REO Speedwagon’s frontman Kevin Cronin shared his Live Aid concert experience in a recent Facebook interaction. A fan’s question about the landmark event prompted Cronin to reveal candid details about his performance struggles.
“It’s a long story, and I tell it all in my upcoming memoir, but in a nutshell, Live Aid was overwhelming,” Cronin responded. “I feel honored to have been a part of the biggest concert event in a generation. I was so nervous that I knocked my guitar out of tune on ‘Can’t Fight’ and played the piano intro to ‘Roll with the Changes’ in the wrong octave. But hey, at least there were only two billion people watching!”
“The power of music is amazing, and so much good can be done when artists and fans combine their energy for a worthy cause,” he added.
This candid revelation offers a rare glimpse into the pressures performers faced during one of music history’s most monumental events.
Historic Live Aid Performance
Documentation from historical records shows REO Speedwagon performed at Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium on July 13, 1985. The global broadcast reached approximately 1.9 billion viewers worldwide.
The performance featured special guests from the Beach Boys and Paul Shaffer on backing vocals. This collaboration created a unique moment in the historic concert.
Band’s Peak Era
Music historians note REO Speedwagon’s exceptional success during this period. The band had recently released ‘Wheels Are Turnin” (1984), which produced their number-one hit ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling.’
The Live Aid appearance coincided with their Rockin’ the Paradise Tour. The tour showcased the band’s commercial success through numerous sold-out shows across the country.
Previous Achievements
Music industry sources highlight the band’s earlier success with ‘Hi Infidelity.’ The album sold over 10 million copies and maintained its chart presence for 65 weeks.
The band demonstrated their mass appeal at the 1983 US Festival. They performed for an audience of over 375,000 people. This achievement set the stage for their memorable Live Aid appearance two years later.
