1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk sat down and I have a little 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: red Wurlitzer electric piano, and it started playing those chords 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: for the verses of keep On Loving You, and the 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: lyric just came. It was about twenty minutes of a 5 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: burst of creative energy. 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 2: But I didn't write the chorus. 7 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: A lot of times it happened for me that way, 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: where I write the verses and then I need to 9 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: get away from it a little bit, and then the 10 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: chorus comes. 11 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 3: Welcome to the Taking a Walk Podcast hosted by Buzz Night, 12 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 3: the podcast where Buzz talks with musicians and gets the 13 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,919 Speaker 3: inside stories behind their music. And today we're joined by 14 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 3: a legend who's been serenading us with timeless rock ballads 15 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 3: for decades. Kevin Cronin, the iconic lead vocalist and guitarist 16 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 3: of Reo Speedwagon, has been a staple of American rock 17 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 3: music since the seventies. Kevin's heading out on the road 18 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 3: with the Kevin Cronin Band, the voice and songs of 19 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 3: Rio Speedwagon. Here's Buzz with Kevin Cronin from Rio Speedwagon 20 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 3: on a Taken a Walk Podcast. 21 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: Hey Bobby, Hey, how are you Kevin? I'm good. 22 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: I'm beginning to wake up. 23 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 2: You know. 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: We're on the West coast here, and I operate on 25 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: Rock and Roll Time a little bit, you know, I 26 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: got My day revolves around going to work at eight 27 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: nine o'clock at night, so it's an early morning, but 28 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: it's worth it to get out and spread the word 29 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: about what's going on with with Ario Speedwagon and myself 30 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: and the music and the song. 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: So I appreciate you having me. It's great to have 32 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: you on. 33 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 4: And since the podcast is called taking a Walk, I 34 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 4: wanted to ask you if you could take a walk 35 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 4: with somebody living or dead. Doesn't have to be in 36 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 4: the music side of things, but maybe preferably who would 37 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 4: that be and where would you take a walk with them? 38 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 1: Kevin Wow, Well, you know, my musical heroes were the Beatles, obviously, 39 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: you know. I saw them on the Ed Sullivan Show 40 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty four and I looked at the TV 41 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: screen and I was like, that's what I want to do. 42 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: I've been taking guitar lessons for a couple of years 43 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: and didn't really know why until that day, but post Beatles, 44 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 1: just I really gravitated toward the music of Stephen Stills, 45 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: you know, with Buffalo Springfield with Crosby, Stills and Nash. 46 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: As a solo artist, Steven just he just does it 47 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 2: for me. Man. 48 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: He's an amazing singer, amazing guitar player, electric and acoustic, 49 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: and his songwriting speaks for itself. So, uh, I would 50 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: go for a walk with Stephen. 51 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,679 Speaker 2: Uh. I like to walk on the beach. Uh. 52 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: And I actually like to walk in the soft sand 53 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: because it's just just a better, better exercise and it's 54 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 1: easy on the easy on the body. And and you know, 55 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: I used to be a runner, but but since you know, 56 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: I just realized that uh, that running what it was 57 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: a great part of my life when when I ran, 58 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: And but now walking on the beach kind of serves 59 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: that same purpose. It just, you know, my mind just 60 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: kind of freeze itself and uh and uh, I get 61 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: most of my better ideas come uh in a nice 62 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: long beach walk. 63 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 2: So but but I'll tell you what. 64 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: I I kind of manifested meeting Stephen Still's one day. 65 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: I I put on that first Crosby Still the Nash record, 66 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: and uh played Sweet Juty Blue Eyes twelve times, picked 67 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: up the needle twelve times. You know, But I write 68 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: about my adventure with Stephen stills in my book, which 69 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: I'm still working on, but but yeah, Stephen, Stephen has 70 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: played a big part in my life and I owe 71 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: a lot to him. 72 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 4: So we're going to talk about the Brotherhood tour in 73 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 4: a bit. I know you're super excited about that. You 74 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 4: got your your Stick's brothers and mister Felder as well 75 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 4: as part of that tour, and of course you're a 76 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 4: great touring band. But talk about the early days in 77 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 4: Chicago and how did your upbringing really influence you musically. 78 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: Well, you know, I come from from a musical household. 79 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: My parents were both deep into Broadway musicals. So I 80 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: grew up listening to uh you know, because you put 81 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: an album on in the in the living room and 82 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: it and with it was a small house, and you 83 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: whatever music mom and dad were listening to, that's what 84 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,239 Speaker 1: I heard. So I listened to uh, you know, West 85 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:21,720 Speaker 1: Side Story, South Pacific, you know, My Fair Lady, all 86 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: these great, uh classic Broadway musicals. But then there was 87 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 1: a musical called Bye Bye Birdie, which was the first 88 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: rock and roll UH music, and that the lead character 89 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 1: was Conrad Birdie and he was he was basically Elvis 90 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: Presley and uh and and when I heard that, I 91 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: was like, whoa that that spoke to me in a 92 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 1: different way. And uh, but but I was encouraged to 93 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: uh to play music. It was my dad who suggested 94 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: the guitar because he he was like, you know, I 95 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,920 Speaker 1: wanted to play drums, but he was like, you know, uh, 96 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 1: you know, the guitar. You can take it anywhere, anywhere 97 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: you go. You can bring your guitar with you. And 98 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: I'll never forget that when he told me that, because 99 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: the guitar has been my constant companion. It's been like 100 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: a friend. It's been a vessel for me to express 101 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: my emotions. And you know, just you know, the guitar 102 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: is is what allows me to write songs. And so 103 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: I love the guitar. I've got guitars. If you looked 104 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: around this room, there's around our house, there are guitars everywhere, 105 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 1: and it's just a beautiful instrument. And and so yeah, 106 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 1: taking guitar lessons, man, that's where it started for me. 107 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 4: So you joined Dario shortly after their debut album. What 108 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 4: drew you to the band and can you talk about 109 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 4: that the early days of first joining Rio. 110 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: Well, you know, I was I was born and raised 111 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: in Chicago, and uh and uh the my my chance 112 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: meeting with Gary rich ratht was UH. 113 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: You couldn't have You couldn't have written. 114 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: If I wrote the story uh uh and tried to 115 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: turn it into uh to a TV show or a play, 116 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: no one would believe it because it's because the uh. 117 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: But basically I put I hung flyers in all the 118 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: music stores uh in Chicago advertising UH. The the Musician's 119 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: Referral Service, and basically the Musician's Referral Service was was 120 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: my idea to try to find musicians for my band. 121 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: Our our guitar player and our bass player both left 122 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: and I, so I needed a guitar player and a 123 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: bass player. 124 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 2: So I just thought, well, I'll I'll start this little company, 125 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: and I'll be like a conduit for musicians who are 126 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 2: looking for bands and bands that are looking for musicians, 127 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 2: and I'll take the best musicians for my band. But 128 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 2: I soon. 129 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: Realized that a lot of people called in and had 130 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: great stories, but I couldn't really verify whether the stories 131 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: were true or whether you know, every guitar player was 132 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 1: the next Eric Clapton, you know, every singer was the 133 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: next Paul McCartney. But so I was the idea kind 134 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: of went south, but the Flyers were still up and 135 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: one day the phone rang and this guy is telling 136 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: me that he's the lead guitar player in a band. 137 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: They're signed to Epic Records or getting ready to go 138 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: in and make their second album in Nashville, and they 139 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: needed a guy who could sing, play rhythm, guitar and 140 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: write songs. And I'm like, you know what, I think 141 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: I've got the guy for you. I swear to God 142 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: that's how it happened. 143 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 2: And rich Reth came up to I was living on 144 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 2: campus at Loyola University in Chicago, and he came up 145 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 2: and you know, I played the most recent song that 146 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 2: I written. 147 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: It was actually my kind of my first real song, 148 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: a song called music Man. 149 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: And evidently Gary liked what he. 150 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 1: Heard because next thing I knew, I was in Champagne, Illinois, 151 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: on the campus at the University of Illinois, and I 152 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: was the new lead singer of Rio Speedwagon. 153 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 2: Pretty crazy story. There's more to it than that, but 154 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 2: that's the gist of it. 155 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 4: I love it, and I also love the fact that 156 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 4: you created like a precursor to like band camp or whatever. 157 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 4: In terms of this networking place for musicians. I think 158 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 4: it's pretty pretty amazing, really great, So keep on Loving. 159 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 4: You can't fight this feeling. Two of the most iconic 160 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 4: songs of our generation. What is it like striking gold 161 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 4: with songs like that to take us into that story? 162 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: Wow, it's an indescribable feeling. I can tell you that. 163 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 2: It's. 164 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: You know, songwriting is such an amazing experience, and the 165 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 1: way it usually works for me is I'll just pick 166 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: up a guitar and just, you know, just start you know, 167 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: no preconceived notion of what I'm gonna do. 168 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 2: I just pick it up and start playing. 169 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: And if something's going on in my heart that needs 170 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: to come out, that emotion will will attach itself to 171 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: the whatever I'm playing on the guitar, and I'll start 172 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: to just sing and and and melodies come out and 173 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: words come out. It's it's I can't account for how 174 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: it happened, but I write a lot of songs. I 175 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: don't play all of them for people, but every once 176 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: in a while I'll just fall onto something and kind 177 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: of what you said, you kind of do have a 178 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 1: feeling about certain songs, like what I wrote the verses. 179 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 2: For Keep on Loving, you. 180 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: I kind of stumbled down the hallway of my house, 181 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: my first little house I had a little home studios, 182 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: about four o'clock in the morning, and I sat down, 183 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: and I have a little red Wurlitzer electric piano, and 184 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 1: it started playing those chords for the verses of Keep 185 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:45,839 Speaker 1: On Loving You, and the. 186 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 2: Lyric just came. 187 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: It was about twenty minutes of a burst of creative energy. 188 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 2: But I didn't write the chorus. 189 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: A lot of times it happens for me that way, 190 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: where I write the verses and then I need to 191 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 1: get away from it a little bit, and then the 192 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 1: chorus comes because I don't I've never planned it this way, 193 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 1: but looking back, I noticed that a lot of times, 194 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: and keep On Loving You is a perfect example where 195 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: the verses are are pretty dark, you know, because songs 196 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: are normally my way of kind of unraveling what's going 197 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: on inside of me. And the next day I went 198 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: into rehearsal and we were working on our upcoming album, 199 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: which would become high in fidelity we know it at 200 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: the time, and I was just playing the chords for 201 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: the verse and just waiting for the chorus to arrive, 202 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: and suddenly there it was, and my choruses are usually hopeful, 203 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: is what I kind of notice. And so you get 204 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: the you get the true, you know, vulnerability hopefully and 205 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: an expression of a difficult city situation in the verses, 206 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: but then the chorus is the hopeful part. And like 207 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: I said, I've never I never planned it that way. 208 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 2: I kind of just realized it recently. 209 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: You know, doing interviews, you kind of take a take 210 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: a look back at things because people ask you questions, 211 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: and uh, that's what I noticed. And so, but that 212 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: song keep on Loving You has taken me on a 213 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: journey that you know. It was my first number one song, 214 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 1: which as a songwriter, you know, it doesn't get much 215 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: better than that. And you know, now you know people 216 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,440 Speaker 1: like Keith Urban. You know, I saw someone sent me 217 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: a video of Keith Urban coming out for that for 218 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: his encore of his show. And I'm a fan of Keith's. 219 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 1: And he sits at the piano and he said to 220 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: the full arena, what does he say? Everybody feel like 221 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: singing along? And they're all yeah, yeah, and and and 222 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: then he plays keep I'm Loving You, and you know, 223 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: I just sit there and I go, this is unbelievable. 224 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 1: You know, Keith Urban is playing this song and twenty 225 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: thousand people are singing along with him, So it's an 226 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 1: amazing experience. I'm humbled by it. The fact that that 227 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: song has gotten into people's hearts and souls is just 228 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: amazing to me. 229 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 2: And I just love playing. 230 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: That song for people and just feeling that energy that 231 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: they give back to me when they sing along, and 232 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: I'm just I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. 233 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 3: We'll be right back with more of the Taking a 234 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 3: Walk podcast. Welcome back to the Taking a Walk Podcast. 235 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 4: Well, to quote one of my favorite Ario songs, Roll 236 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 4: with the changes. You are rolling with the changes. You've 237 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 4: announced the end of Rio's touring under that name. Can 238 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 4: you talk about what inspired that decision, what was involved 239 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 4: with it, and what the fans can expect to see 240 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 4: coming to see you on the road in twenty twenty five. 241 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: Well, you know, I am honestly devastated by the fact 242 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: that I can't tour under the name Ario Speedwagon because 243 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: I've spent my entire adult life of you know, putting 244 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: all my energy, all my heart and soul into building 245 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: up the concept of Ario Speedwagon and what Ario speed 246 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: Wagon stands for, which is you know, hard work, having fun, 247 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: positive energy. Even though I'm not permitted to use the 248 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: name Ario Speedwagon anymore, no one is. 249 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 2: But no one can. 250 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: Stop me from from playing those songs, and no one 251 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: can stop me from from spreading that same Ario Speedwagon energy, 252 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: and that's what I'm going to be doing this year. 253 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: I'm so happy that Dave a Motto and Brian Hitt, 254 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: who played in Ario for thirty six years, they've been 255 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: by my side since nineteen eighty nine, and they will 256 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: and they're sticking with me. Derek Hillen and Matt Bissonett, 257 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: who joined the band in twenty twenty three, they're staying 258 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: with me. The entire road crew is staying with me. 259 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: The agents, the managers, everybody is sticking with me. And 260 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: there was just some there were just disputes. You knows. 261 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: Bands are intricate, unique organisms. And Bruce Hall and I 262 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: played together for forty seven years, which is a pretty 263 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: amazing run, and we accomplished a lot as bandmates. But 264 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: things change and people grow up, and as we grow up, 265 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: sometimes we get closer. Sometimes we surround ourselves with different 266 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: people that influence us in different ways. And I'm proud 267 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: of everything that I accomplished with Ario Speedwagon, and as 268 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: I say, it's it's gonna be, it's gonna be an 269 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 1: Ario speed Wagon experience when you come and see the 270 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 1: Kevin Cronin band. That's just that's what I'm all about. 271 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: I'm all about playing those songs that We're going to 272 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 1: be playing the entire High in Fidelity album in sequence 273 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: plus all the other hits. You know, can't fight this 274 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: feeling and roll with the change. Is time for me 275 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 1: to fly, keep pushing, and of course all the songs 276 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: from High Fidelity, you know, keep on loving you taking 277 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: on the run. You know, tough guys, you know, wish 278 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: you were there in your letter don't let him go. 279 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,719 Speaker 2: We're playing every song, every album cut. 280 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 1: It's really fun, man, It's really fun to play that 281 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: whole album because I was so invested in that record. 282 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: I just love that album and I put so much 283 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: love into it. And you know, the name High in 284 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: Fidelity just kind of dropped into my lap one day, 285 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 1: and I believed in that album and believed in. 286 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 2: Those songs so strongly. And you know, you never know. 287 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:15,719 Speaker 1: When you're making an album, what kind of a journey 288 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: that album is going to take you on. And High 289 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: Finality has taken me to places all over the world 290 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: that I never would have seen, and I've met people 291 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,159 Speaker 1: that I never would have met, you know, through that music. 292 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: And even though I can't tour as a Reo Speedwagon, 293 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 1: I'm going to keep that music alive. 294 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 2: Nobody can stop me from doing that. 295 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 4: I wouldn't try, that's for sure, because you're hell bent 296 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 4: on bringing it to people, and you love bringing it 297 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 4: to people. It's so obvious and you're so passionate about it. 298 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 4: How does it make you feel when you see the 299 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:52,360 Speaker 4: multi generations that are just loving all the music at 300 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 4: these shows. 301 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: It's it's amazing what music the power of music, the 302 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 1: power of music to bring people together, and and you 303 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: know you can't you can't duplicate the live concert experience 304 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 1: in any way. It's amazing, you know, for us on 305 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 1: stage to be playing these songs and you know, I'll 306 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: play the opening chords of Time for Me to Fly, 307 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: and you know, everybody's up on their feet singing along, 308 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: and you know, and and I just I'm taken back 309 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: to you know, uh, you know, in the case of 310 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: Time for Me to Fly, I remember exactly where I 311 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: was when I wrote it. You know, I was on 312 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: a friend's porch in Boulder, Colorado. Again, you know that's 313 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 1: that song is three chords. It's literally three chords. But 314 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter, man, It's not how many. 315 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 2: Chords it is. 316 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 1: It's it's about the feeling of the song and that 317 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: people took it, took that song and so many of 318 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: of of my songs, and and Gary rich Rats songs 319 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: into their hearts. And you know, Gary and I we 320 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: had our ups and downs over the years. We were 321 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:08,399 Speaker 1: brothers and musical partners, and you know, we never really 322 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: co wrote in the traditional sense. But Gary's influence on 323 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: my songs made my songs better, and I'd like to 324 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: think that my influence on Gary songs made his songs better. 325 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: So our stink is all over each other's songs. So 326 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: when I play any of those songs, whether they're mine 327 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 1: or Gary's, they're Ario Speedwagon songs, and we collaborated on 328 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: them in our own way. Sadly, Gary's no longer with us, 329 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:45,399 Speaker 1: but I feel like it's my responsibility to kind of 330 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: keep an eye on Gary songs make sure that they 331 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: continue to be performed. And I love singing Gary songs. 332 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: I feel like they're my own and I'm their caretaker. 333 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 1: So and that's what the Kevin Krohna Band is going 334 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: to be doing. We're going to be keeping that music 335 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 1: alive and and playing those songs and respecting those songs. 336 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 2: And you know, I can't remember what the question was. 337 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 4: Oh, it's just the joy of being out there connecting 338 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,959 Speaker 4: with the multi generations of fans who love the music, 339 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 4: you know what. 340 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 1: And you're right that and I see that happening, and 341 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: you know, you know, I'm a dad, uh you know, 342 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: I love my kids and music has been a bond 343 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: between myself and my children. And to see people bringing 344 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: their kids to our shows, it's a beautiful thing. 345 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 2: And we've always been kind of a family friendly band. 346 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: You know, our songs, our songs that are accessible, they're 347 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: they're kind of you know, I look at them as 348 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: being kind of rocked up folk songs and you know, 349 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: their their story. 350 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,360 Speaker 2: Songs there there you can sing along to them. 351 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: And to see young people that There was a show 352 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 1: played recently where there was a group of six or 353 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: seven kids, in college kids. 354 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 2: They had to be right in the front row and 355 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 2: we walked. 356 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: On on stage and I was like, oh boy, you know, 357 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: I hope these people know the songs, you know or whatever, 358 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: And sure enough they were singing along with every song. 359 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: And we kind of had a running joke through the 360 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: whole show about how young they were and about how 361 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:30,640 Speaker 1: awesome it was that they grew up with their parents 362 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 1: playing O Reo Speedwagon records. And there they were at 363 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,360 Speaker 1: the concert, and I think probably mom and dad were 364 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: in the crowd somewhere, but the kids were right up front. 365 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 2: Well, you have six kids. 366 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 4: How do you balance you know, work life and personal 367 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 4: life with your family. 368 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: Wow, you know, I didn't realize that I have six kids, 369 00:22:53,080 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: but you know, I've It's a complicated extended family that 370 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: I have. I have a I raised my first wife's son, 371 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: Chris and uh and we had a son together, Paris, 372 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 1: and then I remarried and Lisa and I've been together 373 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 1: for thirty six years and we have three kids, Holly, Josh, 374 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 1: and Shane. And my wife Lisa was a big part 375 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: of both christ and Paris's life too, because they were 376 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,439 Speaker 1: they were young at the time, so I think she 377 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 1: did a great job. She's just an amazing woman. She's 378 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 1: beautiful and brilliant and fun and all everything that a 379 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: guy could could want in a woman I definitely married up. 380 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 1: But she she raised our kids to have have a 381 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 1: respect for what I do. And but when I'm home, 382 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: I'm dad. You know, I'm I'm taking out the garbage. 383 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: I'm you know, picking up the furniture when it gets 384 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: blown down the hill, when the Santa Anna wins hit us. 385 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:05,360 Speaker 1: And and uh, my children and I are all close 386 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: and as far as they're concerned, I'm just dad. And 387 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 1: it's funny because as they've gotten older, they've you know, 388 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 1: started coming to concerts and and kind of have a 389 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,919 Speaker 1: better understanding of of of my music. 390 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 2: And it's really fun. 391 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: And but they're well rounded young people and I couldn't 392 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,920 Speaker 1: be more proud of them. And uh, and my wife 393 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 1: did an amazing job. I was around, you know a 394 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: little bit, but uh, but but but but I give 395 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: it up to my wife, Lisa. 396 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 2: She did the heavy lifting. 397 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 4: So in closing, Kevin, how do you want your legacy 398 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 4: to be thought of in the music industry? 399 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 2: Wow? You know, I honestly I've never thought about that. 400 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 2: You know. 401 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: I guess I would want to be remembered it as 402 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 1: someone who kept it real, who always stroll to build 403 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: on the on the minimal natural ability that that that 404 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 1: I have and make the most of my talent and 405 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 1: and to be an example that no one would have 406 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,919 Speaker 1: ever accused me of being most likely to succeed in 407 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: high school. But I believed, and I worked really hard 408 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 1: and I kept it real and I I love what 409 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: I do. Music has allowed me to to. 410 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 2: Bloom as a human being. Uh. 411 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: With with without my guitar, I don't know where I 412 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:43,439 Speaker 1: would be today. And uh So if I can be 413 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: an example of of hard work paying off and just 414 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 1: a an unquenchable thirst for improvement and and a love 415 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 1: of music, and. 416 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 2: Wow, yeah, I don't know that's uh. If I was 417 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:02,360 Speaker 2: going to put it in. 418 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: A nutshell, gosh, I guess I would say that that 419 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 1: I serve the songs and uh And as a musician, 420 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:17,160 Speaker 1: I think that's that's your job. The song is what 421 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: it's all about. And it's the songs that that have 422 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:25,440 Speaker 1: taken me on this amazing journey. And it's these songs 423 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 1: that that I love that I'm fortunate enough to have 424 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 1: written and recorded and sung on on records and gotten 425 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: into people's hearts and souls. 426 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 2: And I'm going to continue to. 427 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 1: Bring that music with me and and and the Kevin 428 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 1: Cronin Band, and even though we can't call it Ario Speedwagon, 429 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: it's the Ario Speedwagon Experience and uh and we'll be 430 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: bringing it to a city near you this summer. The 431 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: whole High Infinelity record in sequence cover to cover a 432 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: bunch of but should the other hits, you know, roll 433 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: up the change, it is time for me to fly 434 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: riding the storm out. Can't fight this feeling. Uh. 435 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 2: You know, so. 436 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: I appreciate you having me on Buzz and allowing me 437 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: to kind of spread the word, because that's what I've 438 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:19,439 Speaker 1: got to do. I've got I've got to let people 439 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 1: know that that the Kevin Cronin Band is basically the 440 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 1: Ario Speedwagon experience. And if you want that experience, that 441 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:31,439 Speaker 1: positive energy, if you want to hear those songs played 442 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: live by by an awesome band Dave, Brian, Derek and 443 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: Matt and sung by the guy that's sang him on 444 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: the records, It's not called Ario Speedwagon, It's called the 445 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: Kevin Cronin Band, but between you and me, it's Ario Speedwagon. 446 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 3: I love it. 447 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 4: Thanks for the joy of all the music that you 448 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:57,200 Speaker 4: continue to give us, and thanks for spreading the word. 449 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,640 Speaker 4: Kevin Cronin. It's great to have you on Taking a Walk. 450 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:01,159 Speaker 2: Well. 451 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:04,679 Speaker 1: Thank you and I will think about you when I 452 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:08,400 Speaker 1: take my walk later this afternoon. Buzz, good luck to you, 453 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: and thank you for keeping the music alive and giving 454 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 1: us a. 455 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:17,159 Speaker 2: Place to go to spread the words. So thank you 456 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 2: very much for having me. 457 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 458 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 3: Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 459 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 3: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 460 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 3: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 461 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 3: and wherever you get your podcasts.