A Legendary Rock Band Is Calling It Quits After Rockford Concert

A band that's sold over 40 million records and had 13 Top 40 hit songs over the course of a long career has decided to call it a day and stop touring, effective on January 1st of 2025. That means that their final concert will be held in Rockford, Illinois on Friday, November 22nd, at the BMO Center.

In case you're trying to figure out which band before I reveal the information, here are some clues to help:

• The band was formed in 1967 in Champaign
• Two students at the University of Illinois were the first members
• The band is named after a light motor truck model that's been called the "ancestor of the pickup truck"

Here's the truck, and if you look closely, you'll see the name of the band painted on it twice (although this was several decades before the formation of the band):

Here's the hood ornament:

The REO In REO Speedwagon Stands For Ransom Eli Olds, The Founder Of Oldsmobile And Owner Of The REO Motor Truck Company

But that's not what's important here. It's not like you're going to run out and buy yourself one, because they're pretty rare at this point.

Just like the band REO Speedwagon is going to be in the very near future.

What is important is that REO Speedwagon is calling it quits after the Rockford show in late November...not because of lack of ticket sales or interest from their fan base.

REO is wrapping it up forever because of irreconcilable differences between bandmates.

Look, Members Of Different Rock Bands Have Been Fighting With And Hating Each Other For Years, So This Is Not A New Phenomenon---But It's Still Sad To See

It was just last week that two members of the band Jane's Addiction got into a fist fight on stage during a concert, which resulted in the band canceling their tour. It happens, and it will continue to happen because that what happens to some bands.

In the case of REO Speedwagon, it's a similar story. Two band members have decided that they just don't want to be around each other anymore, according to a statement from REO Speedwagon themselves:

To our fans: Bruce has intended to be Back On the Road Again by now. If it were up to just him, he’d be back on tour… but it’s not up to just him. The consensus opinion was that he had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect. Bruce respected that opinion and is grateful that Matt has been around to keep the Wagon rolling through the summer tour. Bruce never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans, and crew he has loved for almost 50 years.

For Kevin’s part, he too has never had any intention of leaving the band, and the fans and crew mean the world to him, as well.

Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin. So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025. Neal, Kevin, and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever.

REO's last shows will be November 9th in Bloomington, and then the wrap up at the BMO Center in Rockford on November 22nd.