by Scott Kiefer
When you have been in the rock and roll business for 41 years as the lead singer for one of America's iconic bands, there's not a lot that a reporter hasn't asked you. Since 1972 when Kevin Cronin joined the REO Speedwagon band at Champaign, Illinois, it's most likely that you've answered just about every question there is, and talked to many of the same reporters every year to promote a show. Such is the case when Cronin granted an interview to coincide with the band's appearance Saturday night on the Midwest Rock and Roll Express Tour at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.
However, to put a twist on things, when this reporter picked up the call, I was notified that longtime tour manager Walter Versen would be doing the interview, and answering the questions as Cronin, and in the style Cronin would answer, while he sat there and listened.
"It's going to be fun and you're not even going to know the difference if it was Kevin or not," Versen said. "So, let's go."
Playing the game, because you never know what an artist is going to expect, the 'interview' goes on for about five minutes, and Cronin can longer stand it, voicing his angst in the background.
"Okay that's enough, give me the phone," Cronin says, taking the phone and apologizes for the duo's antics.
"We are just having some fun," Cronin said. "We have been doing this together for so long, Walter thought he could play me on the phone, so I went a long with it. He did a goo job actually, but now for the real thing."
It's the affection that Cronin along with his bandmates have for St. Louis, because they can be themselves and have a good time with the entire rock and roll thing.
"We love to play St. Louis, because it's like our home," Cronin said. "This year, putting the same tour together with Styx and Ted Nugent, I think is a testament to the fact that rock and roll isn't dead. It was so successful last year, and if we didn't have as many dates as we did this year, St. Louis would be a date that we know would be on the tour no matter what."
REO Speedwagon credits St. Louis as the first major market the band broke out in, and helped to push them to the superstar status they reached in the late seventies stretching through the 1980's.
"We as a band owe the St. Louis audience, and the entire midwest actually, credit for getting this crazy thing started and believing in us in the beginning," Cronin said. "They still support us to this day."
The band's appearance at Verizon with Styx, is an almost expected annual event since the group's friendly rivalry from the old days culminated in the recording of the live concert DVD, "Arch Rivals" in . Since then, the two groups haven't only been playing select dates together, but complete tours.
"We've always had a friendly rivalry with Styx, but we didn't really get to know them until after we did the 'Arch Rivals' concert and DVD," Cronin said. "Since then, we really have gotten to know each other, and become friends. Each year it's like, a bunch of old buddies going out and having a few and kicking back, only it's lasts a couple of months, then we go back home, and do our own thing, and can't wait for next year."
After so many years in the business, one would wonder if there is anything that an artist hasn't gotten to do in their career they would like to accomplish.
"My biggest thing really, would be to tour Australia," Cronin said. "We've never done that in all of these years, and I'd like to make that happen. I swear we're going to get it done. Musically though, one thing we've never done, is play with a symphony orchestra, or even record with one."
Cronin said there were a lot of acts who happened to be doing that a few years back, and it was something that he felt became a little over done.
"Everybody was doing it, and we may have been asked, I don't know," Cronin said. "It was just something that I really steered away from. That being said, recently it was mentioned to me again, and I never really thought REO Speedwagon music would be a good fit with something like that, so I dismissed the idea again. Then I got to thinking about it musically, and how our songs are put together, and I realized the idea of a large orchestra performing REO music would be one of the most awesome experiences I would ever enjoy. Imagine yourself surrounded by a large string section really rockin' and hammering out 'Time For Me To Fly.' It can't get any better than that."
One thing the band never really tires of is the fans and the relationships built over the years, especially in a market such at St. Louis.
"Coming from Champaign in the college days, of course we have roots in the midwest, and getting to know band and crew family members over the years, and fans, its like a family reunion whenever we play St. Louis," Cronin said. "In fact, our keyboard player Neal Doughty comes from Belleville."
Doughty's parents live in Smithton to this day.
"The best thing is when someone comes up to you and brings you one of the old vynyl lps to autograph," Cronin said, "and you can see the circle in the cover where its been worn through, and they have taken care of that particular album all these years, and still listen to it. That makes you feel good, because they truly are a friend, and not just a fan. That's always the best experience."
Speaking of vynyl records, the subject got Cronin to reminiscing.
"I'm going to figure out how to get a turntable and set my kids down and play one of our albums and have them listen to it," Cronin said. "There's something about the sound of a needle making the noise of music, that is nostalgic, and there's nothing like it. No one should have to go through life and not hear that."
Coming back to St. Louis gives Cronin the same feeling.
"It's like coming back to play, whether it was the old Mississippi River Festival, the Kiel Opera House, or now out at the amphitheatre, there's a feeling that I hope everybody in this business gets the opportunity to experience like the one when we step on stage St. Louis," Cronin said. "It's an equal admiration, really. It's like the ultimate rock and roll love story."
Who: REO Speedwagon
What: The Rock and Roll Midwest Express with Styx, Ted Nugent, and Mama's Pride
When: Saturday, May 18
Where: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Tickets: www.livenation.com
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