Posted on 08/07/2021 3:22:28 PM PDT by nickcarraway
REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin has responded to online commenters questioning the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The band recently canceled two shows after members of the REO Speedwagon team were diagnosed with the virus. In a message posted to Facebook, Cronin updated fans on his health.
“As I sit alone in quarantine, dealing with the reduced, yet uncomfortable symptoms of Covid-19, and reading the comments regarding the shows we made the painful decision to cancel this weekend, I am struck by two things,” the frontman began. “First, on behalf of myself, our entire band, crew, and management, I would like to thank the majority of people whose comments were understanding, supportive, and empathetic. I am so touched by the outpouring of positive energy. You are awesome.”
Cronin’s second thought was less positive.
“Second, I have never personally responded to Facebook comments in the past. But as our band goes through this difficult period, the thoughtless, misinformed, and nasty comments I read this morning pushed my patience over the edge,” the rocker admitted. “I encourage lively discussion of differences of opinion. That is part of what makes the United States the Golden Country. But our organization is living through Covid, and to hear people spouting ridiculous conspiracy theories, is more than I can bear right now.”
The REO Speedwagon frontman then focussed his message squarely at the aforementioned conspiracy theorists.
“To those people: Call me back when you catch it. If you are not vaccinated you are in for a world of hurt. And if you take the vaccine, while you can still test positive, your experience will likely be mild by comparison.”
The rocker closed his post by noting that he and his band’s protocol regarding COVID has nothing tho do with their personal political opinions.
“This is a difficult medical, public health and safety issue. Within the REO organization there is a wide spectrum of political views. To connect our decision to cancel shows to some political agenda is absurd, insulting, and quite simply wrong,” Cronin remarked.
REO Speedwagon is scheduled to resume their tour on Aug. 20 in Boise, Idaho. In an interview with UCR conducted on July 29 (prior to the COVID cases within the band) Cronin stressed the importance of safety amid the pandemic.
"People are just so excited to have live music back. It’s been great for us so far. Hopefully, the rest of the country starts to wake up and get vaccinated so this virus doesn’t take over and shut everything down again," the frontman opined. "I’d like to encourage people to not look at the COVID19 vaccination as anything further than doing the best thing you can do for yourself and for your fellow Americans. Don’t take it any further than that. Don’t make it into anything else but a public health and safety issue. That’s my message to Americans."
I thought these guys were already dead. Oh maybe it was only their careers that were dead.
He is probably still claiming he wrote Golden Country... a lie..while watching the last helicopter out of Saigon. Another lie
another celeb fascinated with own lack of intelligence. Who the hell cares what this legend in his own mind thinks.
Sick and tired of these morons with a mouth rattling off uninformed bull scat. Learned everything he knows from crowd speak.
Odd, I’ve been an REO Speedwagon denier for decades. I can’t believe a band that mediocre exists.
the guy is nearly 70 years old. of course he should consider getting the vaccine.
let’s be real.
No, that’s Jenny. But Cronin probably knows her.
I wish him the best recovery!
I don’t really trust the virus, or the “vaccine” but I figure the virus is a little outside of my control. I think we are finding that recovery provides a superior immunity, also.
Have you heard Styx’s last two albums? The Mission and Crash of the Crown?
Man, they are very very good...still have great sound, good lyrics...
funny to see Tommy Shaw & Co. go “concept album” when they hated “Kilroy Was Here” that made such bad blood happen between them and Dennis DeYoung.
I like KWH too.
My sister and her husband, both got it before there were any vaccines. My sister has a history of bad asthma attacks requiring hospitalisation. When we got the news we thought she was a goner. She was out of the hospital in 2 days and he recovered at home.
REO vs Clapton? What to do, what to do!!???
True story. Many years ago I was in Universal Studios, FL for New Years Eve and they were performing. I was in a restaurant seated next to their guitar player, forgot his name. He was whining like a baby to the woman he was with that “Im a rock star and nobody knows who I am.” The people I was with all had a good laugh and needless to say we left the park before they performed.
I had had my flu shot the previous November, and I've never had the "flu" like this in my life.
I left UPS at the end of March, within a month, 3 of my coworkers got Covid.
No one in my immediate family has been jabbed, nor do we plan to. We aren't putting any of that experimental stuff in our bodies.
Oh we should listen to irrelevant early 1980s wussy kings REO Chumpwagon for medical advise?
Yeah... no offense to anybody on the forum that enjoys REO, but I always considered them a Double-A Band (to borrow a baseball analogy).
PEnnsylvania 6-5000 was the phone number of the Plaza Hotel in New York where the Glenn Miller Band had a semi-permanent booking.
He should have a chat with Eric Clapton.
Gary ended up dying an alcoholic janitor...he was a tortured guitar genius.
I will never believe Cronin isnt at least bisexual.
He is a whiny lying backstabber.
So he was “phoning it in?”
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