{"id":3202,"date":"2026-06-25T15:07:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T19:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/articles\/?p=3202"},"modified":"2026-06-25T18:21:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T22:21:09","slug":"how-reo-speedwagon-wrote-the-rock-radio-classic-ridin-the-storm-out-after-surviving-a-real-storm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/articles\/how-reo-speedwagon-wrote-the-rock-radio-classic-ridin-the-storm-out-after-surviving-a-real-storm\/","title":{"rendered":"How REO Speedwagon Wrote The Rock Radio Classic “Ridin’ The Storm Out” After Surviving a Real Storm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

REO Speedwagon<\/a> formed on the campus of the University of Illinois in 1967. Following lineup changes in their early years, they released their self-titled album in 1971. Shortly before their debut release, guitarist Gary Richrath traveled from Peoria, Illinois, to Champaign to join the new band. Their debut was a minor success, primarily regionally, as the band grew a following in the Midwest. Following their debut, lead singer Terry Luttrell was removed from the lineup. A young folk singer out of Chicago was hired, named Kevin Cronin. This would be Cronin’s first brief run in the band, as he would pen two No. 1 hits for the band a decade later. With Cronin, they released T.W.O<\/em> in 1972, which initially sold worse than the debut. Despite commercial failure at the time, many of the tracks would later become staples of the band’s live performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kevin Cronin Details The Storm That Inspired Their Future Radio Hit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While touring in support of T.W.O<\/em>, REO found themselves in the middle of a storm. Kevin Cronin told the story on Ultimate Classic Rock Radio<\/em> in 2024<\/a>. “We had climbed this crazy cliff in Rocky Mountain National Park, just north of Boulder. I had no business being up there. But everyone else went, so I’m like, ‘Alright, I guess I’ve got to go too.’ We got to the top of this rocky cliff, and we’re sitting there. You know, in Colorado, the weather can change on a dime. When we left, it was a sunny, clear day. Here we are on top of this cliff; we look up, and there are these dark clouds headed our way, and they’re coming in quick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cronin went on to explain, “It’s one thing climbing up a cliff; climbing down is where it gets interesting. Especially if you’re afraid that you’re going to get caught in a blizzard. We obviously made it back to Boulder in one piece. I think that air raid kind of sound came from the fact that we were in danger. We needed to get out and get away from where we were quickly.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cronin Leaves, Returns, and The Live Version of “Ridin’ The Storm Out” is Released<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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