REO Speedwagon

7/26/2010 - Hello My Adventurous Friends...

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 PDT

Hello My Adventurous Friends,

I want to announce again that I am very excited to be joining the "Rick Springfield and Friends 2010 Caribbean Cruise", this coming November 15-20.

There will be full concerts by both Rick and me, unplugged songwriting sessions, interview sessions with Mark Goodman and me, Q and A with the fans on board, cocktail parties, and many opportunities to hang out with our friends and fans, as we sail around da Islands on an awesome luxury ocean liner. Sounds like a blast to me!

I need as many REO people as possible to come with me. In case there is a tug-of-war, or a Mojito drinking contest, we need to take those Springfielders down ;-)

It is gonna be a lot of fun, and plus, what else are you doing in the middle of November anyway? It will be freezing cold at home, so come on the cruise and work on that winter tan with us. Check the link for more details and ticket info. All Aboard!!

cruise on, baby...

kc

7/15/2010 - Howdy Strangers

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 PDT

Howdy Strangers,

I know, I used to be so much better at keeping in touch with you all. Believe me, I appreciate you guys supporting our various internet sites...I just wish I were better equipped to navigate them by myself. But alas, I remain fluent only in the art of emailing, and the occasional word processing task.

So I am pecking this letter into my laptop, and will later send it off to our staff for proper vetting, (making sure I haven't put my foot too far into my mouth, nor misspelled any easy words. I usually get the big ones right, it's those everyday common nouns that get me every time. I would have won my third grade spelling bee if I had remembered where the "u" goes, in buisness...er, business), but I digress.

We are three-ish weeks into the "Love On The Run" tour, with the Benatars. Patty's voice is stronger than ever, and Neil plays such great guitar. Add original drummer Myron Grumbacker, and bassist, (and Dave Amato ex-roommate), Mick Mahan, and you have a rock solid rhythm section. I feel lucky that I get to hear their show through the walls every night.

Singer-songwriter, and our good young friend, Keaton Simons, has been warming up the crowds with his soulful voice, nimble acoustic guitar work, and beautiful songs, and is a real treat...so get to the concert on time so you don't miss Keaton.

Meanwhile, REO Speedwagon had one of those gigs for the ages in St. Louis on Saturday night. We always work hard, every night, no matter what, but some shows everything just clicks. Bryan laid down the perfect tempos. Dave, Bruce, and Neal all played with such passion. Riverport Amphitheater was packed, and the audience was so into it. It was just a great night, in the city that really gave our band its start. We headlined a sold out concert at St. Louis' Busch Stadium in 1979...before the Hi Infidelity album came out....

Speaking of which, our nightly tribute to that ubiquitous record is turning out to be so much fun every night. The whole Bob Coburn radio ramp-up gets the crowd ready, the video screens explode with Hi Infidelity images, and then we play side one. (For those of you who missed the whole LP thing, music used to be delivered via 12 inch black plastic disks, with music content on both sides...five songs on side one, then you got up, and flipped the record over and listened to the songs on side two. Kind of a hassle by today's standards, but a ritual that holds nostalgic value for those of us who grew up with it.). We snuck "Like You Do" into the set list, and it was so powerful that we are keeping it in the show for the rest of the summer.

I don't mind saying that you should not miss this tour, and I'm not just saying that because I want to sell tickets to the concerts...well, maybe I am, but you guys really do need to come out and celebrate with us. This is a very special time, commemorating 30 years since we recorded Hi Infidelity, and we are having a total blast!

Now, on a totally different, but equally exciting subject...I am going to be joining my friend, Rick Springfield, on his annual Caribbean concert cruise this coming November. You guys are all invited to grab a ticket to ride, hop on the boat, and rock out with Rick, and your old buddy, kc.

There will be concerts by each of us, and a bunch of other activities, and opportunities to hang out with our friends and fans, as we sail around da Islands in an awesome ocean liner. I need as many REO people as possible to come with me, in case there is a tug-of-war, or a Mojito drinking contest! We need to take those Springfielders down ;-) It is gonna be a lot of fun, and plus, what else are you doing in November anyway? Check the link for more details and ticket info. All Aboard!!

Okay, the bellman just showed up to haul my luggage down to the bus for a night trip to Council Bluffs, Iowa. We are recording our show at Moondance Jam on Friday for Direct TV, then a show in Minneapolis on Saturday, and sweet home Chicago on Sunday. Four in a row...are you ready to go?

keep pushin',

kc

6/24/2010 - Hey Everybody

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 PDT

Hey Everybody,

I need to begin this newsletter by expressing my regret at our having to cancel last Friday's concert in Peru, Illinois. It is rare that weather conditions present a level of danger, both to those on stage, and in the audience, that we can be persuaded to cancel an REO concert. We have been known through the years to ride out our share of storms, but between the wind, the rain, and the lightning, this one got the best of us. I know a whole lot of people planned their night around seeing us play, and wound up soaked, muddy, and frustrated. We are all sorry at how things worked out, and would have liked nothing more than to put on a rock show, but Mother Nature had other plans.

I also want to wish a Happy Fathers day to all you Dads out there. Although I had to miss my children, (which is by far the hardest part of my job), I was able to visit my Dad in Chicago on a day off between shows. I love my children so much, and miss them terribly even as I write this letter. If Holly, Josh, and Shane are reading this...I miss you guys to the moon! Luckily for me, my grown son, Paris, is helping my wife, Lisa, to keep the gang busy while I am on tour. Thanks Paris. It feels great to think of all four of my children together at home, so I do have that going for me, and that's nice.

So tonight is the eve of opening night of the "Love On The Run Tour" in Uncasville, Connecticut at Mohegan Sun Arena . Both REO, and the Benatar band, spent the day tweaking the set lists, putting the final touches on our productions, and fighting the butterflies. Believe it or not, even after years of touring, the night before the first show is a bit nerve racking for me. I cannot wait to hit the stage tomorrow, and get this rock show on the road.

We bought a new mini video recorder for tour manager, Walter, and he is in charge of chronicling our "adventures on the run" this summer. Check the REO Speedwagon Facebook Page, as well as reospeedwagon.com for all of the latest video goodies from the tour.

Now that we are out on the road I will have more time to keep you guys up to date with my newsletters...so stay tuned, and get ready to rock!

kc

5/28/2010 - Rick Springfield Cruise

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 PDT

Hi everybody, KC here, and I will be joining Rick Springfield & friends on his 3rd annual Cruise this November! We’re headed to the Bahamas on the Carnival Cruise Ship Destiny! I’ll be headlining a concert on board as well as participating in the singer-songwriter session with Rick. There will also be chances to meet me in photo sessions when we’re on board, and you never know what else we have in store! The other special guests that will be joining us are Doug Davidson, (Paul Williams) from the Young & The Restless as well as the host, Mark Goodman (MTV, Sirius/XM Radio) and Eric Martsolf (Brady Black) from the Days of Our Lives. For all the details check out http://www.rickspringfieldcruise.com Looking forward to seeing you onboard!"

5/18/2010 - Overcoming My Fear of Facebook

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 PDT

Hey. it's KC here, feeling a bit anxious as I post for the first time here on the REO facebook page. Where will this lead me? What dangers lie ahead? I guess I'm just supposed to share what is on my mind. Since this is my maiden voyage, I will keep it light Here goes... Some of you might have seen the season premiere of "Family Guy" on Sunday night. I had turned down the voiceover gig, because I didn't need to have some animated version of myself talking smack about my ex-wife...bad taste. Well, they went ahead and put it on without my voice, or my consent. Nothing I can do about it...Bummer. I guess it's their freedom of speech, but they fail to consider the affect that their little cartoon joke might have on actual people. Oh well, I just wanted to be clear that wasn't actually me. The good news is that between this Family Guy thing, and Robert Pattinson of Twilight wearing an REO T-shirt on the Oprah Show last Thursday, my daughter Holly is getting even more attention than usual around her middle school campus. Her friends are all gushing about all the cool stuff Mr. Cronin is doing at the moment. Of course, it will all fade as quickly as it appeared, and I will be right back to being Holly's Daddy again, which is my preference anyway ;-) By the way, check out Holly's new video at kevincronin.com. So far my American Idol prediction is holding true. I have it coming down to "Boxershorts, (Crystal Bowersox) and "Goldielocks", (Casey James). We hated to see Big Mike bite the dust, and are expecting to wave goodbye to Lee as of tomorrow. Looking forward to snuggling up with my kids tonight and watching the show. Josh and Shane will head up to bed after Idol, leaving Holly and I to watch our real favorite show...Glee. Can't wait to see what happens tonight! Okay, that was fun. I feel a sense of relief and accomplishment in conquering my fear of facebook...stay tuned for more of my useless musings...kc

3/25/2010 - We were all looking forward to this weekend's shows March 26th & March 27th

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PDT

We were all looking forward to this weekend's shows at the Genesee Theater in Waukegan, and the Rialto in Joliet, Illinois. Unfortunately, our lead guitarist, Dave Amato, is down for the count with a nasty flu bug, and has a fever of over 103 degrees as we speak. Our throat doctor here in LA has ordered him to stay in bed, not to sing for at least a week, and to absolutely not get on an airplane.

Dave is one of the true rock warriors, and if he could, he would absolutely be on stage this weekend. As much as we hate to postpone these concerts, we have to respect doctor's orders. The truth is that we know that both of these shows would be packed with some of our most loyal fans, and we would not be able to do our best for you guys under these conditions.

We are working on rescheduling both shows for another weekend in the near future, and we promise you two very special concerts. We will be previewing the revamped 2010 set list, which includes a special Hi Infidelity segment with a new arrangement of "Keep On Lovin' You", an acoustic set with "In My Dreams" and a brand new song called, "Unfinished Poem (Can't Stop Loving You)", as well as all the hits, plus "Golden Country", "Like You Do", and the return of the telephone bit in "157 Riverside Ave". We were psyched to perform the new show for our friends in Chicago-land, and we will be back soon to do just that.

Meanwhile, we all wish Dave a quick recovery, and again apologize for any inconvenience this postponement has caused you guys.

Keep Pushin,

kc

3/17/2010 - Brad Paisley, Jimmy Kimmel live, and Kevin Cronin a guitar tech??? Read the explanation here.

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PDT

A few weeks after Brad Paisley came up on stage with us to sing background vocals on "Roll With The Changes" in Nashville, I paid him a visit backstage at Jimmy Kimmel Live in LA. I had a great time hanging with actor Eric Roberts in the Green Room, which led to his stepson, Keaton Simons being booked to open a number of REO/Benatar shows this coming summer.

During his interview, Brad was talking about tour pranks, so I decided to play one on him during his live performance. Needless to say, he was surprised when an "unfamiliar roadie" ran out on stage for his final guitar change. I had the whole running out really fast, crouching down, handing him his guitar thing, down. I would make a dang good guitar tech, if I do say so myself.

We are in Myrtle Beach tonight, and Savannah tomorrow, with Edwin McCain as special guest on both shows. He will be doing a bunch of the REO/Benatar shows this summer too. Edwin is awesome, be sure and get to the concerts early.

kc

2/24/2010 - I Guess I Just Needed a Break...

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

I guess I just needed a break, some time to be a daddy, a husband, a friend, a lover, a neighbor, a coach, and finally a songwriter. All of those roles led me to finishing my first new tune in nearly a year. For me, there is no feeling quite like playing a freshly created song for the first time. Then comes the anxiety laden adventure of parading my latest in front of the band.

Now, I am one of the fortunate few songwriters who has a full time band, by the name of REO Speedwagon, who hunger for their chance to take this little morsel I just cooked up, and feast upon it. Like a pack of coyotes eying a plump little bunny, they prepare their chops, as they listen and learn the nuances of every chord change and rhythmic passage. Each attempts to embrace, then capture, the flow of music and emotion which has been laid before them.Being a part of the process, as well as an observer, is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. I feel honored by the care which the guys take in building my little folk song into an REO Speedwagon song. I am a very lucky guy.

In the midst of the song building process, we find time to do what Bruce and Neal actually traveled cross-country to join forces with Dave, Bryan, and me to do...rehearse for the upcoming summer tour. Yes, we still really do rehearse ;-).The upcoming "Love On The Run Tour" with REO and Pat Benatar, plus special guest singer/songwriters such as Edwin McCain and Keaton Simons, fires up in mid-June, and runs through October 2010. We are very pumped to be out with Pat and Neil Giraldo for the first time since 1995.

This year, and 2011, will mark the 30 year anniversary of the recording, release, and phenomenal success story of our Hi Infidelity album, which is a part of just under ten million people's record collections. I am not much into nostalgia, I prefer looking forward, growing, and creating new music, but this particular anniversary is just too special. We have chosen to embrace, and celebrate, this most magical series of events, and share this unbelievable feeling with the whole REO Family.

So, starting with the four sold-out shows this weekend with Styx and 38 Special, in Rockford, Springfield, Louisville, and Toledo, we will pay homage to the album, which after ten years of touring and recording, put our band on the map in 1981. We will be playing Hi Infidelity songs which have been rarities on our set lists over the years, including visual images from that time period in our stage production, and featuring special items at the merch stand to commemorate the album which altered the history of our band so immeasurably.

I am looking forward to including all of you, our most loyal fans, as we look back, and forward, through the next eighteen months. Hold on babe, here we go!

kc

Tour Dates 2010

February 24, 2010 Rockford Metro Centre Rockford, IL
February 25, 2010 Prairie Capital Convention Center Springfield, IL
February 26, 2010 Freedom Hall Louisville, KY
February 28, 2010 Lucas County arena Toledo,OH (with Styx & 38 Special)
March 03, 2010 National Auditorium Paseo de la Reforma No 50 Bosque de Chapultepec Mexico City
March 04, 2010 Arena Monterrey Conchello Esq. Madero Monterry, Mexico
March 11, 2010 Florida Strawberry Festival Plant City, FL
March 12, 2010 House of Blues North Myrtle Beach, SC
March 13, 2010 Mercer Theatre Savannah, GA
March 26, 2010 Genesse Theatre Waukegan, IL
March 27, 2010 Rialto Square Theatre Joliet, IL
April 10, 2010 Crystal Grand Music Theatre Lake Delton, WI
April 16, 2010 - IP Casino Resort and Spa Biloxi, MS
April 17, 2010 - Wild Adventures Theme Park Valdosta, GA
April 22, 2010 - Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
April 23, 2010 - Peppermill Concert Hall Wendover, NV
May 28, 2010 - Riverwind Casino Norman, OK
May 29, 2010 - Farmers Branch Memorial Day Celebration/Gussie Field Watterworth Park Farmers Branch, TX
May 30, 2010 - Winstar Casino Thackerville , OK
June 19, 2010 - Freedom Fest - La Crosse Municipal Airport La Crosse, WI
July 30, 2010 - Agua Caliente Casino Hope Drive Rancho Mirage, CA October 01, 2010 - Gretna Heritage Festival Gretna, LA

12/16/2009 - Hi Everyone

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

Okay, it seems like yesterday that we were all worried that the internet was going to implode and all of our computers would crash on New Years 2000...and REO was booked in Las Vegas for the big night. Well, as it turns out, the Y2K disaster, while never amounting to anything, would be nothing compared to the onslaught of world changing events which actually have occurred during this first decade of the 21st Century. But we survived. I continue to believe in the power of a positive attitude, and its ability to carry us through the most trying of times.

With that in mind, I am looking forward to the coming year. We are finalizing plans for another great touring season in 2010, as we approach the 30th anniversary of the release of our "Hi Infidelity" album next December...yes, it has been thirty years. Unbelievable!

So Happy Holidays to all of you who have been with us on our journey this past year, and this past decade, and these past four decades. We have come a long way together, and we have a long way to go.

Keep pushin',

kc

ps. If you live in Southern California, be sure and tune in to the KTLA Morning Show on channel 5. Dave, Bryan and I will be hanging out, and playing a couple of unplugged songs at around 8:30-9:00 AM on Wednesday, December 16. Also look for us on Extra!

UPDATE ON REBROADCAST OF THE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION ON ICE SPECIAL
What:
Holiday Celebration on Ice
When:
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Time:
6pm (EST), 5pm (CST), 3pm (PST)
Where:
Hallmark Channel (check your local listings for channel information)
There will also be a second rebroadcast after the Holiday on Sunday December 27th at 1am (EST), 12am (CST) and 10pm (PST).

Cast:
Brian Boitano,Elvis Stojko,Jeffrey Buttle,Jozef Sabovcik,Michael Weiss,Steven Cousins,Caryn Kadavy,Shae-Lynn Bourne,Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon.

Musical Guest Stars:
REO Speedwagon & Rick Springfield

Game Facts: More than 70 Game Levels with "Hidden Object" scenes, puzzles, and other mini-games. More than a dozen REO songs used throughout the game. Reach certain milestones in the game and you'll unlock brand new recordings of "CHILDREN GO WHERE I SEND THEE" and a re-recording of the REO classic, "ROLL WITH THE CHANGES".

Click here to BUY the game.

Fan Appreciation Christmas Package

Tis' the season to save!
Hurry Only 1 day left to buy
Special REO Speedwagon Fan Appreciation Gift Pack!

Package includes:
1 Autogrpahed "Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon" CD
1 "No So Silent Night" Tee
(Please see store for pictures of these items.)
This package Makes a great gift for the whole family!
Order now to receive your item's before the Holidays.
REO Holiday Savings & *Fan Appreciation Price: 25.00 + Shipping. *
Retail Value: $45.00
Click here to visit the Store.

11/23/2009 - Hi Everybody!

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST
Hi Everybody,

Okay, I was scared. Yes, you heard me right. It has been a long time since I have felt real stage fright, but I was shaking in my Beatle boots last Thursday in Little Rock.

We were gathered just off stage left, along with Rick Springfield, and an amazing group of world champion figure skaters, including Brian Boitano and Peggy Fleming. Everyone was buzzing with excitement as the house lights went down. We took the stage, and the skaters took to the ice with such power and grace. When Neal played the intro to, "Can't Fight This Feeling", and I sang the opening lines, I finally felt a wave of calm come over me. We were off and running, or skating in this case, on NBC's Holiday Celebration on Ice...Classic Rock edition. All of the hours of preparation kicked in just in time, and we had a great show. We played some of our hits, and four songs from "Not So Silent Night". Rick sat in on "Roll With The Changes", and by the end of the song all the skaters were dancing around the stage with us. The airdate is Sunday, November 29th, 4PM - 6PM (EST), 3PM - 5PM (CST), 1PM - 3PM (PST).
Click here for details.

But that was not all that went on this past week...the final days of the 2009 Can't Stop Rockin tour...

The week began in Nashville, where two of my favorite country music artists showed up to jam with us on "Roll With The Changes". When we arrived at the Sommet Center, we heard this beautiful voice reverberating through the backstage area. Turns out that Martina McBride, perhaps the purist natural singer in country music, was rehearsing with her band in the sound stage, which connects to the dressing room area. I was told that her and her husband, Johnny, are REO fans, and wanted to meet us. Turns out they are from Wichita, Kansas, right in the heart of REO Country, and have been fans since they were dating. Then, word got around the Brad Paisley was coming to the show, and the buzz backstage was palpable. Dave and I had met Brad at a benefit concert we played together a few years back, so it was cool of him to come down. I really didn't expect it, but both Brad and Martina came up for "Roll", and the audience went wild. Standing on stage in Nashville, with Brad to my left and Martina to my right, the band rocking full tilt, singing that song...it was another unbelievable moment that music has allowed me to experience.

Meanwhile, there is an awesome, on-line video game based on our music, being released on December 3rd. The game is called, "Find Your Own Way Home", and it will be available through all the major on-line outlets. Players search for cool stuff, remix our music, and have a chance to win "Golden Tickets", which get you backstage passes, and even a chance to sing on "Roll With The Changes" in a live concert! Not to mention, we all think our avatars are quite handsome ;-)

Okay, I am exhausted just thinking about this past week, but the best part is that I get to meet up with my family next Tuesday, after over a month away from home. I can't wait to snuggle up and watch "Glee" with my daughter Holly, to shoot hoops in the yard with Josh and Shane, and you can use your imagination on what I can't wait to do with my wife, Lisa!

Have a peaceful Thanksgiving holiday. Watch us on NBC on Thanksgiving Sunday. And, big thanks to all of you who came out to see us play in concert this year. Plans are under way for 2010, as we speak...it's true, we really can't stop rockin'. I'll be in touch...

kc

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving from Kevin, Bruce, Neal, Dave and Bryan.

Effective Monday November 23rd the 2009
Fan Appreciation Christmas Package
will be available!

Tis' the season to save!

Hurry Only 23 days left to buy our
Special REO Speedwagon Fan Appreciation Gift Pack!

Package includes:

1 Autogrpahed "Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon" CD

1 "No So Silent Night" Tee

(Please see store for pictures of these items.)

This package Makes a great gift for the whole family!

Order now to receive your item's before the Holidays.

REO Holiday Savings & *Fan Appreciation Price: 25.00 + Shipping. *

Retail Value: $45.00

Click here to visit the Store.

TUNE-IN ALERT

What:
Scotch Brand Holiday Celebration on Ice
When:
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Time:
1:00pm - 3:00pm PST
Where:
NBC(check your local listings for channel information)

Cast:
Brian Boitano
Elvis Stojko
Jeffrey Buttle
Jozef Sabovcik
Michael Weiss
Steven Cousins
Caryn Kadavy
Shae-Lynn Bourne
Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon

Musical Guest Stars:
REO Speedwagon & Rick Springfield

11/12/2009 - Hi Everybody!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST

Hi Everybody,

Well, many of you may have noticed that "Not So Silent Night", is not so easy to find. We know, but please don't give up. The CD is available at a discount price at Amazon.com, and there are personally autographed copies available through www.reospeedwagon.com . Finding the CD at stores is a bit more of a challenge, and here is why

Basically, in order to have a Christmas album included in the big Holiday displays, or even among the other holiday releases, we would have to have turned the record in to the record company in June. Yeah, June! We had no idea we had to have it ready so early. We turned our masters in to Sony on October 1st. Ooops...missed it by just a tad. Hey, we are a rock band. We are supposed to be late.

So we had a choice to make. We could either wait until next Christmas to release "Not So Silent Night", or we could let Sony rush release the record, knowing we would miss out on the majority of their holiday marketing campaign this year.

After all the work, and all the love, we put into this project. We couldn't imagine waiting a whole year to release the CD. Plus, we have two Christmas TV specials coming out this year, on NBC and ABC, and we will be playing songs from the new CD on both. We thought it would be better to have the new record available to people who heard the music on television, and wanted to play it at home this Christmas.

Sony truly loves this record, and has guaranteed us their full attention...next Christmas. For this year, "Not So Silent Night" is available, but it takes a bit more effort to find it.

But please, ask for it in any store that sells music. If the CD is not available, still inquire if they can order it for you. In general, I am asking you to bug the heck out of the stores that don't have the CD in stock. Then go ahead and order it from us directly, or from Amazon.com.

Meanwhile, "Can't Stop Rockin" continues to burn a path through the American Heartland...Columbus, Ohio, then Cincinnati, Winston-Salem, and on to Nashville, Dallas, and Little Rock. The Night Ranger boys have joined the finale, and we may have a new one for The Guinness Book of World Records...most guitar players on stage at one time: Check www.reospeedwagon.com and see if we are playing somewhere near you...you cannot miss this show.

You guys are the most awesome fans ever. Hope to see you soon...

kc

10/23/2009 - Hi Everybody!

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Hi Everybody,

Well, the REO machine is up and running and full speed ahead. We play three "evening with" shows this weekend, then on to Charleston for rehearsal. We meet up with our brothers in Styx and Night Ranger next weekend for the Fall leg of "Can't Stop Rockin' 2009", and are together right up until Thanksgiving.

I stopped off in Toronto yesterday for the press conference announcing that the five time Tony nominated Broadway musical, "Rock Of Ages", will be opening a second company at the Royal Alexandria Theatre next April. As I have said before, you must see this play. It is way cool. The soundtrack includes all your favorite songs from the 80's, and they transform a legitimate theater into a giant rock bar on the Sunset Strip. A feature film is in the works, as well. We have been involved with the production from the beginning, and I am so happy for these people who took a big risk in staging this play. It is great to see their success.

Meanwhile, "Not So Silent Night...Christmas With REO Speedwagon", will be available in stores any day now, with the official release date of November 3rd. We are all very excited, and can't wait to hear your reactions to the album. We taped an ABC television special called, "Holidays With the Stars", earlier this week. It consists of interview footage and unplugged performances by Dave and me at Blue Moon Studiowww.reospeedwagon.com , and a visit with Lisa and the kids at our home. The airdate is December 6th on ABC. Later in the tour we will be taping, "Holiday On Ice", which will be televised on November 29th, on NBC from 4pm-6pm (EST)...so get ready to set your TiVOs!

It will be great to get back to the "Can't Stop Rockin" tour. The whole awesome production is back, complete with the 40-foot video wall. Check the tour page at www.reospeedwagon.com for details.

Oh yeah, my luggage had such a good time in Toronto that it decided to stay for a while. I, on the other hand, am sitting here in my underwear, praying that the Suitcase Fairy will show up at my door soon. What normally happens in these situations is that my bags will arrive here in Fort Wayne tomorrow, of course by that time I will be in Detroit. Then my luggage will chase me around the country for the entire run. Ah yes, the joys of touring!

Okay, that's it for now...rock on,

kc

Now taking pre-orders for Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon with Original autographs by the band! Will be shipped by November 1, 2009.

After being inspired to create an album unlike anything they have before, original members, Kevin Cronin, Bruce Hall, and Neal Doughty, and twenty-year REO veterans, Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt, were excited to put together the band's first Christmas album. They gave these classics the full REO production treatment, providing a unique spin for the yuletide season. By choosing 13 songs that range from the most traditional carols to some more obscure songs, this album reflects the REO Speedwagon holiday spirit. Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon is poised to be a very special Christmas album that will bring generations within families together to rock the holiday nights away.

Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon

Tracks to Include:
The First Noel
Winter Wonderland
Silent Night
Deck The Halls
Little Drummer Boy
The White Snows of Winter
Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria)
Children Go Where I Send Thee
I'll Be Home For Christmas
God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Blue Christmas
Joy To The World

The band is currently on the second leg of their "Can't Stop Rockin'" Tour across the country through November with Styx and Night Ranger, offering recession friendly prices through their "Rock n Roll Stimulus Package."

Tour Dates 2009
October 23: Embassy Theater - Ft. Wayne, IN
October 24: Ford Community & Performing Arts Center - Dearborn, MI
October 25: Kewadin Casino - Sault Ste Marie, MI

Can't Stop Rockin' II Tour
October 29: North Charleston Coliseum - North Charleston, SC
October 30: Ford Amphitheatre - North Tampa, FL
October 31: Cruzan Amphitheater - West Palm Beach, FL
November 1: Columbus Civic Center - Columbus, GA
November 3: Richmond Coliseum - Richmond, VA
November 5: Big Sandy Superstore Arena - Huntington, WV
November 6: Sovereign Center - Reading, PA
November 7: Covelli Center - Youngstown, Ohio
November 8: Nationwide Arena - Columbus, Ohio
November 10: Bank of Kentucky Center - Highland Heights, Kentucky
November 12: Lawrence Joel Vet. Memorial Coliseum - Winston Salem, North Carolina
November 13: Viking Hall - Bristol, TN
November 14: Eastern Kentucky Expo Center - Pikeville, Kentucky
November 15: Sommet Center - Nashville, TN
November 17: Allen Event Center - Allen, TX
November 19: Verizon Arena North - Little Rock, AR
November 20: Arkansas State Convocation Center - Jonesboro, Arkansas
November 21: Coushatta Casino Resort - Kinder, LA
November 22: American Bank Center - Corpus Christi, TX

9/25/2009 - Not So Silent Night...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Ho ho ho, everybody,

May I be the first to wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2009. It has been Christmas here at Blue Moon Studiowww.reospeedwagon.com since this past February.

We had no sooner put the finishing touches on our little REO/Styx "Can't Stop Rockin" recording sessions, when we dove right into "Not So Silent Night...Christmas With REO Speedwagon". Slowly but surely, in between tour dates and during our "vacations", we have been recording this not so secret project.

Yup, you guessed it, we are releasing our very first Christmas album, on the Sony/Legacy label, in early November. The reason we kept it a bit secret was that I was never really sure if we were going to pull it off in time for this Christmas. (At the moment, producer Joe Vannelli Blue Moon Studio is chained to the recording console, mixing the tracks. But don't worry about Joe, Dave and I stop in to feed him at least once a day, so he will be fine.)

Usually Christmas albums tend to be the type of projects that get thrown together rather quickly...but not us. We got into this record with the same level of intensity that we do on any record we make. As a result, "Not So Silent Night" has turned out to be much more than simply a Christmas album...it is the new REO Speedwagon studio album. We are as proud of this as anything we have ever done. Look for the CD in stores and iTunes in early November.

So, hopefully that explains why it has been a while since my last newsletter.

We have begun playing some shows over the past couple of weeks, and we are rocking hard as ever. The concerts have been fun, the audiences have been big, loud and rowdy, and we are looking forward to the Fall tour dates.

We will be doing some "weekend warrior" dates through September and into early October. Then, in the latter part of October, we will re-connect with our brothers in Styx, and gear up for the Fall leg of the "Can't Stop Rockin" tour.

38 Special kicked major butt on the summer leg, and we have become good friends with those guys. They had some other commitments in November, so we called our buddies in Night Ranger, and Jack Blades and the boys will be joining the "Can't Stop Rockin" tour for the fall shows. I hope to see you then.

Okay, it must be getting close to feeding time at Blue Moon...I think I hear Joe howling. Gotta grab a hunk of raw meat and get down to the studio quickly. Over and out...

kc

"Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon" CD will be in the stores this holiday season! Stay tuned for the release date.

Tour Dates 2009

September 18: Riverdome at Horseshoe Casino Bossier City, LA
September 19: Midland County Horse Shoe Arena Midland, TX
October 01: Central Washington State Fair Yakima, WA
October 02: Little Creek Casino Resort Shelton, WA
October 04: KLPX Radio Anniversary Festival Pima County Fairgrounds Tucson, AZ
October 09: Valley View Casino Valley Center, CA
October 10: JW Marriott Phoenix, AZ
October 23: Embassy Theater Ft. Wayne, IN
October 24: Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Dearborn, MI
October 25: Kewadin Casino Sault Ste Marie, MI

Can't Stop Rockin' II Tour

October 29: North Charleston Coliseum North Charleston, SC
October 30: Ford Amphitheatre North Tampa, FL
October 31: Cruzan Amphitheater West Palm Beach, FL
November 3: Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA
November 5: Big Sandy Superstore Arena Huntington, WV
November 6: Sovereign Center Reading, PA
November 7: Covelli Center Youngstown, Ohio
November 8: Nationwide Arena Columbus, Ohio
November 10: Bank of Kentucky Center Highland Heights, Kentucky
November 12: Lawrence Joel Vet. Memorial Coliseum Winston Salem, North Carolina
November 13: Viking Hall Bristol, TN
November 14: Eastern Kentucky Expo Center Pikeville, Kentucky
November 15: Sommet Center Nashville, TN
November 17: Allen Event Center Allen, TX
November 19: Verizon Arena North Little Rock, AR
November 20: Arkansas State Convocation Center Jonesboro, Arkansas
November 21: Coushatta Casino Resort Kinder, LA
November 22: American Bank Center Corpus Christi, TX

7/18/2009 - Can't Stop Rockin' Journal

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Last night in Omaha was the final show of the summer "Can't Stop Rockin" tour, and a perfect example of the CSR spirit. The band and crew members of REO and Styx gathered backstage, formed a conga line, and danced across the stage while 38 Special attempted to play "Caught Up In You", without totally cracking up.Last night in Omaha was the final show of the summer "Can't Stop Rockin" tour, and a perfect example of the CSR spirit. The band and crew members of REO and Styx gathered backstage, formed a conga line, and danced across the stage while 38 Special attempted to play "Caught Up In You", without totally cracking up.

All three of our bands take the performances quite seriously, but do not take ourselves seriously in the least. The entire "Can't Stop Rockin" project, beginning with Tommy Shaw and I co-writing the title song, to the bands recording together, to each band taking turns in the closing spot, has been a total "leave your ego at the door" type of experience.

All of the travel, the performance schedule, and being away from home so much, does take it's toll, but the total absence of drama, the camaraderie of all three bands and crews, and the power of our combined set lists, more than makes up for it. Nobody on the tour is ready for it to end...so we are going to keep it going!

Tickets are about to go on sale for the fall "Can't Stop Rockin" tour, kicking off in Charlestown, WV, on October 29. Our buddies in 38 Special have prior commitments, and we will sure miss those guys, but Night Ranger will be joining REO and Styx for the October/November shows. We played a show with Night Ranger earlier this year, and that band has a bunch of hit songs, and their live show rocks. Night Ranger is a great band, and a cool group of guys. They will fit right into the CSR vibe.

The final four shows of the summer tour, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and Council Bluffs/Omaha, on four consecutive nights, all sold out, brought this leg of the tour to a triumphant finale.

We have been doing it for a long time now, but I can honestly say that this has been the best tour I have ever been a part of...and that is a sentiment shared by everyone else I talk to as well. CSR was the first tour for Ellie Archer, our "I love all access" meet and greet coordinator. She heard from everyone, including me, that she is ruined for life...spoiled by the friendly, yet hard working atmosphere of this tour. Steve Allen, our set carpenter, told me last night that he has never seen the kind of co-operation he has experienced on the CSR tour...Dale the rigger, and Rick the truck driver, both help Steve put our stage together every night. It is not part of their job; they just pitch in to help out the team. Those quick set changes would not be possible without everyone helping each other out.

Tour production manager, Tim Rosner, had organized a tour photo day earlier in the run...to the chagrin of many. But last night, when each member of the touring team received their personalized group photo, we were all smiles. It is a very cool tradition.

I can't mention everyone; although everyone deserves mention for the amazing job they did...from band members to truck drivers. This is a big team, and it only works when each member does his or her job well. I thank all of you for making "Can't Stop Rockin" the extraordinary experience it has been.

And of course, none of this would be possible without you, our fans. You all allow us to come out here and do what we love to do, and we appreciate every single one of you. We can't stop rockin. You can't stop rockin. So let's just never stop rockin...okay?!

See you in the Fall...

kc

ps. REO will be playing shows throughout the rest of the summer and early fall, leading up to the OCT/Nov "Can't Stop Rockin" tour. A few will be with Styx, and others will be REO headline shows. So come on out and see us...okay

Also, our not so secret recording project is moving ahead at full steam. We will be announcing details of an NBC television special to coincide with the late November release. Stay tuned!

kc

All three of our bands take the performances quite seriously, but do not take ourselves seriously in the least. The entire "Can't Stop Rockin" project, beginning with Tommy Shaw and I co-writing the title song, to the bands recording together, to each band taking turns in the closing spot, has been a total "leave your ego at the door" type of experience.

All of the travel, the performance schedule, and being away from home so much, does take it's toll, but the total absence of drama, the camaraderie of all three bands and crews, and the power of our combined set lists, more than makes up for it. Nobody on the tour is ready for it to end...so we are going to keep it going!

Tickets are about to go on sale for the fall "Can't Stop Rockin" tour, kicking off in Charlestown, WV, on October 29. Our buddies in 38 Special have prior commitments, and we will sure miss those guys, but Night Ranger will be joining REO and Styx for the October/November shows. We played a show with Night Ranger earlier this year, and that band has a bunch of hit songs, and their live show rocks. Night Ranger is a great band, and a cool group of guys. They will fit right into the CSR vibe.

The final four shows of the summer tour, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and Council Bluffs/Omaha, on four consecutive nights, all sold out, brought this leg of the tour to a triumphant finale.

We have been doing it for a long time now, but I can honestly say that this has been the best tour I have ever been a part of...and that is a sentiment shared by everyone else I talk to as well. CSR was the first tour for Ellie Archer, our "I love all access" meet and greet coordinator. She heard from everyone, including me, that she is ruined for life...spoiled by the friendly, yet hard working atmosphere of this tour. Steve Allen, our set carpenter, told me last night that he has never seen the kind of co-operation he has experienced on the CSR tour...Dale the rigger, and Rick the truck driver, both help Steve put our stage together every night. It is not part of their job; they just pitch in to help out the team. Those quick set changes would not be possible without everyone helping each other out.

Tour production manager, Tim Rosner, had organized a tour photo day earlier in the run...to the chagrin of many. But last night, when each member of the touring team received their personalized group photo, we were all smiles. It is a very cool tradition.

I can't mention everyone; although everyone deserves mention for the amazing job they did...from band members to truck drivers. This is a big team, and it only works when each member does his or her job well. I thank all of you for making "Can't Stop Rockin" the extraordinary experience it has been.

And of course, none of this would be possible without you, our fans. You all allow us to come out here and do what we love to do, and we appreciate every single one of you. We can't stop rockin. You can't stop rockin. So let's just never stop rockin...okay?!

See you in the Fall...

kc

ps. REO will be playing shows throughout the rest of the summer and early fall, leading up to the OCT/Nov "Can't Stop Rockin" tour. A few will be with Styx, and others will be REO headline shows. So come on out and see us...okay

Also, our not so secret recording project is moving ahead at full steam. We will be announcing details of an NBC television special to coincide with the late November release. Stay tuned!

kc

6/17/2009 - Can't Stop Rockin' Journal

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT

June 17, 2009

12,000 feet above Texas

Hi Everybody,

The CSR family is descending upon Mobile, Alabama from points all across North America. I am joined on this flight by members of the West Coast contingent including Bryan, Dave and Walter from the REO camp, as well as Tommy, Ricky, and Todd from the Styx posse. I am truly happy to see each and all of these dudes...one of the many perks to the whole Can't Stop Rockin' touring experience.

So much fun has been had since my last journal entry that I need to mention a few of the highlights...Can't Stop Rockin' Journal

Our buddy, David Archuleta, came to the Salt Lake City show, and we wound up singing together on "Roll With The Changes". The news raged across the internet, and by the following morning, an amateur video, (shot from the stage left wing by the quick thinking Wally Versen, who at one time tended to veer a bit more toward the right wing…but that is a whole other discussion;-), was being viewed by tens of thousands of youtube watchers. I had met David last year at the "Horton Hears A Who" movie premiere, and he is still the likable guy he has always been. When I asked him for his autograph, for my daughter, he remembered her and asked how she was doing...the smile on Holly's face says it all.

One of my earliest childhood memories is of a family trip from Chicago to Denver when I was three years old. My Dad sat me up on a rock overlooking the stage at Red Rocks Amphitheater, and Mom took the black and white snap shot photo, which captured the moment. They could have never guessed that thirty-four years later, their little son would be playing to a sold out crowd from that very stage...okay forty-four years later ;-) . Special thanks to everyone who rode the storm out with us...it rained for nearly the entire concert, and everybody kept right on rockin'.

We continued our streak of sold out shows through Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Houston, and celebrated at the Woodlands after the show with a great group of friends. The morning wake up call was a bit harsh, but we made our flights, as a well-earned break awaited all of us.

The ten days at home flew by. I was lucky to be around for the last week of school, and was recruited by my sons’ teacher, Miss Anderson, to put on a little hootenanny in Josh and Shane's third grade classroom. I can walk out and sing songs in front of thousands of grown-ups with very little stress. But drop me in a classroom of twenty-six nine year olds, and it is a whole different story. I don’t mean to toot my own horn here, but I can say that I rose to the occasion with such crowd pleasers as, "I've Been Workin' On The Railroad" and "She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain". After a grueling meet and greet, I was finally dismissed and I must admit I have not touched a guitar in a week.

So I am now chomping at the bit. As much as I miss being home with my family, I cannot wait to get up there, plug in my Fender Telecaster, and rock tomorrow in Alabama. Hope to be seeing many of you in the coming weeks.

I can't stop rockin'...

kc

5/30/2009 - Can't Stop Rockin'...Day Whatever

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT
May 30, 2009...6:04 AM

So what am I doing awake at this time of day, you ask. Well, about this point in the tour my internal body clock completely ceases to function. I just sleep when I can…a few hours here, a few there. Hopefully it averages out to around eight per day...but rarely are they consecutive. It's part of the life, I'm used to it.

The sun is now peeking over the horizon off the left side of the bus, silhouetting the mountains of southwestern Idaho. Now, had I slept through the night, I would have totally missed this rare sight. Not only that, I have VH-1 Classic on the TV, and Hall and Oates', "Out of Touch" is on...again, had I gotten a good night's sleep I would have missed all of those funky white guy dance moves, including John Oates grooving inside a giant letter O...I rest my case.

It's also a good thing to be up at this hour so someone can check in on Scotty the bus driver. It is his job to get us to Salt Lake City as quickly, yet smoothly, as possible, so he motors on no matter what. He doesn't stop unless we absolutely need fuel, or his bladder is about to burst. Some guys tend to wake up if the momentum of the bus changes, so Scotty does his best to keep his turns easy and his speed constant. If he gets hungry or thirsty, he is out of luck...unless one of us checks in on him. He normally plans ahead, so when I ask if he needs anything the answer is almost always, "Nope, but thanks for asking". It's the "thanks for asking" part that lets me know that he appreciates the fact that we are all here for him if he ever does need a can of Mountain Dew, a mini-donut, or a V-8.

Now we're talkin'! My rock buddy, Joan Jett, is up on the screen now, looking tough, loving rock'n roll, and asking us to "put another dime in the jukebox baby". I'm not sure a dime would get us much more than the opening chords these days, but I love the sentiment. Joan looks way better now than she did in this video. Of course who am I to talk? On a daily basis I am shown photos and old album covers from the 70s and 80s, the sight of which literally make my skin crawl. I guess those hairstyles and fashions looked good at the time, but yikes, that stuff is scary. Exhibit A: the Nine Lives album cover photo...as if the giant black panther on a chain wasn't enough, there was my mesh shirt, spandex pants, and white gloves. However, the gold sequined medal has to go to Gary's monster suit...that thing was a one piece, boots included, spandex masterpiece...Gene Simmons, eat your heart out!

I wonder who lives out here in this wilderness...but people do. We just passed through a random lava field. Now I can see the occasional farmhouse in the distance along the interstate, with the nearest neighbor living miles away. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot going on around here. I suppose it works if you like your privacy...a lot. Wait, I just saw a road sign announcing the best steakhouse in Pocatello, so this must be the suburbs of Pocatello, Idaho. Now it all makes sense...no, actually it doesn't. But then neither does this Duran Duran video..."Notorious". This song makes no sense at all to me, but this chick sure can dance...oops, that's one of the guys in the band!

Okay, there is a white, female, 80s disco artist on the tube now...this song somehow escaped my radar, even back then. Dang, I just missed seeing who it was. I think the song may have been called, "I Can't Wait", based on the fact that she sang that line about a hundred times for pretty much the entire video...but her doo was extremely big, so that makes up for the musical and lyrical shortcomings of the song.

Okay, I am getting very cynical, which should be a heads up that I need to slide back into my bunk and try to grab a couple more hours of sleepytime. I am very afraid of what dreams I may have after an hour of 80s videos. Oh yeah, a little ZZ Top now to rock me to sleep...a perfect exit song, "Legs".

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzkc

ps. In my room here in Salt Lake City, having gotten a few more hours of sleep...I feel slightly more human. I'm getting a text from Art Alexakis of Everclear. We have been friends ever since he made amends for kicking me off his stage in Atlanta a few years ago...but that is another story. He is basically trash talking me because I text messaged him last night. Is texting really only for "people who like horses and rainbows and pink"?

Anyway, the audience in Billings, Montana last night was so amazing. They were on their feet, singing, cheering, screaming...rocking, from 38 Special's first song, "Rockin' Into The Night", right through to the REO/Styx finale of "Can't Stop Rockin'"...what a great night!

Not to mention our night off in Billings on Thursday. Our tour manager, Walter, organized a REO/Styx band and crew movie night out. We all piled into a couple of local transport busses, and headed for the local multiplex to see "Angels and Demons". Overall the flick received somewhere around fifteen thumbs down, but it was still enjoyable, if totally unbelievable. But it made no difference to us...we all had a blast, lots of laughs, hanging out together. This is the only way to tour. Having fun is a must at this point in time...and we are! Look out Salt Lake...

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5/28/2009 - Can't Stop Rockin'...Day ??

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT
May 28, 2009

Okay, so we left Seattle after the show last night, and we are still on the bus...ah yes, the glamorous life of touring...

The scenery, however, is awesome. We are cruising through the Yellowstone National Park area. The sky is so blue, the air so fresh, the snow covered mountains in the distance so magnificent...this is truly Big Sky Country. Interstate 90 follows the free flowing Yellowstone River, which Lewis and Clark navigated as they explored these lands in the early 1800's...and now we retrace their route, in reverse, in this big steel canoe with wheels. I feel the pioneer spirit, really.

The Can't Stop Rockin' finale jam just keeps getting better. We rehearsed it during Styx's sound check in San Jose the other night. Yeah you heard right...we actually rehearsed! We dialed in the stage sound, so now we can hear what each other are doing. It is such a blast every night, and now it is even more fun. The REO/Styx combination band is a powerful machine, which just keeps building on its own momentum. Don't miss it at the end of every concert.

This weekend we will be playing Billings, Salt Lake City, and the awe inspiring Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver. My earliest memory of life was as a three-year-old boy, sitting on those huge red boulders with my parents, looking at the natural stage below. Funny thing that I will be on that stage, in front of a sold out crowd, singing my songs, on Sunday. The circle of life is a wonderful thing.

Oh boy, I'm afraid we need a truck stop. I have no idea how Scott the Bus Driver does it. He has been steering this monster all night, and well into this afternoon...and he is cheerful as ever. I think I would be a little cranky if I were him, and we asked to pull off for a little "rest room break". But faced with the alternative of breaking the first precept of bus touring, the infamous "no solids rule", Scott dutifully heads for the next exit with a smile.

We Can't Stop Rockin'...can you?

kc

5/26/2009 - Can't Stop Rockin'...No idea what Day it is

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT
Anyway, when you're having this much fun, who cares?

All I know is last night was the LA show...our adopted hometown. The amazing Nokia Theater was packed to the rafters with friends, fans and family. I felt like it was my birthday. There was a never-ending parade of people I love coming through my dressing room. All four of my children were there...and my wife too. I can't begin to name all of the great friends who came out for this show.

The flip side of this picture is that Tour Manager Walter spent his day in "guest list hell"...but he pulled it off, and so far no news of catastrophic missteps from anyone who was accidentally left off the list, or whose tickets got lost in the box office, or got eaten by the dog...so we've got that going for us, and that's nice.

Okay, this will have to be a short one...time to head for the amphitheater at Konocti Harbor. We always have fun here, and tonight will be more of the same.

Later,

kc

PS. Yikes, Tommy Shaw and I were having a relaxed, pre-show dinner when all *&^% broke loose backstage at Konocti Harbor Amphitheater. Crew guys moving at speeds never before even attempted...I mean guys were running toward the stage.

38 Special had played a few measures into their first song when the sound of twisting metal drown them out. Right before our eyes, the roof of the outdoor stage buckled, and the down stage right corner dropped about ten feet...right above Don Barnes' head. Quickly the band was herded off stage, the audience was cleared from the floor and into the bleachers. We were all stunned and confused...even more than usual.

Riggers were up the towers in an instant, in an attempt to secure the compromised structure. It was a scary scene for all of us.

Ultimately the show was cancelled and the audience was instructed that the show would be re-scheduled and that they need to vacate the venue. The bands were escorted out, and the crews are doing their best to clear out the production gear safely as I type.

We are all disappointed that tonight's show was cancelled, as we know that our fans traveled far to be here with us tonight. The bands were all ready to rock anyway, but we were told that the situation was far too dangerous, and that playing the show was simply not an option. Hopefully we can come back here later in the summer for a make up date. We are all relieved that nobody in the audience or crew was injured...this could have been far worse.

We will be ready to rock at Shoreline Amphitheater on Sunday. I agree with Tommy's opinion that since neither Styx nor REO played tonight, that means that we never officially started rocking, which means that technically we still Can't Stop Rockin'...

kc

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5/19/2009 - Can't Stop Rockin'...Day Four and a half, (and five too)

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT
Can't Stop Rockin...Day Four and a half, (and five too)

May 17, 2009

Yo Party People,

The Can't Stop Rockin troupe brought the party to Party City last night, as we rocked the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas. This venue has become the home of "Arena Rock" concerts here, and it makes sense. They sell tickets at 1981 prices, $25, and the sound in the arena is perfect for our music. I could hear both 38 Special and Styx's sets from my dressing room, and they sounded @#$%^ Amazing!

You never know who is going to pop up backstage when you play in Vegas, and some of our good buddies made the scene. Two time National League batting champ, seven time Gold Glove winner, and all around great guy and friend of our band...former outfielder for the Colorado Rockies, Larry Walker came out for a dose of REO. I love his stories about what goes on between the players and umpires during Big League baseball games…Larry is awesome, a great dad, and one funny dude.

Original REO manager, and now ruler of the known world, Irving Azoff, came and hung out in the dressing room, then watched our set from the sound board, and gave the tour his coveted stamp of approval...thanks Irving, that means a lot to us.

And our manager, godfather to my son Josh, the man whose brain child the whole Can't Stop Rockin' idea is, and my close friend of thirty five years, Tommy Consolo was on hand. Tommy's energy is unending. He is a human fountain of ideas. Without his love, loyalty and dedication our band would not be where we are today...Fresno ;-) With Tommy was our new friend from the Front Line Management family, Tamara. Nobody knows exactly what her job is, including her, but she does it with such charm and grace...we love her already.

Then, as we went into the refrain on "Roll With The Changes", our good buddy, the inimitable Carrot Top, ran out to Dave's mic and tried his hand at "singing" background vocals. He threatened to call me out on stage during his show and make me tell a joke, so I can truly comprehend how he felt last night...(no way will that happen). We met Top when he visited us after our set during the Def Leppard tour last year. He and I have become friends and text message buddies ever since...he cracks me up. If you come to Vegas do not miss Carrot Top's show at the Luxor. He is brilliantly hilarious, and he uses our music, as well as a number of other Classic Rock songs, to power his show...he is another great, down to earth guy, who I am pleased to call a bro.

The vibes between REO and Styx just keep getting better and better. The jam on "Can't Stop Rockin" is just plain, old school, rock'n roll fun. Tommy Shaw and I have let everybody know that we want to keep it loose, and all of us are having a blast on stage. If you come to a show, don’t even think about leaving early...forget about beating the traffic, the babysitter can wait a few extra minutes. You have to stay until the end, and check out "Can't Stop Rockin".

By the way, you can get a souvenir copy of the song at the merch stand or through the website. Don't be confused by the package...even though it is a vintage LP cover in size and style, it contains a CD with the new song, and two bonus tracks: "Roll With The Changes" and "Blue Collar Man" performed live, by both bands together. There is also a double sized poster of all eleven of us together contained inside the package, as well as a lyric sheet. Every copy is hand autographed by all of the bandmembers...thousands of them! I threw out my shoulder signing autographs last night. Luckily we had a former major leaguer on hand to pop it back in place ;-)

Okay, it is halftime of Lakers-Rockets Game 7. Lakers are dominating, but I can't multi-task any longer. I need to give my full attention to the second half. Hope to see you all at a Can't Stop Rockin' show soon...

kc

ps. I have since listened to the Vegas show tape, and it was an inspired performance by band , crew, and all the techs. I rarely call meetings these days, but tonight I called on everybody to meet in the band dressing room after dinner. It was a love fest...the house mix, monitor mix, lighting show, all of the stage techs...for a concert to come off like last night's, everybody needs to be operating at a high level...it is teamwork, and I wanted to share the joy of giving a full energy show with our whole team. It takes all of us to make it happen.

pps. Tonight in Fresno was another rockin' show...we just can't stop. LA, here we come! I sleep in my own bed tonight, and wake up with my children in the morning...

ppss. Go Lakers!!!

5/18/2009 - Can't Stop Rockin'...Day 3

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT
Can't Stop Rockin'...Day 3

May 15, 2009

Back on the bus again, on the way to the gig at the beautiful Dodge Theater. Yesterday's day off here in Phoenix was wonderful, a good workout, some poolside relaxation where I reviewed the recording of the prior night's concert, everything was great…until the evening. I had ordered room service, set up a comfy seat in front of the big flat screen TV in my room, and settled in to watch my beloved Lakers close out the Houston Rockets in the second round of the NBA playoffs...

But it was not to be…the team played like there was a swine flu breakout in their locker room. It was 17-1 Rockets in the first quarter, and it only got worse. Oh well, they come home to LA on Sunday, and should get the job done in Game 7.

We are all looking forward to the concert tonight. We realized after two shows that the right time to play "Can't Stop Rockin'" is as the final encore. That way all of the guys from both bands will be on stage to wave good-bye at the very end of the night. It is the perfect finale for an awesome, three band, night of hits. I know I sound like a skipping CD, but you all must come out and see us this tour. It is just too much fun.

Okay, fast forward, the concert just ended, and the finale was awesome. After a four hour concert, all the guys in Styx and REO joined together and played "Can't Stop Rockin'" live. It is amazing for all of us, and from what I can see from the stage, the audience walks out of the arena like they have been hit by a rock'n roll freight train. It is Big Fun.

The bus leaves for Vegas any minute, and we will attempt to sleep while rocking down the interstate at 80 mph in a bus. It's rock'n roll…and I like it.

kc

5/14/2009 - "Can't Stop Rockin"...Day 2 and a half

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT
"Can't Stop Rockin"...Day 2 and a half
May 14, 2009

The road between Flagstaff and Phoenix drops from 7,500 to 1,500 feet of elevation in a relatively short span, which is of little interest, other than as a bit of trivia, unless you are trying to sleep on a speeding tour bus. I decided to climb out of my bunk at 6:27 AM, as I would prefer to be in an upright position when my eardrums explode. Now we find ourselves at one with Phoenix's morning commuters. (note: one of my early motivating factors for pursuing a life as a musician, besides meeting girls who were way out of my league, was to avoid being stuck in drive time traffic like my father had been, five days a week, for twenty five years…but I digress).

Okay, I now come to you live from a nice hotel room in downtown Phoenix, across from a nice Phoenix shopping area, where reportedly one can find an Apple Store...I need an i-phone upgrade in order to try out twittering. I am told that I can literally share our daily touring trials, tribulations, and adventures as they occur through twitter.com. Hey, I'll give it a shot.

So last night in Albuquerque was another sweet show. 38 Special joined up and played a smoking, hit packed set. We have been playing shows with those guys since the 70's, so it is great to have another band of rock survivors on board...those dudes can’t stop rockin' either. It was a beautiful night for an outdoor concert…actually to call this a concert is a bit of an understatement; this is a real Big Rock Show.

The Styx boys joined us for a final encore of "Can't Stop Rockin". I love playing our set, but the two band jam at the end of the show is so much fun, and the audience goes absolutely wild when we come out together with both bands. I knew it would be cool, but it is way more fun than I even expected.

Well, my premature wake up this morning is catching up with me...I am fading fast...talk to you later...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzkc

5/12/2009 - Can't Stop Rockin'...Day One

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Can't Stop Rockin'...Day One

Amarillo, Texas is the perfect place to kick off the tour. This is the kind of town where our band made a name for itself. REO is not a big city thing. We are most at home in cozy little cities just like Amarillo.

Amarillo is famous for a steakhouse called, The Big Texan, where anyone who can clean their plate gets their meal for free...but as you may have guessed, there is one catch. The meal consists of a 72-ounce hunk of meat, a huge salad with dressing, and a baked potato the size of your head...oh, and you have to eat it all while sitting at a raised table, as all the other diners watch your every gluttonous gulp. I passed on the invitation to imbibe...I'll gladly ante up for my twelve dollar Chicken Caesar.

While there is always a chance a tornado will blow through town this time of year, the forecast says we are safe today, but there is firestorm of classic rock'n roll set to blow the roof off the Amarillo Civic Center tonight.

The smiles on all our faces as the Styx boys joined us to run through our new single, Can't Stop Rockin', pretty much say it all. In case you haven't heard, Tommy Shaw and I wrote the song, and both bands recorded it together, especially for this tour. The record is currently at number five on the Classic Rock Radio chart, and will be available in a collectable package at the merch stand every night. The finale of the each show on the tour will be both bands playing the song live, all together, on stage...it is so much fun, I can't wait...and you should not miss it.

So I am off to the gym, then sound check with the fans that joined "I Love All Access". You can be in the building watching sound check and getting a little backstage tour...just check the website for info.

Tonight is opening night, and yes, I do have a slight case of the jitters. This is the most amazing lighting rig/production we have ever played on. We are as ready as we are gonna be, so I say, "Let's Rock!".

My goal is to send out daily tour stories, so stay tuned every day to hear what we are up to. We also plan to post videos and photos of life on the Can't Stop Rockin' Tour. See you soon...KC.

4/16/2009 - Hey Brothers and Sisters

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT
Hey Brothers and Sisters,

I am flying high, in the clouds, literally, somewhere above the Great Plains of the midwestern United States. My altitude/attitude is partially due to the fact that I am headed home from the road, but equally so a result of my excitement about this summer's "Can't Stop Rockin'" tour, with Styx and 38 Special.

In my life, I have always felt more at home in the role of underdog, the final kid chosen in the pick-up basketball game, the last one of my buddies to lose his virginity, (although, as a result of my profession, I may have caught up with most of them ;-). It is when life is most chaotic that I am generally the most artistically productive. So this unsettling phase of U.S. history actually motivates me to get to work.

Now, if your family is one of the millions directly affected by these current economic conditions, if you have lost your job or your home, you are in my family's thoughts and bedtime prayers every night. I believe with all of my heart and soul that this will turn around. The pendulum of history is in perpetual motion, and we are now experiencing an extreme. Everyone needs to hang tough, help one another other to stay positive, and trust that things will begin to swing back into balance. Each of our energy is an integral part of fueling that change.

I think REO Speedwagon music is well suited for these troubled times. We know how to deal with adversity, to turn lemons into lemonade, to find the fertilizer amongst the horse crap. We have been writing about it, and doing it for our entire career. From "Keep Pushin'", "Ridin' The Storm Out", and "Roll With The Changes", through "Smilin' In The End" and up to our latest release, "Can't Stop Rockin'", our duet with Styx, we have chronicled our own personal journey to salvation, by navigating through the worst of times.

At first listen, the new "Can't Stop Rockin'" single may sound like a simple, fun rock track, and that it is, but the real message is in there too. "Tighten your belt, dirty your hands, lace up your boots and make a stand",..."When it all gets better is anybody's guess, so while we're learning to be happy with less, you can dust off your dancing shoes, paint your fingernails and rub on some rouge"...are just a couple of examples of what this song, and the upcoming REO/Styx tour, is all about.

The "Can't Stop Rockin'" tour, and song, were both conceived as the antidote for this weird phase which our country is going through. We have held ticket prices to a minimum, while we amp up the production, and continue to work on figuring out ways to make our tour more accessible to everyone who needs a little shot of classic rock to soothe their soul.

In uneasy, unpredictable times such as these, we all need to leave our worries behind for a while, whenever we can. We all need to get out and hear some music that makes us feel good. That is the mission of REO, Styx and 38 Special this summer.
See you on the road, keep pushin',

KC

2/27/2009 - Hey Everybody

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 PST
I know, long time no see...hey, when you read this letter you will understand...your old buddy, KC, has been a busy guy.

Last weekend we played an amazing show in New Orleans with Kid Rock at the Superdome. Our day began with a five hour ride through the streets of the city, on a float, in the Endymion Parade...the biggest of the over fifty Mardi Gras extravaganzas. We threw out beads to thousands of people, young and old, who had gathered along the parade route. The looks on the faces of children, when you make eye contact, and throw them a strand of plastic beads, are priceless. Many of these kids never get anything, and their reactions were so heart warming. I have never smiled for so long in my life. It was a special and spiritual experience.

At the end of the parade, all of the floats enter the Superdome, and the party really gets going. We went on around midnight, and Kid Rock followed us...and the party was just getting started! What a trip.

The next day, I headed off to Nashville to tape a cool new television show called "Legends and Lyrics", with my buddies Art Alexakis from Everclear, and John Waite. It will be airing on PBS, and features a number of songwriters performing their songs in the round in front of a live audience. We will announce the air date when it is confirmed.

Meanwhile, Tommy Shaw and I have been holed up at Blue Moon Studio for the better part of February, writing a new song, and recording it with all the members of REO and Styx. You heard right...two drummers, two bass players, two of everything. It's the rock'n roll Noah's Ark. The tune is called "Can't Stop Rockin' ", (a brand new song, even though it shares its title with a song I wrote on Building The Bridge).

Wait until you hear this monster…IT ROCKS. Tommy and I sing a duet, and Dave, Tommy, and JY are the new Classic Rock Guitar Army.

Speaking of which, we are announcing dates for the upcoming, "Can't Stop Rockin'" TOUR, with REO, Styx and 38 Special. This tour is gonna be full production, hit filled, and as Tommy Shaw says, "Our own little rock’n roll stimulus package" ...in other words, we are keeping the tickets affordable so everybody can come out and join us this summer.

So we will be seeing you all very soon...we can't stop rockin',

KC

1/22/2009 - As I sit here in my hotel room...

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST
As I sit here in my hotel room, tears of hope on my cheeks, having just watched the best and the brightest of our country's artist community usher in a new era of America from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on HBO, I am moved to share my feelings with you as I feel them.

I am an optimistic person. In every song I have ever written, no matter the depth of darkness from which it was conceived, there has always been a message of hope. My own songs often serve to remind me that in the toughest of times, hope must remain undying.

I came of age as the Vietnam War was raging. My generation bares the scars of that most horrible of wars. As I lived through it, watched it ravage my countrymen and divide generations, deep inside I knew that human beings were better than that. When that war came to an end, and the president who characterized it was forced to step down, I felt sure that the mistakes, which got our country embroiled in that flawed and failed effort, would never be repeated.

As I look back over the past few years, I must admit that there have been times when I have doubted the very hope that has been the foundation of my life. I have witnessed as greed, intolerance, and shortsightedness, have replaced the spirit of sharing, acceptance, and peace, in which I so fervently believe.

Greed will gain us nothing. Intolerance will get us nowhere. Shortsightedness will only lead us backwards. Today, as my eyes overflow with tears of hope and renewal, I believe that all Americans need to let this breath of optimism fill us, and guide us, and inspire us once again.

There is no escaping the fact that these are scary times. We will all need to work hard and sacrifice plenty in our quest to regain faith in our government. As Mr. Obama says, "Things are going to get worse before they get better, and our country's recovery will not happen overnight." He has stated repeatedly that our government cannot cure the ills of our nation without the cooperation of all of us. Each of us needs to do our part as citizens, co-workers, neighbors and parents.

We have a unique opportunity to soak up the inspiration that President Obama is offering. We can let go of the stale ideas of entitlement, greed and exclusiveness, and replace them with the virtues that Mr. Obama embodies. Watch as he reaches out to those who have differing points of view, and learns from them. Listen to the power of his words and the strength of his convictions. If you are wary of his vision for the future, give the benefit of the doubt. Give his dream a chance to come true, because it may be the best chance we have to save our country, and restore America to its rightful place as the greatest country in the world.

Keep Pushing,

KC

PS. I just spoke to my beautiful, twelve year old daughter, Holly. Her life is a picture of purity, happiness, and love. I am filled with joy at the prospect that from now until she is at least twenty years old, she will live in an era of hope. The world needs people like Holly, and she will thrive in an environment which President Obama has pledged to do everything in his power to provide and nurture.

11/19/2008 - NY Newsletter

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 PST
HI EVERYBODY,

OKAY, OUR PLANE HAS BEEN IN THE AIR FOR NEARLY HALF AN HOUR, AND THE "LAVATORY OCCUPIED" SIGN HAS BEEN LIT FOR THE ENTIRE TIME. I AM SECOND IN LINE, BEHIND CLINT BLACK, AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO WONDER, AND DREAD, WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON IN THERE, AND TO RECONSIDER HOW BADLY EACH OF US HAS TO GO. AT LAST WE HEAR THE TELL TALE SOUND OF THE RESTROOM DOOR BEING UNLOCKED, AND OUT COMES AN ENORMOUS OLDER GENTLEMAN, LOOKING LIKE HE HAS SEEN BETTER MORNINGS. NOW, CLINT AND I FACE THE INEVITABLE, AND UNAVOIDABLE, MOMENT WHEN ONE OF US MUST BE THE BRAVE ONE TO FOLLOW THIS DUDE. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE EACH BEEN HOLDING IT FOR QUITE A WHILE, BOTH CLINT AND I ARE A BIT GUN SHY ABOUT VENTURING INTO THAT TINY, UNVENTILATED CUBICLE. OUR ONLY CHANCE IS TO STALL, (GET IT?), SO WE WHIP OUT THE FAMILY PHOTOS, AND CONTINUE DISCUSSING THE CHALLENGES AND JOYS OF BEING A PARENT OF YOUNG KIDS. FINALLY, WHEN WE DEEM IT SAFE TO PROCEED, CLINT ENTERS THE UNOCCUPIED POTTY...HEY, HE WAS FIRST IN LINE.

ANYWAY, THIS MORNING I SAID GOODBYE TO MY CHILDREN FOR THE LAST TIME THIS YEAR...YEP, THIS IS THE FINAL RUN OF THE 2008 TOURING SEASON.THE DEF LEPPARD SHOWS AND OUR SPRING EUROPEAN TOUR SEEM LIKE ANOTHER LIFETIME, (GET IT?). THE SUMMER DATES ARE A BLUR. EVEN OUR RECENT CARIBBEAN SHOWS SEEM LIKE THEY HAPPENED LONG AGO. ROCK TOURS HAVE A WAY OF WARPING TIME. BEING IN DIFFERENT CITIES EVERY DAY, CRISSCROSSING TIME ZONES, MEETING SO MANY PEOPLE...IT ALL HAS A WAY OF MESHING TOGETHER AND PLAYING TRICKS ON THE ROAD WEARY MIND. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT IS ALL SO MUCH FUN THAT IT IS A PLEASURABLE STATE OF CONFUSION, ONE TO WHICH I HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED OVER THE PAST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS. AS CLINT BLACK AND I WERE JUST SAYING, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO GET PAID FOR DOING WHAT WE LOVE TO DO.

THIS FLIGHT IS QUICKLY TURNING INTO A PARTY. MEATLOAF JUST STOPPED BY MY SEAT FOR A CHAT, AND SAYS HE PLANS TO BE AT OUR SHOW IN NASHVILLE TOMORROW. TOM PETERSON IS ON THE FINAL LEG OF HIS JOURNEY HOME AFTER CHEAP TRICK'S AUSTRALIAN TOUR, AND HE IS PRETTY MUCH ASLEEP BEFORE HE GETS TO HIS SEAT. I LOVE THAT GUY. ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS ABOUT BEING IN A BAND IS THAT I GET TO HANG OUT WITH OTHER GUYS IN BANDS WHICH I LIKE AND RESPECT...IT'S ALL GOOD.

THE NASHVILLE SHOW WAS SO MUCH FUN. PLAYING TO A ROOM FULL OF MUSICIANS AND SONGWRITERS DEFINITELY BRINGS THE BEST OUT OF US. AFTER THE CONCERT KELLY KEAGEY FROM NIGHT RANGER, ERIC BAZILIAN OF THE HOOTERS, AND THE GIRLS FROM PISTOL, ALONG WITH ROD, JOHN, AND THE GANG AT CAA, WERE ALL IN THE DRESSING ROOM DRINKING CHAMPAGNE. I KNOW, WATCH YOUR FEET, I AM DROPPING LOTS OF NAMES HERE, BUT I CAN'T HELP IT...IT'S FUN, AND I'M NOT DONE YET!

WE HAD A BLAST FRIDAY NIGHT AT WILD BILL'S IN ATLANTA...IT'S A GREAT ROCK'N ROLL VENUE AND WE SAW SO MANY FRIENDS AND EVEN A COUSIN. THEN WE SET OUT FOR THE 500 PLUS MILE RIDE TO NEW ORLEANS. THE SHOW WAS ON A CHILLY OUTDOOR STAGE AT HARRAH'S CASINO, JUST OFF THE FRENCH QUARTER, AND AGAIN, PLAYING IN A MUSIC TOWN GETS US CHARGED UP. WHEN WE GOT OFF STAGE THERE WAS A MESSAGE FROM SAMMY HAGAR INVITING ME TO A PRIVATE BENEFIT SHOW HE WAS DOING FOR HIS BUDDY, CHEF EMERIL. I GOT THERE JUST IN TIME FOR A COUPLE OF PRE-SHOW SIPS OF CABO WABO, THEN A GLASS OF WINE FROM EMERIL'S STASH...PERHAPS THE BEST RED WINE I HAVE EVER TASTED, SO I ENJOYED ANOTHER GLASS…OH BOY, HERE WE GO. WALTER AND I WOUND UP AT OUR FAVORITE FRENCH QUARTER HANG, THE DUNGEON, WHERE THE DOM WAS FLOWING AND THE MUSIC WAS DEAFENING, ANOTHER ROCKIN' NIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS.

BY THE TIME I GOT TO NEW YORK CITY ON SUNDAY I WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE TIRED, NOT TO MENTION SLIGHTLY HUNG OVER. IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE I HAD AN ACTUAL HANGOVER, SO I HAD FORGOTTEN WHAT TO DO. WAS IT RAW EGGS AND TOMATO JUICE? TOAST AND 7 UP? SOME HAIR OF THE DOG THAT BIT ME?

ANYWAY, BY MONDAY I WAS READY TO ROCK. WE DID AN UNPLUGGED THING WITH OUR BUDDIES "BOB AND TOM" VIA SATELLITE TO INDIANAPOLIS, AND TO THEIR 200 AFFILIATED RADIO STATIONS. WE DID 104 FM IN NEW YORK CITY, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER PRESS RELATED STUFF. THE FUN CAME THAT NIGHT WHEN WE WERE INVITED TO COME TO A PERFORMANCE OF "ROCK OF AGES".

"ROCK OF AGES" IS A BROADWAY STYLE MUSICAL COMEDY, SET TO THE MUSIC OF THE 80s, AND WE ALL LOVED IT. I WON'T GIVE AWAY THE TAKE THEY HAVE ON OUR SONGS, BUT YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT. CONSTANTINE FROM LAST YEAR’S AMERICAN IDOL HAS THE LEAD ROLE, AND HE SINGS HIS ASS OFF...HE IS THE REAL THING, AND THE REST OF THE CAST, AS WELL AS THE BAND, IS GREAT. IT IS A TOTAL FEEL GOOD SHOW, AND I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE VISITING MANHATTAN’S THEATER DISTRICT.

OKAY, WE HAVE DONE 90 SHOWS SO FAR THIS YEAR, WITH ONE FINAL CONCERT IN VEGAS THIS SATURDAY...CAN I GO HOME NOW!!!

KC

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10/21/2008 - WOW!

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT
WOW,

IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR A MONTH, BUT IN REALITY OUR FIRST SHOW IN ARUBA WAS LAST FRIDAY NIGHT. WE HAVE TRAVELED SO MANY MILES, EXPERIENCED SO MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES, MET SO MANY PEOPLE, SEEN SO MUCH OF OUR WORLD...IT IS HARD TO DIGEST IT ALL. EVERY DAY HAS BEEN A MEAL IN ITSELF...SPICY, SATISFYING, SWEET, AND DEFINITELY UNIQUE.

MY LAST NEWSLETTER LEFT OFF WITH ME HAVING JUST AWOKEN IN PANAMA CITY...NOT THE SPRING BREAK DESTINATION ON FLORIDA'S PANHANDLE...THE CITY IN THE COUNTRY WITH THAT BIG CANAL. IT WAS SO AWESOME PLAYING FOR A FULL HOUSE, TOTALLY SOLD OUT, PEOPLE WANTING TICKETS BUT THERE WERE NONE LEFT...THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING FOR A BAND PLAYING IN A COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME...QUITE A MEMORABLE WELCOME.

AS MUCH FUN AS THE GIG WAS, OUR ADVENTURE THE FOLLOWING DAY WAS EQUALLY COOL. AS SOON AS I HEARD WE WERE PLAYING IN PANAMA, I HAD EXPRESSED MY INTEREST IN EXPLORING THE PANAMA CANAL. IT IS JUST ONE OF THOSE PLACES I HAVE READ ABOUT SINCE I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL, AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT. LUCKILY, SOME OF THE CANAL OFFICIALS MUST BE REO FANS, BECAUSE WE GOT A LEVEL OF TREATMENT THAT WAS BEYOND VIP. WE ACTUALLY STOOD ON THE GATES OF THE MIRAFLORA LOCKS AS AN ENORMOUS "PANAMAX" FREIGHTER, THE LARGEST SHIPS WHICH CAN NAVIGATE THE CANAL, STEADILY APPROACHED. THE HUMAN BRAIN, WELL AT LEAST NOT MINE, CAN'T REALLY COMPREHEND THE SIGHT OF THIS EMORMOUS VESSEL, PASSING THROUGH SO NARROW A WATERWAY. THERE ARE LITERALLY LESS THAN TWO FEET ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SHIP SEPARATING ITS HULL FROM THE CONCRETE WALLS OF THE LOCK. IT IS TRULY AN UNBELIEVABLE SIGHT TO SEE. NOT TO MENTION THE HUMAN TRIUMPH INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD. THERE ARE NO PUMPS INVOLVED IN THE CANAL'S OPERATION...IT IS ALL ABOUT GRAVITY AND RAINFALL. CHECK IT OUT WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE; THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTERESTING BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT.

MEANWHILE, HURRICANE OMAR HAD BEEN BEARING DOWN ON OUR NEXT DESTINATION FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, AND WAS ON COURSE TO HIT THE SHORES OF PUERTO RICO RIGHT AROUND THE SAME TIME AS OUR PLANE WAS SCHEDULED TO LAND...OUCH. NOTHING LIKE HUNDRED MILE AN HOUR SUSTAINED WINDS, AND A FORECASTED TWENTY PLUS INCHES OF RAINFALL TO PUT THE DAMPER ON A ROCK SHOW. I GUESS OUR WEATHER KARMA WAS DUE FOR SOME GOOD LUCK AFTER A ROUGH SUMMER OF OUTDOOR SHOWS IN THE STATES, BECAUSE THE STORM NARROWLY MISSED SAN JUAN, AND MOVED OUT TO SEA WITHOUT INCIDENT...YAY, AND OLE'!

ON OUR DAY OFF, LIKE A SALMON SWIMMING UPSTREAM TO SPAWN, I WAS DRAWN TO OUR LONG TIME HAUNTS IN OLD SAN JUAN. ON OUR FIRST TRIP TO PUERTO RICO IN 1985, WE TOTALLY CONNECTED WITH THE OLD CITY. OUR PAST HANGS SUCH AS EL BATEY, MARIAS, EL MORRO AND THE EL CONVENTO HOTEL, WERE CALLING MY NAME, AND I COULD NOT RESIST VISITING THESE NOSTALGIC PLACES. I FOUND MARIA AT HER NEW BAR, EL TORTUGA...HER SMILE AS LOVELY AS EVER, AND COUNTING THE TILL AS ALWAYS. OUR OLD FRIEND AND BARTENDER AT EL BATEY, ALAN, HAS RETIRED, BUT I HONORED HIS MEMORY WITH A GLASS OF FINE SIPPING RUM AND A GAME OF BUMPER POOL...WITH MYSELF, I KNOW, HOW SAD IS THAT? THIS BEING THE SAME BUMPER POOL TABLE, OVER WHICH I, AND FORMER SECURITY MAN, MIKEY, HAD HELD COURT INTO THE WEE HOURS, BACK IN THE DAY. WE SET FORTH A CHALLENGE TO ALL COMERS: YOU WIN, WE GIVE UP THE TABLE...WE WIN, YOU BUY US SHOTS. I AM PROUD TO SAY WE RETIRED UNBEATEN, AND HAVING DRANK OUR COMBINED WEIGHT IN RUM AND TEQUILLA THAT NIGHT.

LAST NIGHT'S SHOW AT ROBERTO CLEMETE STADIUM WAS ANOTHER MAJOR SUCCESS. OUR GOOD BUDDIES, KANSAS, SHARED THE STAGE, AND TOGETHER WE ROCKED THE JOINT, BIG TIME. THE FIRST TIME WE PLAYED IN SAN JUAN, BACK IN 1985, WAS AT A TIME WHEN "CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING" WAS NUMERO UNO ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS, AT THE PEAK OF THAT SONG'S POPULARITY. IT WAS BLASTING OUT OF EVERY SHOP, TAXI, AND BOOM BOX ON THE ISLAND. WE WERE TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY WHEN WE PLAYED THE SONG THAT NIGHT, AND THE AUDIENCE SANG ALONG WITH SUCH VOLUME THAT THEY DROWNED OUT OUR SOUND SYSTEM. WELL GUESS WHAT, IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST NIGHT. OUR CONNECTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO IS UNDENIABLE, AND IT HAS REMAINED STRONG EVER SINCE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT MUSIC HAS SUCH A MAGICAL POWER TO PEOPLE BRING, AND KEEP PEOPLE TOGETHER.

OUR CREW DID AN AMAZING JOB, UNDER EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TECHNICAL CONDITIONS, IN ORDER TO PULL THIS TOUR OFF. ONCE AGAIN WALTER, MIKEY, SCHAEFF, PETE, PAUL, T-BYRD, SMOOTH, GONG-SHOW, AND JIMMY...YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. THANKS TO ALL OF THE PROMOTERS, LOCAL CREWS, RADIO STATIONS AND FANS WHO HAVE MADE THIS TOUR SUCH A SUCCESS. BECAUSE OF YOU ALL, WE WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND SHARE OUR MUSIC WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE CARIBBEAN AGAIN SOON.

SO NOW I SIT ABOARD MY FLIGHT HOME, LOOKING BACK ON OUR TOUR, LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT VISIT TO THESE SPECIAL ISLANDS, AND IN ANTICIPATION OF SEEING MY FAMILY TONIGHT. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THE ONLY DRAG OF MY JOB IS THAT I HAVE TO BE AWAY FROM HOME SO MUCH, SO MY PAYOFF IS IN SIGHT.

GRACIAS, BUENOS NOCHES, AMIGOS,

KC

10/16/2008 - Hola Amigos

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT
HOLA AMIGOS...

AS I ARRIVE AT MY NEW SEAT FOR OUR FLIGHT FROM SANTO DOMINGO TO PANAMA CITY, I AM FEELING BOTH RELAXED AND RELIEVED. RELIEVED SIMPLY BECAUSE AS I BOARDED THE PLANE, I WAS PLUCKED FROM THE JETWAY BY A DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SECURITY GUARD, AND ESCORTED AWAY FROM THE BAND AND CREW, THROUGH A SERIES OF CHECKPOINTS, TO AN ISOLATED SECURE AREA. ALONG THE WAY I WAS THINKING, EITHER THE AIRPORT MANAGER IS AN REO FAN WHO IS LOOKING FOR A LITTLE PRIVATE MEET AND GREET, OR ONE OF THE ROADIES STASHED SOME CONTRABAND IN ONE OF THE EQUIPMENT CASES WHICH WAS CHECKED ALONG WITH MY LUGGAGE. I WAS LEAD OUTSIDE, INSTRUCTED BY MY ESCORTS TO SIT IN A CHAIR AND WAIT, WHILE THE CONTINGENT OF OFFICIALS GATHERED AROUND ME CONTINUED TO GROW IN NUMBER. FINALLY, MY GREY "ZERO" WAS LAID BEFORE ME AND I WAS ASKED TO ENTER THE COMBINATION SO THE SUITCASE COULD BE OPENED AND INSPECTED. AS THE FEMALE OFFICER RUMMAGED THROUGH MY FASTIDIOUSLY PACKED T-SHIRTS, GOING THROUGH MY UNDERWEAR ONE PAIR OF CALVIN'S AT A TIME, AND MAKING A MESS OF MY PROFESSIONAL PACK JOB, I SAT QUIETLY, HAVING NO CLUE WHAT WAS BEING SAID OR WHAT MISDEED I WAS SUSPECTED OF HAVING COMMITTED. THEN, AS SUDDENLY AS I HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM THE FOLD, MY STEPS WERE RETRACED, THROUGH THE SAME SECURITY POSTS, AND BACK TO THE JETWAY...WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST ATTEMPT AT AN EXPLANATION. WHEN I ENTERED THE CABIN I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ASSIGNMENT HAD BEEN SWITCHED, AND I GLADLY TOOK MY NEW SEAT. I WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO DEPLANE IN PANAMA CITY, AND AS I PROCEEDED DOWN THE JETWAY I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE A LARGE CONTINGENT OF SERIOUS LOOKING GUYS IN SUITS, OBVIOUSLY ON HAND TO GREET SOMEONE OF IMPORTANCE, OR PERHAPS INFAMY. I STEADIED MYSELF FOR WHAT WAS TO COME, BUT AS I APPROACHED I SENSED THAT THIS WELCOMING PARTY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. THEY WERE LOOKING RIGHT PAST ME, AND TO THE DISTINGUISHED LOOKING GENTLEMAN WHO HAD OCCUPIED MY ORIGINAL SEAT. TURNS OUT HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. COINCIDENCE? WHO KNOWS? ALL I KNOW IS ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. BUT I WILL SAY I FELT QUITE HELPLESS DURING THAT THIRTY-MINUTES-WHICH-SEEMED-LIKE-THREE-HOURS. BEING DETAINED IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, WITH NO COMPREHENSION OF WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE OR BEING SAID, GAVE ME A TASTE OF WHAT IT MUST FEEL LIKE IN ACTUAL DANGEROUS COUNTRIES UNDER REALLY VULNERABLE CONDITIONS.

LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE BEAUTIFUL DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HAVING JUST PLAYED THE THIRD SOLD OUT CONCERT OF OUR CARIBBEAN TOUR THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND HAVING PARTIED WITH ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S NATIONAL TREASURES, BASEBALL GREAT AND FORMER CHICAGO CUB, SAMMY SOSA. WE HAD MET YEARS AGO WHEN WE SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BEFORE A GAME AT WRIGLEY FIELD, AND SAMMY WAS AS COOL AS EVER. ACTUALLY IN THE SHORT TIME WE SPENT HERE IN SANTO DOMINGO, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE DOMINICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR HISTORY AND CULTURE, AND HAVE A NEW FOUND APPRECIATION FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL PLACE. BRUCE, WALTER AND I TOURED THE OLD CITY, VISITED THE HOME OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, SHOPPED FOR INDIGENOUS AMBER AND LATIGO JEWELRY, AND GOT A LESSON IN NORTH AMERICAN HISTORY. IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT SAMMY SOSA IS SUCH A GREAT BALL PLAYER, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAS MORE PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, PER CAPITA, THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE U.S. BASEBALL CAPTURED THE PASSION OF THE DOMINICAN PEOPLE WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED BY AN AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IN THE EARLY 1900s...AND I WALK AWAY WITH A PAIR OF SAMMY SOSA AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALLS FOR MY SONS, JOSH AND SHANE...IT'S ALL BUENO.

OUR CARIBBEAN ADVENTURE, OR AS IT HAS COME TO BE KNOWN, "THE TROPICAL DEPRESSION TOUR", (A COUPLE OF HURRICANES LURKING OUT AT SEA, COMBINED WITH SOME COLORFUL BAND MEETINGS, HAVE PROVIDED FOR SOME INTERESTING, IF CHAOTIC, ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ;-), STARTED ON THE TRULY PRISTINE ISLAND OF ARUBA. WE CO-HEADLINED THE ARUBA MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH GLORIA ESTAFAN, AND AS ODD A PAIRING AS IT MIGHT SEEM TO AN AMERICAN AUDIENCE, IT WORKED OUT "CHEVERE" HERE IN THE ISLANDS. BOTH NIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL WERE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT, AND WERE ATTENDED BY PEOPLE FROM SEVENTEEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S., VENEZUELA, COLUMBIA, MEXICO, AND OF COURSE ARUBA. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS GORGEOUS DUTCH ISLAND FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR A PERFECT CHILL OUT GETAWAY. ARUBA HAS IT ALL: BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, A VARIETY OF WATER SPORTS, THE WARM CARIBBEAN SEA, THE QUAINT CITY OF ORANJESTAAD, AND YEAR ROUND SUNSHINE. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK THERE. THANKS TO LEE THE PROMOTER FOR TREATING US LIKE ROYALTY, AND FOR PRODUCING A GREAT, SUCCESSFUL EVENT,

OUR NEXT STOP WAS A REAL BIG ROCK SHOW AT THE CRICKET STADIUM IN PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD. I'M TALKING OVER THIRTEEN THOUSAND SCREAMING FANS, SINGING ALONG TO EVERY SONG...WE WERE AWED BY THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO OUR MUSIC. OUR FRIEND AND CONCERT PROMOTER VISHNU INVITED US BACK TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, AFTER A SEVENTEEN-YEAR ABSENCE SINCE OUR LAST CONCERT IN THAT COUNTRY. HE, HIS WIFE GAIL, AND THE ENTIRE A-TEAM, HAVE BROUGHT ROCK'N ROLL TO THIS GREAT ISLAND NATION, AND THE PEOPLE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO LOVE TO ROCK OUT. WE WISELY TOOK VISHNU'S ADVICE AND ADDED A FEW SONGS TO OUR SET LIST ESPECIALLY FOR THESE CARIBBEAN SHOWS. THE PLACE WENT NUTS FOR SONGS SUCH AS, "IN YOUR LETTER, "HERE WITH ME", "ONE LONELY NIGHT", "KEEP THE FIRE BURNING" AND "IN MY DREAMS"...AND IT WAS REALLY FUN TO DUST OFF SOME OF THESE FORGOTTEN CHESTNUTS. WE WILL LIKELY BE INCLUDING THESE TUNES ON THE SETLIST ON FUTURE U.S. SHOWS.

SO WE ARE NOW SAFELY ON THE GROUND IN PANAMA CITY. WE LANDED AFTER NIGHTFALL, BUT I AM ALREADY AMAZED BY THE SIZE AND MODERNITY OF THIS CITY.
BUENOS NOCHES,
KC

PS. I AWOKE THIS MORNING, AND WALKED OUT ON MY BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE PACIFIC OCEAN TO AN AMAZING VIEW OF PANAMA'S SKYLINE, COASTLINE, AND A LINE OF FREIGHTERS AWAITING THEIR TRIP THROUGH THE CANAL. TONIGHT'S SHOW IS ANOTHER SOLD OUT AFFAIR, AND TOMORROW WE PLAN TO TOUR THE CITY AND EXPLORE THE CANAL ZONE. TO BE CONTINUED...

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8/1/2008 - News from the first Flood Relief Concert...

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Hi Everybody,

We are in Altoona, Iowa for the first "Ridin' The Storm Out...Midwest Flood Relief Concert". I just got back from a helicopter ride with Copter John, the pilot/meteorologist for local channel 8 TV. We hovered above some of the hardest hit local areas, surveying flood damage here in the Des Moines area first hand. This is but one of the many locations throughout the Midwest which were affected by the 2008 floods. I met with an awesome local business leader by the name of Barry Griswell this afternoon. He has initiated "Embrace Iowa", which raises funds to fill the gaps between the various government programs which are presently helping the people of Iowa. We are talking about plans for more concerts later in the summer.

The view from the helicopter showed some of the frightening damage, but in general the flood waters have receded and the rivers and lakes are back within their banks. But the lives of the people whose homes have been destroyed and whose lives have been turned on end are just beginning the long process of getting back to normal. Many of them will be returning to their banks, in dire need of funding to repair their homes, farms, and businesses. But they will need additional help...

It is our intention to accomplish three main goals with these flood relief concerts...to raise money for those in immediate need, to raise morale for those who are working so hard to put their lives back together, and to raise awareness around the country as to the problems people here are facing. I feel that the rest of America might learn from the spirit of the Midwest. We have been raised with a mentality which stresses hard work, commitment to family and community, and that when the work is done...have some fun. That spirit is a gift that those of us lucky enough to be born and raised here have been blessed with, and are always willing to share with our neighbors. We are far more than simply the fly-over states...we are the Midwest, and proud of it.

KC

7/17/2008 - News from the Midwest Flood Relief Concert...

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Hi Everybody,br/>
We are in Altoona, Iowa for the first "Ridin' The Storm Out...Midwest Flood Relief Concert". I just got back from a helicopter ride with "Copter John", the pilot/meteorologist for local Channel 8 TV. We hovered above some of the hardest hit local areas, surveying flood damage here in the Des Moines area first hand. This is but one of the many locations throughout the Midwest which were affected by the 2008 floods. I met with an awesome local business leader by the name of Barry Griswell this afternoon. He has initiated "Embrace Iowa", which raises funds to fill the gaps between the various government programs which are presently helping the people of Iowa. We are talking about plans for more concerts later in the summer.

The view from the helicopter showed some of the frightening damage, but in general the flood waters have receded and the rivers and lakes are back within their banks. But the lives of the people whose homes have been destroyed and whose lives have been turned on end are just beginning the long process of getting back to normal. Many of them will be returning to their banks, in dire need of funding to repair their homes, farms, and businesses. But they will need additional help...br/>
It is our intention to accomplish three main goals with these flood relief concerts...to raise money for those in immediate need, to raise morale for those who are working so hard to put their lives back together, and to raise awareness around the country as to the problems people here are facing. I feel that the rest of America might learn from the spirit of the Midwest. We have been raised with a mentality which stresses hard work, commitment to family and community, and that when the work is done...have some fun. That spirit is a gift that those of us lucky enough to be born and raised here have been blessed with, and are always willing to share with our neighbors. We are far more than simply the fly-over states...we are the Midwest, and proud of it.br/>
P.S. The event in Iowa was a total success. The weather was perfect. The media coverage was huge. We had over 11,000 smiling people, at $20.00 each, plus the county government matched the ticket sales...which according to my calculations means that we raised well over $400,000. Thanks again to Prairie Meadows Casino, KGGO Radio, Ticketmaster, "Copter John" McGlaughlin and the Channel 8 news team, Tom Consolo and the REO management team, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, the always amazing REO Speedwagon crew, and to all the people of Iowa who came out to support this event. As I said, this is just the beginning. There is much more work to be done.br/>
KC

6/18/2008 - The Jet-Lag Journals Part Two

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT
I sure love all of the vast culture diversity, the rich history, and the wonderful people of the UK and Europe. I can't quite put into words the excitement i feel whenever we visit our friends across the pond. My earliest musical inspiration came from the music of the Beatles, the Kinks, the Who, the Hollies, the Dave Clark Five, and the many other great bands of the British invasion. Our second trip overseas in as many years has been another incredible success story, as our longtime supporters came back to see us again, and we added many new fans all over Europe, Ireland and England... that having been said, forgive me whilst I have a little fun at the expense of some of the more interesting aspects of our experience as a rock band on the road, far away from home...

First, my cell phone was unusable during the entire time I was overseas. I guess it's partly my fault for poor planning, and not activating the iPhone which has been sitting in its box on my desk since I got it last yeah...okay, maybe that one is all my fault. But, being that the vast majority of hotel front desk clerks were born after the advent of mobile telephone technology, few of them have any idea how to react when a guest needs to make a trans-oceanic call from an actual land line. At approximately 1:00am Greenwich mean time, upon my third trip down to the lobby to plead my case with the Radisson Edwardian's night manager, who was not only of the post-cellular demographic, but for reasons unknown to me, did not care to absorb a word I said, I had to exercise restraint as the thought occurred to me that unless I did so quickly, there was an excellent chance that I would end up spending the night in a London jail, which at the time seemed like an upgrade... I was feeling that frustrated and angry...note to self: activate iPhone immediately.

Gripe number two: European hotels, perhaps in an attempt at cost cutting, but in my estimation a poor choice of services for a hotel to cut, have eliminated clocks in all of their rooms. Yes, you heard right, a hotel room with no clock, no alarm clock, and no clock radio. Now admittedly, there are sometimes clocks in the television sets, but they only work when the TV is turned on, and since I don't particularly enjoy spending my free time in Europe hanging around a hotel room watching the telly, not to mention the fact that half the time I couldn't figure out how to turn the blasted things on even if i wanted to, and because I had a world class case of jet lag and was pretty much disoriented from day one, I never knew what bloody time it was.

Gripe number three: European airport officials need to sit down in the same room, and decide once and for all how many carry on bags can be taken on any given flight, and what the maximum size of said carry-on bag, or bags, can be. Don't get me started on how many times I had to re-pack my luggage in the middle of the floor of an international airport terminal, thereby putting myself at grave risk of being trampled by any number of harried passengers, as they rushed to and fro, looking up at signs posted in various unfamiliar languages, rather than watching out for poor unsuspecting re-packers, such as myself.

Gripe number four: tourist/parents should either leave their young impressionable children at home with a babysitter, or rethink their plans to spend their Sunday afternoon strolling the streets of Amsterdam...not that i have any first person knowledge of this practice, but the combination of a dad with his daughter hoisted on his shoulders, as he window shops his way through the red light district of Amsterdam, is just wrong...even if it was father's day.

Gripe number five: in spite of all of my moaning...I had a rocking good time in Europe and the UK! And I really do hate to leave this wonderful place. I of course am kidding about my gripes, and I totally look forward to coming back again next summer. The European/UK fans are so loyal. We opened the show at Arrowfest in Holland yesterday, and our set was at 12:45 pm... (that is just after noon, quite early in the day by most rock'n roll standards). Amazingly, when we hit the stage the festival site was already filled near its twenty-five thousand person capacity. We had a great set, and it was fun to see our buddies in Journey and Def Leppard, who were on the bill along with Whitesnake and kiss. Even though we are not really used to going on first, it was cool, and i think we made another strong impression on the European rock audience.

A lot of British and Europeans haven't seen us in awhile, and they are not sure what to expect from REO Speedwagon in 2008. But we live for coming out and taking the crowd far beyond their expectations. It is really good for a band to be challenged in this way...it keeps us hungry. I love it.

So, we survived our killer schedule, and had a blast doing it. Now we are back stateside and looking forward to seeing everybody this summer in a city near you, or you may have to drive a little, but I promise we'll make it worth your fuel costs. Hey, don't feel too bad, gas prices in Europe are around ten bucks a gallon. That could explain all of the tiny cars, people walking, and riding bicycles...hmmm, maybe we Americans could take a page from that playbook and work a little harder at conserving energy over here. I've got it, next time we come to your town, ride your bike to the REO show.

Keep Pedalin'

KC

6/17/2008 - The Jet-Lag Journals

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT
The Jet-Lag Journals...Part One

Cheers, bon jour, guten abend,

I know last year I sent a message from Europe every day. Honestly, I have no idea where I found the time and energy to do so...or maybe our schedule is crazier this time around. At any rate I am now sitting in a tent, backstage in the German village of Bad Neuenahr. Everything is so different over here. We just finished the meet and greet, two hours before show time, so I have an unprecedented slice of free time.

We began this journey in the magical land of my ancestors. Our first show was in the "temple bar" district of Dublin, at the Olympia Theater. Naturally the band and crew gathered afterward and had a group Guinness toast at the Keogh Pub on St Anne Street. Guinness on tap, in Ireland, is a thing of beauty no matter what your nationality.

I had a couple of hours of free time before the show in Nottingham, England, so I found my way to the castle where robin hood often found himself in shackles, after stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. I enjoyed a meal of fish and chips at "Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem", the oldest pub in the UK, established in 1189...that's even before our first album came out. I am now a legend at that place, having mastered a medieval pub game involving a brass ring, a long string, and the horn of a boar, (don't ask), on my very first try. So it's basically Robin Hood, King Richard the Lionhearted, and me at this point. The gig at Nottingham's "Rock City" was a vintage REO show...a big, loud, beer soaked affair, and that was just on our crew bus.

I was on British television for the first time on "The Morning Show" in London. Bruce and I did an acoustic version of "Keep On Loving You", but only after I had prepared, and then tasted, Eva Longoria's enchiladas, (don't ask ;-) the London show at the O2 Indigo Theater was rather uneventful, but the following night off was one for the ages. We spent our only night off at "Sheppards Bush Empire", a beautiful old theater, where Kid Rock was in concert...and he was amazing. Dave got to meet Jimmy Page at the aftershow party, and later we got together with Queen guitarist Brian May for a quiet, late night glass of wine in the hotel bar. Brian sat in with us at Hammersmith Odeon when we played there in 1981. He is rock royalty, but more importantly, a great gentleman. We talked story, laughed, and he is very excited about the new album he is making with Queen + Paul Rogers. Okay, ya think I have dropped enough names at this point?

Next we flew off to Switzerland to begin the home stretch, a four shows in 60 hours marathon. As I sit here now I have my doubts whether I will survive...so stay tuned. If I make it, I promise to finish the story. Right now, we are being bombarded by the music of arguably the most horrible opening act in recent REO history...including the infamous ventriloquist in Mexico City...to be continued.

KC

5/5/2008 - Heading to Europe next week

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Hi everybody,

Well, I haven't really felt the need to write any newsletters here lately; as my life has been pretty much chronicled through the various media outlets, which have been covering us in recent months. There hasn't been much I could tell you that hasn't been on public record. But as the frenzy cools down for a moment, I can now resume my little rants.

The power of mass media is more remarkable than ever. My everyday life has become more of a meet and greet than it has in quite a while. People of all ages, from various walks of life have been so appreciative and supportive of the many efforts we have been involved in this year. I must admit, it feels pretty great.

I was especially proud of my daughter, Holly, for her participation in our whirlwind, charitable trip to Greensburg, Kansas. She handled herself with such poise during her interview on the CBS Early Show. She had rehearsed a little statement for when she presented the mayor with the money, which her schoolmates raised to help the tornado victims. The interview was a total surprise, and she rose to the occasion�way to go Holly.

Meanwhile, we are in final preparation for the launch of the new and improved reospeedwagon.com. We have revamped the entire design in order to make the site more responsive and up to date. Stay tuned for the grand opening.

Ever since webmaster d hooked me up with my own kc@kevincronin.com email address, I have been having a blast. Now I can answer all of your emails personally, and so far I have been able to keep up with you guys.

Next week, we depart for our 2008 european shows. I am very excited about all of the shows, but none more than the opening night in Dublin, Ireland. Last time we were there I felt so at home. On the way to the venue, as we crawled through the evening Dublin traffic, I saw a kid walking along the street who was pretty much an exact double of my son, Paris, who was ten at the time. I always wish I would have hopped out of the limo and talked to the boy. He had to be related to our family�oh well. We are also stoked to be playing two shows in Nottingham and London, England, and a bunch of awesome festivals around the continent�check reospeedwagon.com for the exact dates and venues.

After we return for a week off at home, we head out for our annual american summertime extrvaganza�so we lok forward to seeing, and rocking out with you, soon.

The REO Live DVD is finally ready for release. We all feel it is our best live video ever. The short form concert is set to debut in high def, on public television, in early july as part of the legendary Soundstage series. Then in August the "REO Speedwagon Live in Chicago�Up Close and Musical" dvd will be available in stores and online. It will contain many more songs, including "Golden Country" and "157 Riverside Ave.", "I Needed to Fall" and "Smilin' In The End" from the new cd, plus new interview footage, and some other bonus stuff.

Webmaster D, who is an expert on all things REO, has asked me to answer a question that he is curious about. He was wondering how the song, "157 Riverside Ave" evolved from its original form as a three minute blues rock rave up, into the magnum opus which it became by the time we recorded the "Live, You Get What You Play For" album. As I got more and more comfortable in the band, I began to attempt to put my stink on the older songs. The ending of "157" started as a simple musical call/answer exchange between Gary's soloing and my vocal scatting. It then began taking on a life of its own as I wove the mythical early morning phone call into the mix. Ever since then I have been changing the "rap", as we call it, as I find new things to talk about. So, there you have it, D.

Okay, I need to go pick up the kids from school now, which I look forward to every day. The looks on their precious faces bring up such good feelings in my soul. I am a very lucky daddy. I have to make the most of every moment I can spend with them as the summer touring season approaches.

I'll keep pushin', if you will,

XOKC

5/1/2008 - We are not in California anymore Toto...

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
...we are most definitely in Kansas. As our motorcade of black Escalades purred through downtown Dodge City, past Boot Hill, and the OK Corral, the townsfolk looked on as if we had just landed from another planet...which in a way, we had.

As I explained to my daughter Holly, who came to present the Mayor of Greensburg with a jar filled with over $1,600.00 of donated cash, this is the real America. These are real Americans. And this is the heart of REO Country. CBS News is expecting more than two thousand locals to show up at dawn, in forty degree temperatures, to be on hand for our performance. I am more and more blown away as this experience unfolds.

I'll try to check in again as the event develops....but for now, from Dodge City, Kanas, this is Kevin and Holly Cronin for CBS News saying, "Rock On People".

4/14/2008 - BON JOUR

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Bon jour from beautiful Quebec City, Canada, which is celebrating 400 years since its founding in 1608...meaning it has been around almost as long as our band...(insert rimshot here).

Our visit began with a day off, so we taxied down to the old city for a band lunch. Try as we might, we couldn't find a house of pancakes for Dave, so we settled on a quaint little Italian cafe. (Dave loved his mushroom omlette with a side of pasta.) After lunch and laughs the boys hiked back to our hotel. I chose to take the scenic route, and explore the narrow, winding, cobblestone streets of old Quebec.

In sticking with my, "when in France, do as the French " mentality, and because I was way underdressed, having packed for the Florida shows, my first thought was to find myself a beret. As I wandered the shop lined "Rue de Sainte Jean", past St. Patrick's Pub, (where a bunch of our crew guys had gathered), I spotted the tiniest of alleyways. A few meters up the little street I climbed, and voila!...a chapeau shop.

Now, looking very much the continental guy, and armed with my massive high school French vocabulary, (basically I can count to fifteen, and ask how to find the bathroom.), I was off on an adventure into history. Quebec City is one of the oldest, if not the oldest city, in North America. It was fought over through a number of wars, and its mighty walls and fortress still stand. To walk these streets is to take a trip back in time. The weather is pretty intense, (seventeen feet of snow fell this winter.). But as my friend from the haberdashery explained, "we put up with the cold weather to live this life. If it was warm, everyone would come here."

Upon my return to the hotel came the stunner...as I packed my suitcases and prepared to head down to the bus, tour manager Walter showed up at my door with a look of concern across his face. The Quebec City show, and all of the remaining sold out Canadian dates were being postponed, and we were bussing off to Montreal, and then flying to L.A. ...now!

It seems lead singer Joe Elliot, of our tour mates Def Leppard, was sick, and it had affected his voice. There is no worse feeling for a singer than to have to cancel a show because of vocal problems...believe me, I know. It has rarely happened to me, and as I spoke to various members of the Def Leppard crew, I learned that Joe almost never cancels shows either. All of us wish him well, and a speedy recovery. The new plan is to regroup in Grand Rapids on April 18, and continue the tour from there. We hope to make up the Canadian concerts later in the summer.

I'll get back with more details as i learn them.

Au revoir,

KC

2/29/2008 - South Bend, IN

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST
Hi Gang,

We are back on the road again in South Bend, Indiana. That cold, crisp, Midwest air feels so good, (which is another way of saying that I am freezing my ass off); it totally reminds me of my childhood just up the road, in Chicago. It is so different around here than out in Los Angeles, and I'm not just talking about the weather.

People in South Bend, as in Chicago, are already gearing up for St. Patrick's Day. I can almost taste the green beer, there are shamrocks hanging outside the shops and restaurants, I can sense the Blarney everywhere...I love it. We will be back in these parts for some shows again in two weeks, and I plan on spending St. Paddy's in Chicago with my Dad...it is his 83rd birthday, and he is bright and healthy as can be...Go Ted!

So, did anyone catch the live webcast from the L.A. Avengers kick off party last night? How was it? I can tell you that Dave and I had a blast. And check this out...one of the bartenders was the actor from the Hallmark, Can't Fight This Feeling commercial. I am serious. His name is Sam, he is a great guy, and he pours a mean Chardonnay. I'll post the photos when they come in.

So today, I am getting a cup of coffee in one of the LAX lounges, and a guy walks up and introduces himself as the editor for the TV show, "Don't Forget The Lyrics". Yep, you guessed it, that is the show I taped last month, which I was talking about in my last newsletter. He said our episode came out great, and that he will let me know as soon as they lock in an air date...it is tentatively scheduled for airing during the first week of April.

We are firming up our plans for a return to Europe coming up in June, and are looking at some shows in Japan later in the year. "Find Your Own Way Home" sold through in Japan in the first few weeks, and they have ordered another shipment...how cool is that! We still totally believe in the power of those songs, and little by little the word is spreading around the world.

I am going to start sending along cool photos as they come in. Here are a couple of fun shots.

The first one is Benjie, from Good Charlotte, and me, at the Burbank airport. We sat on either side of my wife on a flight from Phoenix, and we playfully, (sort of, she really does hate to fly), attempted to calm Lisa down any time we hit the slightest turbulence. When the plane landed we finally figured out that both of us were in rock bands. He plays guitar, and his twin brother is the singer. I pray that my sons grow up to be as close as Benjie is with his brother.

The other photo du jour is of John Travolta signing my daughter's Super Bowl cap. Holly is a huge fan of "Hairspray" and "Grease", so I was on a mission to get her an autograph. JT was totally cool, very down to earth and friendly...

2/8/2008 - WOW!

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST
The e-messages are pouring in...it is awesome. You guys send me so much good energy, you cannot imagine how much I appreciate it. Life out here on the road is a blast when we are on stage. But your letters help pass the long hours in hotel rooms, airports, and on the tour bus. Thanks!

It is frustrating to me, as well as some of you, that I can't respond to each of your messages. I need my fingers in strong order to play guitar, and they would be worn down to the bone if I tried to type letters back to everyone. I have been attempting to post some responses on the kevincronin.com site, but I'm finding that I may be hurting things more than helping.

My free time is limited, with three young kids, a grown son, a wife, and a band, who all need my attention. Hey, I should be down in the gym right now, I need to keep up the lean, mean, rock'n roll machine vibe.

I know...wah, wah, wah. I totally should not complain. I know I am a very fortunate guy to be making a living doing what I love to do, and I owe it all to you, our awesome fans. It's just that every time I answer one person's letter, there are a hundred other people who end up feeling left out when I don't respond to theirs'. I'm between a rock band and a hard place!

So I am choosing to suspend the "KC Responds" program for a while. I will continue to enjoy reading each and every one of your messages, so please don't stop writing. Maybe when I get a little more caught up, I will try and resume the "Responds" feature some time down the road.

Meanwhile, how 'bout that Hallmark Cards TV spot? It cracks me up, the Holiday Inn commercial with "Take It On The Run" is pretty funny too. Who woulda thunk that the only time you would hear our music on TV would be in commercials. Whatever happened to "The Midnight Special", or "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"? ;-)

Okay, here is a secret for you...I will be appearing on a FOX TV show later this month, but I can't disclose any info yet...although I am dying to tell you all about it...hey did anyone see the story on CBS News this morning about my son, Paris? I am so proud of him for his courage and honesty. (And that was him, as a baby, in the "Can't Fight This Feeling" video). I hope his story can inspire others to make the kind of tough decisions which he has made, and perhaps save their lives. The MusiCares Foundation is a great organization, and he has helped bring awareness to the great work they do in helping artists and musicians who have fallen on hard times.

Okay, it's time for sound check here in Indiana. We are working on "Son of a Poor Man" this afternoon, and continuing to get ready to add "Building The Bridge" and "In Your Letter". I am still trying out some "Good Trouble" songs on my acoustic guitar. And "Like You Do" should be ready in the near future. We are having fun. Can't wait to see you guys on tour this year.

Keep Pushin',

KC Thanks for understanding, my friends.

1/29/2008 - Notes From Kevin

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST
Hi Gang,

Well, I should probably preface this letter by mentioning that my current physical state is somewhere between a giant pile of poo, and the way I used to feel when the sun was coming up after a long night of partying, back in 1983.

That having been established, I am hoping you will understand if the tone of this letter is rather sour. Or, you might simply hit the old delete button now, and save yourself the agony of sharing in mine.

Actually I feel a bit of relief in having vented...so thanks to those of you who have shown the courage to venture on with me today.

Come to think of it, the days leading up to my being stricken by this hellish amoeba were so filled with great energy that it was probably inevitable that my body would eventually be overwhelmed, and therefore susceptible to this nasty bug.

It all began last Monday when the REO family convened at our home away from home, mates rehearsal studios. Now that we all live scattered around the country, it was especially great to see everyone together. And when we strapped on our guitars, fired up the gear, and started jamming, it was such an awesome feeling. I was once again reminded how fortunate we are to still be doing what we love to do.

We jammed for a while on a new song I am working on called, "Whipping Boy". It is another rocker, along the lines of "Smilin'in The End"...a total band song.

One of the things that made these rehearsals so much fun was that we all kept up our chops in the off time. It is so tempting, especially after a long touring season such as that of 2007, to come home and let your instrument collect dust. Then when you finally pick up the guitar, or try to sing a song, you are so rusty that it isn't all that much fun.

So this time around I promised myself I would not fall into that trap. I literally played and sang for an hour or so, at least every other day. I never really got out of road shape, and I even discovered some new places in my voice that I'll try out in concert this year.

One of the songs I got into singing at home was, "Building the Bridge". In the present political climate, I find that song to be especially enjoyable to play. We reworked the arrangement, re-wrote the guitar solo section, and plan to play it in our 2008 theater shows.

We also totally retooled, "In Your Letter", from the Hi Infidelity album. That tune was always kind of a novelty song for us...a little tribute to the doo-wop groups that we used to hear on our transistor radios, before the Beatles came out. But the fact is, there is an emotional side of that song which was lost in the original arrangement. This new approach has made it feel like a whole new song, hopefully without abandoning its nostalgic charm.

I know a lot of you have been suggesting that we play something off of the "Good Trouble" album. I know...I know. I am really looking for a song from that record that excites me enough to want to sing it today. I promise I will keep trying to figure something out.

We have also gotten numerous requests on the website for, "son of a poor man". So don't be surprised if we trot that one out this year. We didn't play, "like you do", last year for some unknown reason, so that song will be finding its way back on to the set list. And we realized how much a part of our history "golden country" has become, so you will be hearing that one this year too.

In general the band is swinging more this year. Even ballads like, "Can't Fight This Feeling", are being treated with less of a plodding type of feel. That approach worked great in the 80's, but with a few subtle changes, I am looking forward to singing that song more than ever.

Our shows with Styx and Def Leppard will be very compact...full of non stop energy. Then for our headline shows, we will stretch out a bit, and dig a bit deeper into our catalogue.

Okay, that wasn't too horrible, was it? But all this typing is making me dizzy, gotta run,

KC

1/11/2008 - January 2008

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST
Hi everybody,

I am so ready to dig into the new year. 2008 promises to be a year of amazing energy, growth and change. We will elect a new president. The consciousness of the world is finally embracing the realities of the necessity for a greener outlook on living on this planet. The music community is continuing to tackle the challenges of the digital era, while the live concert experience is still the most exciting way to hear, see and feel an artist.

The REO Speedwagon family has had a well earned rest, and the excitement of getting back together is spreading through our camp.

I spoke to all of the band guys this week and the vibe is so positive. We are throwing around ideas for the set list this year, ideas for arrangement changes, ways to improve our website for the coming year...all good stuff.

I spoke to Paul Dexter, our lighting designer, and he has some awesome ideas for the look of this year's production. Our clothing designer, Karen Dusenberry, is sewing like the wind so we all will be stylin' on stage. The office is buzzing, sorting through various touring opportunities, speaking of which...

We are happy to announce our upcoming spring tour. We start out playing some beautiful theater shows, and in late march we team up with our old friends, Styx, and join forces with the mighty Def Leppard for a month of arena concerts (check out the dates on our website) we did a few gigs with those guys last summer and it was a blast.

In early February we will be releasing the second single, the title song from our "Find Your Own Way Home" cd. I have always felt like this song is the emotional centerpiece of the album, and I can't wait to turn it loose on radio stations all around the country. Needless to say, (but I will anyhow), your support is extremely important to us. In this era of polls, focus groups, and demographics, there is still nothing like good old fashion calling your favorite radio station to request a song you want to hear.

We hope to be returning to Europe and Great Britain in 2008, and hopefully to Japan as well. "Find Your Own Way Home" is now in full world-wide release, so we want to bring our live show around the world too.

A special note to our friends at "ARF", which is our friend Tony Larussa's animal rescue foundation. Dave and I hopped aboard Jerry Reinsdorf's jet last Saturday, and were whisked off to play an acoustic set to benefit this charity. The event is always such a good vibe, and I think this year was the best ever. Toward the end of our set, Tony and his wife, Elaine, symbolically burned the facility's mortgage papers, signifying that it had been paid off in full...all through donations. Congratulations to all of the amazing "ARF" volunteers and staff members.

Okay, that is the latest from "REO World Headquarters", here in beautiful downtown Agoura Hills, California...

See you on the road.

KC