Still ridin' the storm out.
When REO Speedwagon band members announced they will not tour in 2025, the band's original lead singer from 1968-1972, Terry Lutrell, took up the banner and announced he'd keep the legacy alive via touring as the REO Classics Band. The new initiative features Terry with Michael Mesey, longtime drummer for rock and roll pioneer St. Louis-native Chuck Berry, as well as East-Central Illinois-born band Head East.
Michael, a St. Peters resident and powerhouse drummer of 45 years, also produced and played drums on movie soundtracks featuring Michael McDonald, Johnnie Johnson and David Sanborn. He's known for adding solid rhythm that fuels a band's explosive energy. In fact, he was featured in Brazil last July for World Rock Day on a podcast discussing new song releases and his experiences playing with Chuck Berry.
"On tour, we'll perform all the great REO classic rock songs that fans still want to hear live," Michael and Terry assure.
Original REO band members hailed from Champaign, Illinois, forming in 1967, starting and leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of rock 'n' roll.
Now joining Michael and Terry are Mike Baue, Greg Shute and Will Polazzo to tour regarding what they call "The Early Days," the greatness of REO Speedwagon's impactful, 1970s album-oriented rock music.
Michael says the REO Classics Band's debut album was recorded and mixed in St. Louis at Shock City Studios and mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. He went to the London studio to work with mastering engineer Sean Magee, who also cut and mastered the lacquers for vinyl pressing. As a veteran engineer, Sean stated: "It's rock and roll. We need rock and roll!"
Longtime fans can now hear "157 Riverside Avenue." This explosive seven-track debut album features other raucous classics from R.E.O. Speedwagon's self-titled debut: "Anti-Establishment Man" and "Sophisticated Lady;" the hard chugging blues/rocker "Golden Country" from the second album R.E.O./T.W.O "Riding the Storm Out" and "Son of a Poor Man," from the third album Ridin' The Storm Out and "Roll With The Changes," from You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish.
Rewriting rules of the music game, REO Speedwagon's music was said to have redefined what it meant to rock, given their groundbreaking fusion of hard-hitting anthems and heartfelt ballads. Their debut album reportedly not only captivated audiences worldwide but also inspired countless artists to push boundaries of creativity and self-expression.
One current Classics fan, Brandon Gehrig, posted online about the new album: "It’s really great!!! It's def got that older REO vibe. Def a must get!!!"
An after-party "limited edition red vinyl album" release party was held in St. Peters at Diamond Music Hall on Dec. 14, resulting in what the band members called "a rock show full tilt." They played, then signed and sold albums and CDs. The album was previously released only on CD, digital downloads and streaming formats.
This new REO Classics music package is available from sources such as Amazon, Tower Records, Vintage Vinyl and Collectors Choice. Now, fans get to "Keep On Lovin'" this iconic music!
Fun fact: REO stands for Ransom Eli Olds, founder of the REO Motor Car Company in 1904. The company built trucks until 1967; a picture of its 1929 truck became the band's first album cover.