Think back

to the slow dances of your youth, or at least 20 years ago, if not your

youth. Chances are that as you swayed gently with your loved one, a power

ballad from REO Speedwagon, most likely "Can't Fight This Feeling"

or "Keep On Loving You" was playing. A power ballad is a love

song that rocks and that is one of REO Speedwagon's strengths. They will

bring their brand of rock and roll to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater

this Friday and Saturday for the final concert of the Summer Concert Series.

An REO Speedwagon

is a flat bed truck from the early 20th century that was high-speed and

heavy-duty. Sometimes it was even outiftted as a fire truck. REO stands

for Ransom Eli Olds, who eventually went on to create Oldsmobile. The

band called themselves REO Speedwagon from the very beginning when Neal

Doughty and Alan Gratzer, students at the University of Illinois, started

making music together in 1967. Over the next few years members came in

and out and in 1971 Doughty and Gratzer teamed up with Gregg Philbin (bass),

Terry Luttrell (vocals) and Gary Richrath (guitar) and released their

first album. Luttrell left the band and they found Kevin Cronin to replace

him.

Cronin and

Richrath teamed up to write and produce songs that helped their albums

sell in the millions. 1980's Hi Infidelity sold nine million copies worldwide

and featured "Keep On Loving You," which reached number one

and "Take It On The Run," which reached number two. In 1985,

the band released what would be their biggest hit, "Can't Fight This

Feeling," and performed on Live Aid, which was seen by an audience

of one billion people.

The current

band lineup features Cronin on vocals, Doughty on keyboards, Bruce Hall

on bass, Bryan Hitt on drums and Dave Amato on lead guitar. Hall has been

with the band since 1976, while Hitt joined the band in 1990 after playing

with Wang Chung and Amato joined the band in 1989 ater playing with Ted

Nugent and Richie Sambora.

Their latest

album, "Building the Bridge," was released in 1996. It was a

combination of the classic sound of the band with a '90s flavor. REO Speedwagon

then went on tour with Foreigner and Peter Frampton to promote the album

and celebrate 25 years. After the concert in Peachtree City, REO Speedwagon

will play with Foreigner, Styx, Bad Company, Survivor, Mark Farner and

others in the Rock to the Rescue concerts in New Jersey and Cleveland.

The proceeds from the shows will benefit the Port Authority Police World

Trade Disaster Survivor Fund.

The show is

sold out but standing room only tickets will be on sale at 6 p.m. before

each show. Tickets are $45 with a $3 per order service fee. Justus, a

local rock band, will open the show at 8 p.m. Phone 770-631-0630 for more

information.

Back

to the Top of the Page