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Kevin Cronin Responds to you!

Details on how to write to Kevin Cronin are HERE!

kC Responds on 01-28-08  

TO PENNY IN DETROIT: HANG IN THERE, WE ALL HAVE OUR BAD DAYS…THEY PASS, AND GOOD ONES FOLLOW.

TO MIKE FROM CAROLINA: WE HATE SCALPERS. I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING WE COULD DO TO HELP OUR TRUE FANS GET SEATED UP FRONT WHERE YOU BELONG. UGH.

TO STEVE FROM THE THE MID-WEST: THANKS FOR WEARING YOUR REO LOVE WITH PRIDE.

TO TRUCK DRIVER KYLE: YOU ARE A 30 YEAR OLD SPIRIT TRAPPED IN A 55 YEAR OLD BODY…I CAN RELATE!

TO CINDY: I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT OUR MUSIC HAS HAD A POSITIVE AFFECT ON YOUR LIFE. AS TO YOUR CRAZY FANTASY…I AM A BIT WARY OF MEETING PEOPLE ON ROOFTOPS ;-)

TO STEVE: DUDE, YOU ARE AWESOME. TAKING YOUR WIFE TO BRAZIL TO FULFILL HER DREAM IS HUGELY COOL.

TO ALL OF THOSE ASKING ME FOR BACKSTAGE PASSES: WHILE I AM SURE THAT MANY OF YOU ARE LEGIT, WELL INTENTIONED, REO FANS, WHO WE WOULD LIKELY ENJOY MEETING….,WALTER, (OUR BIG, MEAN TOUR MANAGER) SAYS I CAN’T GIVE OUT ANY PASSES. OH WELL. I SAY JUST COME AND WATCH THE CONCERT FROM THE HOUSE. BACKSTAGE IS OVER RATED ANYWAY ;-)
 

kC Responds on 12-25-07  

HEY ROSE GIRL…CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING WEDDING. WE WILL SURELY BE BACK TO ROCHESTER SOON…SEE YOU THEN.

JERRY ASKS… WHAT GOES THROUGH MY MIND DURING A CONCERT PERFORMANCE? I WOULD SAY ALL OF THE ABOVE. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I AM TOTALLY LOST IN THE MOMENT…IN THE ZONE YOU MIGHT SAY. AND, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I AM TOTALLY DISTRACTED BY THE MUNDANE. THE TRICK IS TO FIND A WAY TO GROOVE WITH ALL OF THE VARIOUS EMOTIONS WHICH CAN POP UP DURING A SHOW. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A FEW TIMES WHEN I AM WALKING UP TO THE MIC TO BEGIN SINGING A PART, AND I HAVEN’T THE FOGGIEST IDEA OF THE NEXT LYRIC. FORTUNATELY, THE WORDS USUALLY COME OUT AT THE LAST MOMENT…OR IT BECOMES SCAT SINGING CITY. EITHER WAY THE SHOW GOES ON. I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON THIS SUBJECT…MAYBE I WILL GET AROUND TO THAT SOME DAY.

TO BRET…IF YOU ARE CONCERNED WITH YOUR SONGS BEING RIPPED OFF, THERE IS A SIMPLE WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF. YOU COULD HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO HELP YOU REGISTER YOUR COPY WRITTEN MATERIAL. OR YOU COULD DO WHAT I USED TO DO WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT…PUT YOUR WRITTEN LYRICS IN AN ENVELOPE, AND MAIL THEM, REGISTERED MAIL, TO YOURSELF. THEN LEAVE THE ENVELOPE SEALED. BADA BING…YOU ARE TOTALLY PROTECTED.

TO CHARLOTTE…WHEN IT COMES TO RARE RECORDINGS AND DVDs, ALL I CAN DO IS WARN YOU TO BEWARE OF POOR QUALITY BOOTLEGS. IF SOMETHING IS ON SALE AT SPEEDWAGON.COM, THEN WE STAND BEHIND ITS QUALITY. STUFF THAT IS FLOATING AROUND ON EBAY SHOULD BE PURCHASED ON A BUYER BEWARE BASIS ONLY…GOOD LUCK.

TO MIKE IN TUCSON…THANKS FOR CALLING THOSE RADIO STATIONS FOR US. YOU MAY WANT TO MENTION THAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO QUIT LISTENING TO THEIR STATION IF THEY DON’T PLAY OUR NEW MUSIC…THAT SHOULD PUT A SCARE INTO THEM. IF YOU WANT TO DO MORE, TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO CALL IN AS WELL.

kC Responds on 12-14-07  

TO CINDY…THE ODDS ARE VERY GOOD THAT I SAW YOUR MESSAGE. BEING A DREAMER CAN BE A VERY GOOD THING. SO DREAM ON AND KEEP PUSHIN’

TO RENAE…ONLY 12 HOURS ;-) WHAT AN AWESOME SHOW OF SUPPORT. THANKS FOR COMING, GLAD YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW AND THE NEW CD. SEE YOU IN MICHIGAN NEXT TIME,

TO BECKY…WE WILL BE IN SOUTH BEND NEXT FEB/MARCH. CHECK AT SPEEDWAGON.COM FOR THE EXACT DATE. SEE YOU THERE.

TO BELINDA…WE WANT TO GET BACK TO THE UK IN THE SPRING/SUMMER, BUT THE PLANS ARE NOT CONFIRMED AT THIS TIME. I WILL ANNOUNCE THAT TOUR WHEN I KNOW THE DETAILS.

TO MATT FROM COLORADO…I AM FINE WITH YOU USING “ROLL WITH THE CHANGES” IN YOUR STATE LEGISLATURE CAMPAIGN. GOOD LUCK; LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES.

TO BOYD…WHAT A GREAT IDEA. WE NEED ALL OF OUR FANS TO DO LIKE YOU, AND ROLL DOWN YOUR WINDOWS WHEN YOU FILL UP WITH GAS, AND CRANK OUR NEW CD. IT IS LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS, WHICH HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD…THANKS, DUDE.

TO JOSEPH…GOLDEN COUNTRY WAS WRITTEN IN 1971 AS A COMMENTARY ON THE VARIOUS SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS OF THE VIETNAM WAR ERA. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS BECOME RELEVANT AGAIN IN THESE PRESENT TROUBLED TIMES FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE RECORDED A SONG OF MINE CALLED “HARD TO BELIEVE”, WHICH I WROTE IN RESPONSE TO THE INVASION OF IRAQ, WHICH FELT EERILY SIMILAR TO VIET NAM. THE SONG DIDN’T FIT IN WITH THE VIBE WE CREATED FOR THE NEW CD, SO WE LEFT IT IN THE CAN. MAYBE WE SHOULD FINISH IT UP AND PUT IT UP ON THE WEB SITE.

TO AMY…NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU. YOU WERE AWESOME IN THE TIME LIFE SHOW…I, ON THE OTHER HAND AM IN DIRE NEED OF ACTING LESSONS. I PROBABLY SHOULDN’T QUIT MY DAY JOB AS A SINGER.

TO JORDIE…I AGREE THAT IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS AND THEIR KIDS TO COMMUNICATE ALL THE TIME. SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE MADE IT THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES. I WILL TAKE YOUR ADVICE TO HEART. IT TAKES A 16 YEAR OLD SOMETIMES TO HELP US ADULTS TO RELATE TO OUR CHILDREN. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

FYI…A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OFFERED ME CONDOLENCES ON THE DEATH OF MY BROTHER. NO ONE IN MY FAMILY HAS PASSED AWAY. THERE MAY BE SOME CONFUSION, AS A LOYAL FAN OF OURS FROM SOUTH AMERICA HAS RECENTLY DIED. WE EXTEND OUR PRAYERS TO HIS FAMILY.
 

kC Responds on 12-04-07  

TO MARK L…”INTO THE LIGHT”, “SOUTH OF THE BOULEVARD”, AND “MARRIED MAN”…..WOW, I HADN’T THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE TUNES IN QUITE A WHILE. ACTUALLY, “MARRIED MAN” MIGHT BE A GOOD SONG FOR TIM McGRAW. PROBLEM IS, I CAN’T REMEMBER HOW THE BRIDGE SECTION GOES. IT DROVE ME CRAZY FOR A TIME, SO I JUST LET IT GO. HOPEFULLY IT WILL POP INTO MY MIND WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT.

TO ADRIAN AND THERESA…I AM RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT MY AUTOGRAPH WORE OFF BEFORE YOU GOT IT TATTOOED ON. YOU MAY HAVE REGRETTED THAT MOVE IN THE MORNING ;-)

TO KEVIN M…YOUR IDEA FOR RELEASING THE SONG “FIND YOUR OWN WAY HOME” HAS HELPED TO RECONFIRM OUR RESOLVE TO GIVE THAT RECORD A SHOT AT RADIO. IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO GET AIRPLAY ON OUR NEW MUSIC…MOST STATIONS PREFER TO CONCENTRATE ON OUR CLASSIC STUFF. BUT WE ARE AIMING AT A EARLY TO MID JANUARY RELEASE, AS YOU SUGGESTED. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED 

PS. ANYONE ELSE WHO SEES THIS, BE LISTENING, AND IF YOU HEAR THE SONG ON THE RADIO, CALL IN TO THE STATION AND REQUEST IT…YOUR SUPPORT IS SO IMPORTANT.

TO OFFICER JIM…IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO SING A FEW SONGS AT YOUR BENEFIT CONCERT. THE CAUSE WAS PURE, AND YOUR SON, CHRIS, IS A GREAT GUY, AND AN ASSET TO THE REO ORGANIZATION…YOU BROUGHT HIM UP RIGHT.

TO BILLY JACK…KEEP PUSHIN’ BUDDY. YOU CAN PLAY THAT SONG WITH YOUR BAND ANY WAY YOU CHOOSE.

TO SCOTT A…WE JUST PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON A LIVE CONCERT DVD. IT WILL PREMIERE NEXT YEAR AS PART OF THE PBS SERIES, SOUNDSTAGE.  IT WILL BE RELEASED SOON AFTER IT AIRS ON TELEVISION, WITH SOME BONUS MATERIAL INCLUDED

kC Responds on 11-12-07  

***To Lori D.: Give your Mom our best for a quick and full recovery...

To Misty: I love the idea of the Father/Daughter REO Weekend. Being the father of a daughter myself, I totally get the importance of that relationship. As a matter of fact, my daughter and I went on a date to our favorite little coffee shop today. We sat at our usual table, and talked about things that dads and daughters talk about in private. Her secrets stay secrets with me...

To Melissa: How cool is it for us to have big fans who are in the 7th grade, I love that!...

To Susan: Yes, you are in fact, in your words, a "chosen one". I can't possibly respond to every letter, but I read every single colorful, passionate, artsy, tragic, funny, and emotional one. I am inspired by everything around me, and your letters always give me a lift. Being home is great, but reading your messages keeps me in touch with my fan family, and you guys are very important to me...

To Kurt from Sheboygan: yes, yes, no, no: I think that answers all of your questions;-)...

To Roger from Minnesota: My grandmother always told me, you never know until you ask. The logistics of an REO concert make it virtually impossible to play a show in your back yard, although I agree that it would make you look pretty cool in front of your neighbors.

Keep Pushin',

KC

kC Responds on 11-09-07  

To James B: I try and sit down with my Takamine acoustic guitar and make up something every day. That is how many songs are conceived. I use the Takamine at home because it has a built in tuner. The room in our house which was meant to be used as a formal dining room has a large Yamaha grand piano where the table is supposed to be. That took some fast talking on my part, but my wife had to agree that we would get far more use out of a piano than we would a dining room table. So our "dining room" is the Piano Room. Now with my daughter taking lessons, (she plays unbelievably already...you would think she has lived around musicians her whole life;-), the house is more full of music than ever...I love it.

KC

Just a few answers to some recently asked questions:

*** I do occasionally let an f-bomb fly in the heat of a performance, but pretty much only at casino shows, which are meant to be for adults. I realize that there may be a few people who find this language offensive, I surely don't mean to offend anyone. But I must say, there is a weird thrill in saying naughty words into a live microphone. I do keep it to a minimum, but once in a while.....oops.

*** I love hearing from our fans around the world. I recently got notes from fans in Germany, Japan, Uruguay.....and Stafford, Texas. (The Stafford show is being rescheduled, and we are looking forward to playing at that venue next year. I hear it is a beautiful theater.)

Everyone should know that the band doesn't exactly choose where we perform. There is a whole other side of the business which revolves around promoting shows, booking shows, physically getting to shows...we basically get on the bus, and when the bus stops rolling, we start rocking. So if it has been a while since we have been to your hometown, please don't feel like we have forgotten you, or that you are not important to us...YOU ARE! There are some things that are beyond our control. We love to play everywhere, and we will make it to your city soon.
 

kC Responds on 11-06-07  

To Deann from Indianola: My heart goes out to you and your husband. He sounds like an amazing guy, who has obviously been through an extremely difficult time. In supporting him, you show an amazing strength of character. I wish you both the very best, and hope you will make it to a show soon.

KC
 

kC Responds on 11-05-07  

To our friend from the coffee shop in Altoona, Iowa: My guitar tech, Smooth, who along with taking great care of my instruments, is a great singer/songwriter, and quite the coffee aficionado. He gives your beans the double thumbs up...congratulations.

KC

To Jennifer from New York: I think I cleared up what I meant by "bittersweet" in the latest newsletter. You are still as sweet as you were when you were a hyperventilating twelve year old in a Holiday Inn elevator.

KC

kC Responds on 11-04-07

To young Casey in Minneapolis: Hey Casey, I tried to call the radio station for you three times. I let that telephone ring, let that telephone ring, and ring, and ring...but nobody ever picked up. My daughter loves Hanna Montana, so I understand how much winning those tickets means to you. I did my best for you.

KC


To A J from Oak Lawn Middle School: I read your letter, AJ. I do enjoy speaking at schools. I feel great knowing that perhaps something I share could help to motivate a young person. My only problem with your request is that I live in California now, and I spend so much time touring that I treasure the time I have at home with my family. I have a daughter in fifth grade, and twin sons who are second graders, so they want their Daddy to be home, and I want to be with them. I am coaching my boy's basketball team starting next week, so I have my work cut out for me...wish me luck, and I wish you the best as well. You sound like a go-getter, someone who is not afraid to ask for what you want. That will take you far in life, so stick with it...or, as we say, keep pushin'.

KC