What Does the Future Spell for Kevin Cronin After the End of REO Speedwagon?

REO Speedwagon are one of the longest-running bands of all time, having existed in various forms from 1966 until 2024. Kevin Cronin was a huge part of their success after joining in 1972 and taking on the role of lead vocalist.

The legendary US rockers decided that it was finally time to hang up their guitars in 2024, however, when they played their final farewell concert with Cronin at Las Vegas’ The Venetian Theatre. Even though REO Speedwagon won’t be seen together anymore, Cronin has said that he wants to continue making music and touring.

Cronin Set to Continue Touring

According to reports, the main reason for the disbanding of REO Speedwagon was due to a dispute between Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall. Although it’s sad that these rockers can no longer work together, it’s also good news for fans, as it means that they didn’t end because they were tired of touring. In fact, Cronin has no intention to stop what he does best. The only difference is that he’s now doing it under his own name and not the banner of REO Speedwagon.

Fans of REO Speedwagon can’t be too dismayed, as the Kevin Cronin Band still features Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt from REO Speedwagon. Because Cronin wrote a lot of the songs for the band, he still has the rights to play these live. However, Cronin has expressed his disappointment that he is no longer going out under the iconic banner of REO Speedwagon. While the songs and performances may still be amazing, it’s just not quite the same vibe anymore.

Artist Needs to Cement His Legacy

With Cronin being at the final stages of his career, he needs to ensure that he cements his legacy and is remembered for many years after his retirement. Instead of endlessly touring, it would make sense for him to grow his social media presence and tap into modern audiences.

Another thing he could look into is developing soundtracks for more films, as this is something that has worked well for him in the past. Indeed, he wrote Wherever You’re Goin’ (It’s Alright) for The Goonies in 1985 and became a part of that picture’s rich history. The film is still legendary in popular culture and even has its own Megaways casino game, The Goonies Megaways. With talk of a sequel to the classic film on the way, if Cronin can get on the soundtrack again, it will help his music endure in the mainstream.

In the age of streaming, there’s potential for Cronin to work on various films and television series as a soundtrack writer in the last few years of his career. In doing so, he could get a lot of his work out there and hope that some of the films become as iconic as The Goonies.

With Cronin now 74 years old, he needs to make some big decisions about his future. It may make sense for him to put less emphasis on touring now and focus on projects that help his legacy live on.