not have the "rockin' credentials REO had before morphing into the Power Ballad group - songs like "Like You DO" Riding The Storm Out" "157 Riverside Avenue" no boring melodies there... So my question remains: Why is Journey in and REO never got a vote?

Posted by elgee on Thursday, 12/22/2016 @ 16:12pm

Because REO is so LAME, and Kevin Cronin looks like (a very old version of) Big Bird...

Posted by Enough of Boomer Rock Already on Thursday, 12/22/2016 @ 17:00pm

Now that Journey is in, all bets are off. They are very good but not great. Kind of like Ryne Sandberg. Still, whenever I want a blast I'll ask Siri to play Time for Me to Fly. And every song, btw, has a soaring guitar solo.

Posted by Benjyedwards on Thursday, 02/9/2017 @ 18:14pm

Ridin the storm out,Like you do , our time is gonna come, keep pushin ,golden country, roll with the changes, music man , lighting, son of a poor man,157,I could keep going but enough said. All great songs , put them in the hall. These are songs over a spand of their whole career not just the 80s. The people running the the hall are idiots in my opinion

Posted by Greg Curtis on Sunday, 04/30/2017 @ 11:51am

Just listen to " You get what you Play for " , it's LIVE and Ohhhhh soooo gooood ,

Posted by Willdog40 on Sunday, 08/13/2017 @ 00:31am

You Get What You Play For doesn't have the best live version of 157 Riverside Avenue. You can find that on the Decade of Rock and Roll 1970 - 1980.

I came across a You Tube video of REO performing that version live but I can't seem to find it recently.

Posted by Zuzu on Sunday, 08/13/2017 @ 16:20pm

RIP Gary Richrath, guitar super-star! I say Yes to REO.

Posted by Worm on Monday, 08/14/2017 @ 14:29pm

I have seen REO live three times and am still listening to them today and have been since 1972.The band was good before Kevin Cronin was the lead singer but became an arena headliner when he rejoined the band in the early 70's.Their live shows with the incredible lead guitarist Gary Richrath were 2nd to none in the mid 70's to early 80's.Their huge body of work ,longevity and popularity to this day deserves induction into the hall ,no question.Why does a band have to be an innovator of some form of musical style as stated in some of the above comments,if that is the criteria there would be about 15 bands in the hall.How about if the band had a great following ,produced great music that plenty of people liked,had a long productive career and on top of that were all great musicians and or songwriters.To me that is a hall of fame career and REO SPEEDWAGON fits all of the above and then some.

Posted by Mark M on Saturday, 10/7/2017 @ 13:22pm

If your not ever going to let bands like REO Speedwagon or Styx into the hall of fame, maybe you should just change the name from rock and roll hall of fame to music hall of fame, or maybe even add a classic rock hall of fame. Too many artists are included that are not "rock and roll". Nothing against some of the music but is rap or disco etc really what you think about when you say rock and roll? And when they are included over actual rock and roll bands then it is time to wonder what this hall of fame is actually about.

Posted by Ron on Monday, 10/23/2017 @ 18:47pm

Spoken like a true white supremacist...

Posted by KXB on Monday, 10/23/2017 @ 18:53pm

Since so many people on here are clueless about REO I thought I should start giving some information on them.

Here is a video that someone did that is a synopsis of REOs albums. It might give you a taste of their music styles over the years.

to clear up some misinformation on why older songs are played at REO concerts in particular Ridin the Storm Out here is what Kevin Cronin has to say.

There are certain songs that will always be played at REO concerts because this are songs that the fans want to hear.

So that means the fans know the older REO songs. For the record some of these songs were released as singles - so no the fans do not think they are deep cuts.


from

Review: REO Speedwagon delivers vintage rock
Band plays most of the classics at Twin River BY STEPHEN PETERSON SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Nov 17, 2012


The triple-song encore had the group's signature song and first No. 1, "Keep on Lovin' You" off of "Hi Infidelity" that Cronin was also on piano for, the electrifying "Ridin' the Storm Out"- its first popular song and from 1972 - and a medley that included "Gloria" and a couple of Who songs, "See Me, Feel Me," and "I Can See For Miles."

Influenced by the Allman Brothers, The Beatles, CCR and Chuck Berry, REO influenced Eddie Money, Kenny Loggins, Boston, and Journey, the latter who along with REO were pioneers with the power ballad. REO also paved a path with Midwest rock for Styx, Kansas, and Cheap Trick.

Now if you are not familiar with an artist ask for help and stop passing judgement on artist that you are clueless about. Also can the SEXIST comments - Women's opinions count just as much as the guys and when I see song, album and rankings I can see the lack of female input. You don't have that balance you might as well not do it since it looks like a joke.

Posted by Zuzu on Friday, 02/16/2018 @ 13:51pm

I think REO deserves a nomination and induction. I am a kid of the 80s so Bands like PJ and Nirvana where huge for me. But when I was younger I heard all the bands of the 70s and to be honest REO II is a excellent album that helped propel them to the status they deserved well into the 80s. I have seen them at least 8 times in large venues and small and each time they are perfect. There musical message is as powerful today as it was in the 70s and 80s. It is time for this to happen.

Posted by Jason on Saturday, 07/28/2018 @ 16:47pm

Their. Not there. Auto correct got me

Posted by Jason on Saturday, 07/28/2018 @ 17:26pm

Not gonna happen.

Posted by The Dude on Saturday, 07/28/2018 @ 21:33pm

They do not meet the criteria for induction into the HOF.

Posted by Mark on Sunday, 07/29/2018 @ 12:32pm

Mark Dude

You both need to look into REO a little bit more and I suggest listening to live versions of

Golden Country
157 Riverside Avenue
Riding the Storm Out

Posted by Zuzu on Sunday, 07/29/2018 @ 14:43pm

I know one of their albums went diamond last year, and a handful of bands I know cited them as one of their influences. But I just don’t think that’s enough to meet the Hall’s criteria; they’re more likely to be on the Singles category rather than an actual induction.

Posted by The Dude on Sunday, 07/29/2018 @ 15:44pm

Dude

Go listen to those songs I listed. I would also add Flying Turkey Trot. They had way too many significant songs to fall into the singles only category. That category is more for artist that only had one or two hits and not for somebody that had about a decades worth of significant work like REO.

They were more influential than you think. Google Kevin Cronin and read or listen to what he says. I just recently found out that they opened for Aerosmith and that they had Judas Priest open for them when they were trying to break into the US.

Don't forget that they were key to the development of the power ballad. Slash's guitar playing style is defined as building on a style that Gary R started.

Posted by Zuzu on Sunday, 07/29/2018 @ 16:25pm

Well Jimi Hendrix opened for The Monkees, so by that logic The Monkees should be in.

Where exactly does Slash cite Gary as an influence?

As for the band themselves, while they are not without merit, they are not worthy of being in the hall.

Posted by Follower on Sunday, 07/29/2018 @ 18:13pm

I did not say Slash said - I said Slash is often compared to Gary.

There is a big difference in the meaning.

Interesting that on researching REO, that people who are musicians speak very highly of earlier REO. I actually find that on here several people are not even aware of their whole body of work and do not rate them as highly as they deserve.

I have seen several artist that several people on here insisted they would be inducted right away that did not get enough votes. I personally would be shocked if REO did not get the votes if nominated.

Posted by Zuzu on Sunday, 07/29/2018 @ 18:37pm

Stop the presses! I agree with Zuzu! I think if REO Speedwagon ever got nominated, they would get inducted with haste. Especially in the current climate of the Rock Hall. And depending upon who else was on the ballot, they could very easily win the fan vote.

Posted by Philip on Sunday, 07/29/2018 @ 23:02pm

REO SPEEDWAGON IS THE MOST UNDERRATED BAND EEEVEEEER!!! I BET 99.9% OF YOU PEOPLE DONT KNOW THAT REO WAS FORMED IN 1967. 99.9% OF YOU DONT KNOW THAT REO HAD MAJOR BANDS OOENING FOR THEM BANDS LIKE UFO AND SUCH. THIS SHIT IS LONG OVERDUE. REO IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. REO IS A BAND WITH DEEP LYRICS YES BELIEVE IT OR NOT!!!. GARY RICHRATH( RIP) WAS AND STILL IS THE MIST UNDERRATED GUITARIST. EVEN RICHIE BLACKMORE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT HE LIKED HI INFIDELITY AND HE ALSO SAID THAT HE WANTED RAINBOW TO GO ON THAT DIRECTION. ..

REO FANS OUT THERE CAN JOIN MY FAVEBOOK GROUP
REO SPEEDWAGON FOR THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME.

Posted by Yamariz on Sunday, 08/5/2018 @ 23:05pm

REO rocks, and it's inexcusable they are not in the Hall of Fame yet. They had the top selling album (Hi Infidelity) of 1981 and have had numerous hits that made the Top 10. They are talented musicians that deserve to be recognized … hopefully very soon!

Posted by Patti Garner on Sunday, 08/5/2018 @ 23:16pm

Yamariz,

You might like to look under the American Breed. I found some interesting info on a connection between REO & Styx to Gary Loizzo and thru him a connection to Rufus.


And some people on here said there was no support for REO getting inducted into the hall.

Posted by Zuzu on Sunday, 08/5/2018 @ 23:46pm

Eh, i would induct New Order and Depeche Mode first before them.

Posted by Michael on Monday, 10/8/2018 @ 19:19pm

Who (with any taste/sense) wouldn't?

#zuzu
#defectivesped

Posted by KXB on Monday, 10/8/2018 @ 19:28pm

REO Speedwagon helped to bring rock music down in the '80s. They were soft rockers at the end of the day and we all know how the Rock Hall feels about that. They're as influential to rock and roll as Waylon Twitty lol...

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Monday, 10/8/2018 @ 19:38pm

^ Conway Twitty* (I confused him with Waylon Jennings lol)

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Monday, 10/8/2018 @ 19:38pm

Tmothy, 'Waylon Twitty' would be a good band name!

Southern rock or maybe bluegrass...What do you think?

Posted by Paul in KY on Monday, 10/8/2018 @ 20:13pm

Paul in KY,

Haha yeah that would be a good name. And southern rock definitely! Haha might be a really good band.

Posted by Timothy Pernell on Monday, 10/8/2018 @ 21:33pm

Gary eats frets for breaakfast

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

Posted by Zuzu on Tuesday, 10/9/2018 @ 22:09pm

REO rocked it - people would actually know this if they got off their lazy behinds and look things up instead of being good little bots that let propagandists do their their thinking for them.

Maybe if people looked into things for themselves they would realize why so many suggestions coming from the propagandists are so wrong. All it takes is a little deductive logic to spot the propaganda fraud. What they say has too many loose ends and does not make sense.

Posted by Zuzu on Friday, 11/30/2018 @ 10:32am

Yes, REO invented the power ballad. Before them, you had rock bands performing slow tempo songs with rock instruments (Dream On), rock bands performing piano ballads (Beth, Open Arms), and rock bands performing songs that started as a ballad and transitioned into a full rock song (Stairway To Heaven, Lady), but you never had a song that was a piano ballad with hard rock guitar melded together throughout the entire song. "Keep On Loving You" was indeed the genre-making, influential game changer when it comes to the power ballad. It opened the door for hard rock and metal bands to find more mainstream success, and showed Journey that yes, Neal Schon could play like Neal Schon on a ballad. Listen to the difference between "Open Arms" and "Faithfully".

In addition to inventing the power ballad, REO has a relentless touring schedule that no other band can match, which has resulted in an extremely loyal fan base. They were able to stay on Epic Records for 7 albums before scoring a radio hit, and 10 albums before their huge success with Hi Infidelity, because of how popular they are live. What other bands have garnered such patience from a record label? And REO's play anywhere mentality meant their careers took a very different path from their peers. While other bands replaced key members, lost popularity, broke up, reunited, then replaced key members again to form a 21st century touring version, REO replaced key members and kept marching right along. The loyalty of their fans was actually the biggest barrier to a reunion, since REO never stopped existing like Styx, Journey, Fleetwood Mac and other bands did. They have had the same line-up since 1990. Again, how many other bands can say that?

Posted by Golddenim on Friday, 04/12/2019 @ 17:47pm

I can say I have seen REO over 15 times and they are the most polished band I have ever seen play live. One show they played 18 songs.....and they kicked ass.
I no longer look to Cleveland for awards of any kind.
How many 50-70 year olds listen to REO, close their eyes and travel back to their youth and not so innocent high school years.

Posted by Chiefc on Wednesday, 09/25/2019 @ 23:31pm

I am getting ready to attend my 105th REO Speedwagon concert. They have been touring almost 50 years and are still touring. Playing to sold out shows at every venue!! Very few bands have accomplished what REO has!! So many great REO albums to chose from. HI Infedelity alone sold millions of copies and just recently won the Diamond award!! REO is the Greatest Rock Band Of All Time!! REO Speedwagon should have already been inducted!! Long overdue!! They qualify and excel in every category asked to be inducted!! We the fans will KEEP PUSHIN!! INDUCT REO!! Very Sad to see less deserving bands be inducted!! Especially bands that never even played Rock-N-Roll!! The HOF is A JOKE if they don't induct REO!! Nuff said!!

Posted by Regina Renner on Saturday, 10/12/2019 @ 15:16pm

It's hard to understand how a band which has received diamond status on Album as far as sells, and numerous platinum, and gold records along with numerous number 1 hits, and number 1 album status, has never even been considered in the Rock n Roll hall of fame. What kind of panel overlooks a Band as well known as REO Speedwagon. It's disappointing and in my opinion doesn't represent the Rock hall of fame very well as far as far as being aware of the music, in the last 5 decades.

Posted by Danny Butler on Saturday, 10/19/2019 @ 04:18am

Okay, it's like this, REO Speedwagon is great! Gary's guitar riffs are remarkable to this day, difficult to replicate by even exceptional guitarists. Kevin's vocals are solid as they come and he and Gary wrote great music together and individually. The reason why they are not in the HOF is because their fan base is Midwestern and the committee is made of of people who think Rap belongs in the HOF... There is no excuse that can be found for nominating committees work, they regularly make me ill with there choices, I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

Posted by Mike on Tuesday, 11/5/2019 @ 17:32pm

My all time favorite song is 'Roll With The Changes'. Dave Amato honors Gary Richrath in every way when I hear his versions! As it's been said, "You've got your jazz bands and you've got your swing bands and you've got your punk bands too, and lord knows there's all them Rock and Roll bands...but THERE is only ONE...REO SPEEEEDWAGONNNNN!!!"

Posted by Russell on Thursday, 01/16/2020 @ 05:32am

Note to fellow Rock Hall Hobbyists: This is the first band Irving Azoff ever managed. Of course, he managed them before they became famous, but still.

And of course, Irving Azoff is the reason Journey and Bon Jovi are in the Hall.

I don't know he manages them today, but is it possible for them to be his next pet project?

Posted by Follower on Friday, 01/17/2020 @ 15:55pm

I know one nutwad (assuming she isn't dead) who would get a female woody if they were inducted. I just don't see it.

Posted by Paul in KY on Friday, 01/17/2020 @ 16:35pm

For me, I certainly don't want him to go with REO cause I don't think they have no requirements - or at least not enough - to meet the criteria.

He should go with Boston, the Go-Go's and Warren Zevon in the next three years or so and that's it for him.

Posted by The Dude on Friday, 01/17/2020 @ 18:05pm

Reo has been and continues to be the hardest working band out there for decades. They are very much under appreciated by their critics, but not by their fans. They have some of the most loyal fans out there, myself included. Their live shows speak for themselves. So much energy and rock and roll brotherhood towards one another while performing.They also show much love and respect not only for one another as a group, but to their fans as well.

Posted by Karen on Wednesday, 08/12/2020 @ 10:14am

REO hit their stride between 1977 and 1990, all though the late 80's weren't as popular. Had multiple songs chart with two # 1 songs, recharted songs in the 2010's due to movie's. Hi-Infidelity went diamond status a few years ago. They have been working for nearly 50 years. They still sell out venues, they have a great fan following. There's no reason why they shouldn't be in, considering half of the hall have people inducted that have nothing to do with contributing to rock and roll.

Posted by Jacob Skidmore on Thursday, 09/24/2020 @ 06:07am

REO definitely belongs in the HOF. They have been entertaining with a huge fan base for over 40 years and isn't that what a HOF career is all about. Enough of these 1 hit wonders making it in, just because some people feel what they did was different. Put in the career pros, and that means all of them, in addition to REO!

Posted by Timothy Brown on Friday, 10/30/2020 @ 16:27pm

REO should be in. Forget 80's. How about one of the greatest live albums ever. "You get what you play for"
Ridin the storm out, Music Man, and Golden country. What a finish to a great album.

Posted by Bob Brainerd on Wednesday, 12/2/2020 @ 09:59am

Folks, I think their pre-Tuna Fish stuff alone should get them in the HOF! I'll put the songs Like You Do, Golden Country, Ridin' the Storm Out, Keep Pushin, and Lay Me Down up against any 70's rock bands' top 5! They then transition beautifully from hard rock to easier rock with All time great Time for Me to Fly, Blazin Your Own Trail, Lucky for You, and Roll with the Changes from Tuna Fish. Add the Nine Lives' greats Easy Money, Only the Strong Survive, and Back on the Road Again, and its a no brainer. However, they then transitioned to top 40 with the megahits from Hi Infidelity, plus quality songs from Good Trouble and double platinum Wheels!! Like them or not, their body of work is undeniable compared to others in the hall.

Posted by Eric on Monday, 03/1/2021 @ 23:04pm

No it isn't...

Posted by Mr. XFL on Tuesday, 03/2/2021 @ 00:15am

In January of 1977, REO Speedwagon released a record which would go on to become their first Platinum album..
After a stretch of 6 Studio LP's, they convinced their record company to do a Live album, because they knew they were a stronger band Live in concert. Other bands were also having success with their Live records including Kiss, Peter Frampton, Rush, and later Thin Lizzy and UFO.
So in 1977, after the outstanding Live: You Get What You Play For double album by REO Speedwagon hit the record stores, it became one of the biggest hard rocking Party albums of the summer. They scored pretty big with this record, gaining much popularity and gave them that solid platform to progress forward with their next few highly successful albums. I remember as a teenager when first hearing this great double record and being very impressed with their party Rock nature and their ability to connect and appeal to the audiences and fans.
Anyway here is a reason for that new success they had back in 1977 with a Live version of one of their signature songs from that popular record, "Golden Country"..

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

___

Posted by Will N on Sunday, 03/21/2021 @ 14:04pm

How could REO not be included? Makes no sense. They have sold millions of records and deserve to be inducted ASAP

Posted by Paul Daskal on Tuesday, 04/13/2021 @ 17:16pm

Sales don't always = excellence, that's why!

Posted by Mr. XFL on Tuesday, 04/13/2021 @ 17:41pm

I have just read through the comments in the thread. Can't believe this is actually a conversation.

Read one comment that said "it is not a bands fault if people don't know who they are?" That could be the strangest comment I have ever read. Whose fault is it then? If their music was worth induction into the HOF seems like it would be recognized by more than 1% of the population.

I grew to adulthood listening to this music. In my mid teens I did not have to have anyone tell me who "Led Zepplin" was their music did that. And no one had to tell me in my late teens who REO was as there music did that.

Have to admit there is very little, in concert going, that will rival the sound of the fog horn as the stage is black and the band comes out for the encore of Riding the Storm out.

Is everyone on this thread serious. There is no question in this discussion. The fact that everyone who put a post here "for" or "against" did so from a personal experience tells you something.

Their music affected us all, or at least everyone listening.

Put them in and move on. And for the one comment about why would you put them in before STYX or Journey. I agree put them all in. I am sure there is room and their music warrants it. Notorious BIG and not REO. REALLY???

Posted by Danny on Tuesday, 05/18/2021 @ 16:09pm

REO just performed on CNN for 4th of July and won the night. They deserve to be there in the HOF. A 50 year old band, who is still relevant. They aren't a one hit wonder. They've been number one. They are more deserving than many bands in the hall. I always point to the Cranberries as a one-hit-wonder in the hall with Zombie; Linger is ok. Or Radiohead with Creep. These songs, Zombie and Creep are monster songs the deserve to be in the hall; but they are kind of one-hit-wonder bands.

It's funny reading some of these earlier comments... Journey isn't HOF, Sytx isn't. Kiss isn't. Janis Joplin isn't. Things have changed in the last 15 years. All of these guys are in the hall of fame now. I think times have changed... and now it's time to recognize REO as deserving a nod.

Most bands in the HOF have had a hard edge. These guys went against the grain. Certainly better than REM. Certainly made an impact on the culture, and probably a lot of births... ha ha.

Posted by Richard McQuillen on Monday, 07/5/2021 @ 19:10pm

Once I saw that Cheap Trick is in the Rock and Roll HOF and they have sold half of the amount of albums that REO has, then they should be in also. I believe they are a much more popular band than Cheap Trick. I can understand why they aren't until I saw that.

Posted by John Graves on Saturday, 07/10/2021 @ 02:15am

Hard to believe Blondie is in the RRHF and REO isn't. This may be why so many of us consider the hall a joke.

Posted by Thomas Petrovich on Monday, 08/16/2021 @ 16:49pm

Easily should be in high infidelity was the highest selling album of 1981, & keep on loving you had guitar riffs that were amazing for a soft rock ballad, & can't fight this feeling had a kick ass solo for a soft rock ballad.

Posted by Gio Trapani on Tuesday, 09/21/2021 @ 20:33pm

Ok, this year they are inducting The Foo Fighters! Don't get me wrong, they are a great band buy c'mon, not REO Soeedwagon!
What is wrong with these "rock experts" that they have not recognized one of the greatest live touring bands still out there selling out venues for the last 40+ years
Let's get it together "experts". The tone has come!

Posted by Marianne on Friday, 10/8/2021 @ 15:30pm

Janet Jackson made it. Come on!

Posted by Gary L Green on Saturday, 10/23/2021 @ 19:28pm

Reading some comments where people say they are just an average Rock band and didn't influence many. Well if that is the metric, why the hell is Bon Jovi in the HOF?? REO are a great band and deserve to be in! Also why doesn't damn Rolling Stone ever include Gary Richrath in their best 100 guitarist lists?? He is better than 95 guitarists in that list!!

Posted by Bob on Saturday, 11/6/2021 @ 21:17pm

Reading some comments where people say they are just an average Rock band and didn't influence many. Well if that is the metric, why the hell is Bon Jovi in the HOF?? REO are a great band and deserve to be in! Also why doesn't damn Rolling Stone ever include Gary Richrath in their best 100 guitarist lists?? He is better than 95 guitarists in that list!!

Posted by Bob on Saturday, 11/6/2021 @ 21:18pm

I been an REO Speedwagon fan for 43 years. If the only album REO every released was "You Get What You Play For" they deserve their place in the RRHOF. As for those who say "REO brought nothing new to the table..." Most of these people all have one thing in common... none of them witnessed REO's live performances, especially in Kansas City, Missouri. I've personally seen many of the live performances of current RRHOF inductees. Few, if any, took their fans on the ride REO took during a live performance. Do I need to see REO inducted into the RRHOF to validate my loyalty to this band? No. On September 1, 1979, I along with 40,000 other fans witnessed REO perform "Riden' the Storm Out" during a torrential downpour at Royal's Stadium. It was an epic moment in Rock N' Roll history. REO doesn't need the RRHOF as much as the RRHOF needs REO.

Posted by Marvin L Megee on Sunday, 11/14/2021 @ 04:18am

I was 6 years old in 1983, me and the family set across the western United States from California, to Illinois. My father put a cassette in the tape deck and It was REO's Hi-Infidelity album. I fell in love with it, every single song, both sides of the tape, and I was 6. I'm a huge music fan....the Beatles, Led Zep, AC/DC, Steve Miller, Billy Joel, and a multitude of others. I know that REO SPEEDWAGON surpasses all the requirements to make the RRHOF. So many songs, and so good live, they deserve it. While I'm at it though, so does Jim Croce.

Posted by Darren B Baker on Saturday, 11/27/2021 @ 23:09pm

Being from the midwest I was a R.E.O. Speedwagon fan as far back as late 1973 or early 74. I have always loved REO and figured they would have been inducted years ago. They put out some great music and was a big push of the rock power ballads. Either way in my opinion they had one of the best Les Paul players out there, and if they do ever make it, he will never know it now.

Posted by Eddie Arnold on Saturday, 01/15/2022 @ 12:58pm

REO should have been in the RARHOF 10 years ago. I lost all respect many years ago for the hall. Then when groups like Cheap Trick and Joan Jett went in I almost pucked.! Very average bands compared to REO. REO sold twice as many albums and was much more popular. Styx, KANSAS and Foreigner should be in also.

Posted by Phil kalmes on Thursday, 01/27/2022 @ 15:23pm

REO should be in the Hall of Fame. There are plenty of groups in the Hall of Fame that had a lot less success and were a lot less popular. A lot of you are commenting on their catalog from 81 on. But they have incredibly good songs From before that. Songs that a top 40 radio geek Wouldn't know but that should be credited in their catalog as well.. Golden country by itself should put them in the Hall of Fame. T. ERex charted one song in the United States and they're in the Hall of Fame. Frankly I think the Hall of Fame is a joke. And I don't have a problem with who's in as much as I have a problem with who they leave out.

Posted by ScottJ on Saturday, 02/12/2022 @ 15:26pm

I started listening to REO in 1975. When the album "you can tune a piano but you cant tuna fish!" Came out i first heard the song time for me to fly. Its been my favorite song ever since. Countless albums and of course their number one smash album Hi infidelity. They more then deserve to be in the hall. But the hall writers allow people like Janet jackson run dmc and now dolly parton. They have been eligible since 1997. And that is 25 yrs of being denied. They are still out there working and packing them in to their music venues. Ive seen them over 15 times. Always love their music. The music of my late teens early 20s. The best years of my life. Every year they are denied its a slap in the face. Its time they are duly inducted. Thank you.

Posted by Fred J LeBlanc on Tuesday, 02/15/2022 @ 17:37pm

Are you joking?! REO's popularity and song recognition by the generations surrounding them are engrained classics of rock and ballad. To me, the impact they had on me personally was so memorable and everlasting as I listen to them even today. I saw and then met Gary Richrath playing live after he left REO…still ripping the bands on his guitar in 1992…RIP, Gary. And agree… STYX, Journey, Kansas, and Heart are no brainers in my mind. I really don't get it!

Posted by Wade on Sunday, 02/27/2022 @ 17:42pm

Reo Speedwagon absolutely belongs in the RRHOF. I've seen them live 6 times and they never disappoint. Not sure what the "criteria" is but I find it hard to believe they don't meet it. Heck a few of their songs recently re-charted due to their appearance in "Ozark". It's time for them to be included.

Posted by Will S. on Sunday, 04/3/2022 @ 18:33pm

REO is a band I have loved for decades. If the criteria for election in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame include whether a band's songs swim around in your head over and over and bring out high energy emotion, then REO gets my vote on both counts..

Posted by Daniel Hamilos on Tuesday, 05/10/2022 @ 16:32pm

This is a no brainer. REO is an iconic Rock band. There power ballads were some of the best in Rock ever.

Posted by Carl Hardy on Friday, 06/24/2022 @ 08:10am

I hope that, if REO Speedwagon is ever inducted, they include the original members, and not just the obvious Hi Infidelity lineup.

Rest in Peace Gregg Philbin, REO's original bassist, 1947(?)-2022.

Posted by Joe S. on Thursday, 10/27/2022 @ 02:45am

A definite group which should be in the R&R Hall of Fame. There Hi infidelity album alone makes them must.

Posted by Carl Hardy on Sunday, 01/1/2023 @ 15:49pm

Do you guys could only wish they had a success and where is amazing is orioles. The fact that they're not know how to say it's an absolute disgrace. Politics, go listen to all of their music and it's all excellent..

Posted by Michael on Saturday, 01/28/2023 @ 18:49pm

Do you guys could only wish they had a success and where is amazing is orioles. The fact that they're not know how to say it's an absolute disgrace. Politics, go listen to all of their music and it's all excellent..

Posted by Michael on Saturday, 01/28/2023 @ 18:49pm

I have never bought an Eminem album. I did like it in the 2022 induction ceremony where he said he didn't really belong there because he's a rapper. For many years I've had a copy of the Hits by REO Speedwagon. So many good rock songs that I know the words to and enjoy forever. To me glam rock/metal is the best music ever created and used to always party with friends to it in the late 80's-early 90's. I pray I will be listening to glam forever.

Posted by Brian on Friday, 05/12/2023 @ 00:20am

MY OPINION Gary Richrath should be in the rock and roll hall of fame. He was the force of Reo he made Reo Gary was Reo!! Very underrated. The greatest guitar player ever!! May he rest in peace. So very missed ❤❤❤❤

Posted by Bonnie Surzynski on Sunday, 06/4/2023 @ 21:56pm

This band has turned the gears of my soul since I was 14 years old starting with REO TWO. Their song have brought a higher quality to my life. It is beyond my comprehension that this band has not already been inducted into the rock and roll hall. Of fame, are you kidding me? When I look at some of the other Inductees that have already been honored. Wow! Kind of takes away from the prestige.

Posted by Robert Santistevan on Wednesday, 07/5/2023 @ 01:38am

Robert,

Let me remind you that almost every artist & band who got in are more qualified for entry because they have tremendous credentials to earn it. The point of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is to honor those who were considered as the ones who truly CHANGED rock & roll and made it's biggest impact in it's history regardless of what particular genres & instruments rather it's based on influence, innovation, cultural significance & breaking new ground for others to follow suit.

The reason why REO Speedwagon isn't nominated & won't be is basically they don't have any of it, didn't change a damn thing in music plus they aren't important to the music industry & aren't legendary immortals as The Beatles. Same could be said for others who also aren't in like Styx, Foreigner, Boston, Kansas etc. Now you may not like what I've said but it's the freaking truth!

Posted by Jordan Einstein on Wednesday, 07/5/2023 @ 06:39am