Taking their name from a 1911 Ransom E. Olds fire appliance, on the face of it, REO SPEEDWAGON portrayed the very essence of corporate American rock throughout a series of major hit ballads during the 1980's. However, the reality was lengthy slog over many albums and even more tours that was to culminate in a simultaneous number 1 in 1981 for their 'Hi-Infidelity' album and 'Keep On Loving You' single.

The band were founded in 1968 by keyboard player Neal Doughty and Syracuse born drummer Alan Gratzer. The line up being augmented by vocalist Terry Luttrell, guitarist Gary Richrath and bassist Gregg Philbin. Another early member, guitarist STEVE SCORFINA was later to release two albums with Missouri's much vaunted PAVLOV'S DOG. The band's manager Irving Azoff, who was to elevate himself to almost legend status in the U.S. music industry in later years, scored the band a deal with Epic Records in 1971.

Prior to the recording of 1973's 'REO Two' Luttrell was replaced by Kevin Cronin.and would later return, once more signed to Epic, fronting the sublime Pomp outfit STARCASTLE. However by the album release Cronin had departed endeavoring to pursue what was to be a fruitless solo career. Cronin withdrew into the land of acoustic folk rock and toured with the likes of LINDA RONSTADT, THE EAGLES and FRANK ZAPPA.

The band drafted in substitute Mike Murphy for 1974's 'Ridin' The Storm Out' and the following years 'Lost In A Dream', the latter just breaking the band into the Billboard top 100 albums for the first time. By the album's release though Cronin had resumed his place ousting Murphy and 'This Time We Mean It' issued later the same year saw the band capitalizing on their earlier gains.

Live shows in the Summer of 1977 saw AC/DC and also JUDAS PRIEST providing support. The 1977 multi-platinum live album, 'Live -You Get What You Play For', kept up the band's profile, providing a steady foothold for the 1978 album, the strangely titled 'You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish', which broke REO SPEEDWAGON into the top 30 of the album charts. The success was not without casualties however, as Philbin left the fold to make space for new bassist Bruce Hall.

Oddly, Hall made his recording debut with the group on an Epic promotion live album, 'Live Again', during 1978 after the 'Live - You Get What You Play For' album and before 'You Can Tune A Piano...'. The album was recorded in front of a small audience in K-WEST's Los Angeles studios.

had such an iron grip on American radio that it stayed at the number 1 position throughout the whole summer of 1981 pushing the band into the superstar league and making them the highest grossing act of the year, inspired by the huge hit singles 'Keep On Loving You' and 'Take It On The Run'.

The album included MR. MISTER vocalist RICHARD PAGE as backing vocalist, a role he would take for the next brace of albums.

The momentum was somewhat lost with the ill received 'Good Trouble' album, a record released too soon after the huge success of 'Hi-Infidelity' and hence viewed by many fans and critics as somewhat of a rushed job. Nevertheless, the band spent most of 1982 on a mammoth arena tour which saw CHEAP TRICK and SURVIVOR as openers. Strangely, few numbers from the new album were included in the set.

Realising the consequences of a rushed album and a subsequent non-stop touring schedule, REO SPEEDWAGON took an extended break after coming off the road in April 1983 before finally starting work on a brand new album in January 1984 at Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles.

Towards the end of 1983 Alan Gratzer was discovered to have been involved in the recording of QUEEN guitarist BRIAN MAY's 'Star Fleet Project' along with VAN HALEN's Eddie Van Halen and ROD STEWART bassist Phil Chen. 'Wheels Are Turnin'', brandishing three monster hits in 'Can't Fight This Feeling', 'One Lonely Night' and 'I Do' Wanna Know', banished the nightmares created by 'Good Trouble'.

1989 saw Gratzer losing his place to former SANTANA drummer Graham Lear and by mid 1989 Richrath made way for for ex-PLAYER guitarist Miles Joseph. Richrath intended to put together the GARY RICHRATH GROUP to follow further musical paths. This band, which utilised members of VANCOUVER, evolved into simply RICHRATH, later issuing a CD entitled 'Only The Strong Survive'. Back in REO SPEEDWAGON meantime, Joseph's tenure proved fleeting and, before the year was out, he was soon ousted to accommodate Dave Amato, a veteran of TED NUGENT, AMBUSH and MASTADON, the band also being joined by keyboard player Jesse Harms.

'The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog And A Chicken' features a revised line-up. REO SPEEDWAGON now comprised of band veterans Cronin, Hall and Doughty plus new guitarist Dave Amato, whose previous credits include MASTEDON and TED NUGENT, former RY COODER keyboard player Jesse Harms and ex-LIFE BY NIGHT, WANG CHUNG and AMBUSH drummer Bryan Hitt. Harms actually sang lead on 'Love To Hate'.

The 1996 album 'Building The Bridge' saw a line up of Cronin, Amato, Hall, Doughty, and Hitt. Many critics viewed the album as a fine return to form for the band who duly inspired set off on another series of arena dates. Meantime, Amato would guest on the 1999 'At The Speed Of Light' album from EUPHORIA.

2001 witnessed a first for REO SPEEDWAGON as they shared a release with another act. The "arch Allies- Live At Riverport' CD was issued in conjunction with their touring partners STYX. The REO SPEEDWAGON performance would later be issued in its entirity the same year billed as 'Live Plus'. Cronin guested on SURVIVOR guitarist JIM PETERIK's 'World Stage' album, singing the ballad 'Between Two Fires'. Amato put in a guest showing on the 2000 MAJIC SHIP reunion album.

In light of the September 11th tragedies REO SPEEDWAGON forged an alliance with other AOR heavyweights such as JOURNEY, STYX, BAD COMPANY, JOHN WAITE, MARK FARNER, SURVIVOR, KANSAS, EDDIE MONEY, PETER FRAMPTON and EDGAR WINTER for a brace of fund raising events. The two shows, hosted by comedian Drew Carey, occurred on October 20th and 21st at the Smirnoff Music Center in Dallas, Texas and Hi Fi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia raising a quite staggering $1 million dollars for victims of the disasters. REO SPEEDWAGON projected dates into the summer of 2003 as the 'Rockin' The Arena' tour packaged with STYX and headliners JOURNEY.

The band undertook a first in November 2004 when, allied with AOR compatriots STYX and JOURNEY they set out on a unique seven day Caribbean tour aboard Carnival's Triumph cruise ship. Setting sail from Miami, ports of call included Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

REO SPEEDWAGON completed work on an album with a working title of 'Happy Ending' in September 2006. Although artwork was issued to the media bearing this title the band had a change of heart, switching the name of the new record to 'Find Your Own Way Home' and rendering all new artwork.

STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON and 38 SPECIAL launched into the US 'Can't Stop Rockin' summer 2009 tour on 13th May at Albuquerque, New Mexico's Sandia Casino Amphitheater.