REO Speedwagon return to Fort Wayne for a show at Foellinger Theater on Sept. 5. 

Forming in 1967, the band has gone through a few member changes and done a whole lot of touring, which includes a stop at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo the day after their Fort Wayne show.

New Material

Despite being around so long, REO Speedwagon have not slowed down and are a staple within the classic rock community. 

With more than 40 million records sold and 10 Top 40 songs charted, they have amassed quite the following. They have more than 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify with their No. 1 song being “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” sitting at more than 333 million streams. 

REO Speedwagon have not released new music since their Christmas album, Not So Silent Night, in 2009. In 2013, they did release Live at Moondance Jam. 

The Lineup

The Midwest rockers came together in Champaign, Illinois, with Neal Doughty (keyboards), Alan Gratzer (drums), Joe Matt (lead guitar/vocals), and Mike Blair (bass/vocals). 

That lineup lasted a few years, but the current iteration has been stable for a number of years, with singer Kevin Cronin on board since 1972 (although he was gone from the band from 1973-76), bassist Bruce Hall since 1974, guitarist Dave Amato since 1989, and drummer Bryan Hitt since 1990. Founding member Neal Doughty retired in January.

With more than 17 band member changes, there have been a lot of faces in REO. Most notably is Cronin, who wrote and performed two of their biggest songs, “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”

Bringing the hits

The aforementioned songs are just a couple of classics you’re sure to hear at Foellinger.

While “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” were their only songs to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, they are far from their only hits.

Despite releasing eight albums in the 1970s, it wasn’t until 1980’s Hi Infidelity album that they reached the Hot 100 with “Keep On Loving You,” followed by “Take It On the Run” and “Don’t Let Him Go,” which peaked at No. 5 and No. 24, respectively.

Their followup album, Good Trouble, produced “Keep the Fire Burnin’ ” (No. 7) and “Sweet Time” (No. 26). 

The hits kept coming with 1984’s Wheels Are Turnin’ with “Can’t Fight This Feeling” shooting to the top of the charts, while “One Lonely Night” settled in at No. 19.

Their final studio album that saw songs reach the top 30 of the Hot 100 was 1987’s Life As We Know It, featuring “That Ain’t Love” (No. 16) and “In My Dreams” (No. 19).

They did reach No. 20 again in 1988 with “Here With Me” on The Hits compilation album.

With such a catalog of songs to choose from, I’m sure Foellinger Theatre will be filled with many voices singing along on Sept. 5.