REO Speedwagon (REO) is a band whose beginnings date back to 1967 and whose end has yet to come about. Though the players’ names have changed through the years, the most consequential lineups have been those which included Gary Richrath, lead guitarist and songwriter from 1970 to 1989, and Kevin Cronin, lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, and songwriter, 1972, and 1976 through the present.
“...It was the friction between Gary and I that made the sparks fly.
“It wasn’t like we stopped getting along so we broke up. We always had a love-hate relationship. I was a city boy from Chicago and he was a country boy from Peoria. There were two kinds of energies that when rubbed together made the sparks fly. What happened is that the sparks stopped flying.”
Cronin went on to say, “I learned everything I know about rock ’n’ roll from Gary Richrath. I don’t know if he realizes that. Maybe if you write this article and he reads it, then he will get to hear how much I appreciate everything he did for me.
“He believed in me at a time where I was nowhere. Everything I know about rock n’ roll I owe to him. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my relationship with Gary Richrath, and I love the man. I hope he reads this article, and I hope it maybe explains to him what happened.”
The only time that Richrath played with the band again was at a 2013 tornado relief concert in Illinois held by REO and Styx, in which Richrath joined REO in their performance of “Ridin’ the Storm Out” to end their set.
Sadly, Gary Richrath passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2015, at the age of 65. The following Top 10 was written to honor his memory.