"The Mid West Rock and Roll Express" has proven to be a hit with classic rock fans.
Long before Connecticut’s casinos and outdoor ampitheater were built, the Springfield Civic Center was the area’s premier venue for rock’n’roll.
In the summer of 1985, MTV still played music videos, CD’s were cutting edge and one of the hottest bands on the planet, REO Speedwagon, was rocking out in downtown Springfield.
Fast forward nearly 28 years and REO Speedwagon with fellow veteran rockers Styx and Ted Nugent return as the MassMutual Center welcomes “The Mid-West Rock’n’Roll Express.”
But don’t expect just a nostalgia trip when this train rolls into town on Tuesday night.
“I want people walking out of this concert saying ‘Holy crap, that was amazing’” said REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin. “Each and every person who buys a ticket I want them to walk out feeling like –wow, that was worth it.”
And with the Top 40 and platinum firepower of this tour’s lineup, one would be hard pressed to find a better concert value on the road.
“The Mid West Rock and Roll Express” features three bands that came from America’s heartland. The lineup of REO Speedwagon, Styx and Ted Nugent was one of last summer’s hottest tours. The success from 2012 encouraged them to team up again this year with Springfield being stop No. 5 on the 20-city trek.
With all three bands alternating the headliner spot each night, there might be room for some friendly competition on the tour.
“Absolutely” says Cronin. “We shuffle the line up on any given night. Ted is the original guitar hero. And Styx is one of the greatest precision rock bands of all time. They nail it every single night. Their musicianship is at such a high level that it is amazing. REO is different. Our thing is about our songs, our energy and the fun we have up there. Everybody on this tour is on the top of their game at what they do. So we all raise the bar for each other every night,” Cronin said.
One reason this tour lineup is back together, besides their mid-west origins, is the friendship and respect the bands have for one another.
“One of the great things about this tour is that everyone does really get along. And as outspoken as Ted is on his thing, I love it because that is what makes America great! That anyone can say, believe and feel anything they want to and express it however they want to – as long as they don’t break the law,” Cronin said. “And while I don’t agree with everything Ted says, I’m a firm believer that that’s what makes this country great. This tour is a snapshot of America. I’m a pretty liberal thinker. Then we have Ted on the other end of the spectrum and everything in between.”
All three bands had their glory days of record sales back in the late 70s and 1980s.
REO Speedwagon alone has sold over 40 million records around the globe with a string of gold and platinum hits. The band had what Cronin called an “amazing 10-year ride” starting with the group’s 1980 release “Hi Infidelity.” That LP topped the Billboard charts for 15 weeks. It was during that time period the band last visited Springfield. Kevin doesn’t have any remembrance of that June concert in 1985. The band’s huge success had a price.
“All your rock and roll dreams come true, but there is a tab. You pay for it.”
He described it as like being caught in a tornado and “you just ride it out.”
Nowadays he has a greater appreciation of success. When Cronin now looks out from the stage he said he thinks “How awesome is this? Every one of these people bought a ticket. A lot of them had to get a baby-sitter, pay for parking, deal with traffic and they are here! They are here for me to take them on a trip. To let them get lost in rock’n’ roll and lost in the spectacle of it all.”