GARY RICHRATH REO SPEEDWAGON interview 04/01/01 with Rev Derek Moody

[@daveb8449]

One of my favorite guitarists!

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

Same! Thanks for subscribing

[@rlta04]

His guitar tone was awsome. He played with such soul and feeling. His guitar playing was incredible.

[@derekmoody1358]

Agreed! Please subscribe to this KZbin channel?

[@carlawalker7752]

What a flipping legend and a family man plus a gentleman 👍

[@laurierossi7901]

He was such a class act. I was blessed and lucky enough to have seen him live. My favorite guitar player. 💗💞💗💞

[@brianjohnson5995]

It's so nice to have a recording of his speaking voice. Most of the time they stuck the mike in Kevin's mouth as if he was the spokesman for the band. Gary is a jewel in the ranks of killer guitarists. He had lots to say but was always silenced.

[@derekmoody1358]

It was fun talking with him

[@derekmoody1358]

Please subscribe to the channel ? Thank you sincerely

[@brendasettles1046]

I still love to hear him speaking in recordings. The man was as sexy as heck, and my goodness, could he play a guitar and rock the stage!

[@AbleBodied]

@@brendasettles1046 I met REO after being invited back to the hotel, after the concert, for an afterparty, during the Keep on "Loving You" Tour. 1981. It ended-up being me, and my friend and just the band members in a room, at the Hilton. Those guys really did party like Scarface. My friend and I were good girls and did not party with them. Although they drank and did other things and we didn't, they were all still very, very nice. Gary invited me to stay over, very nicely and never did anything physical toward me, even though I declined. Yes, he was a very sexy man. Sweet memories. Even more importantly, Kevin helped me launch my career, as a music journalist. Later, meeting every super rocker there ever was, including hanging with Jimmy Page. It really pays to be a lady, but it wasn't always easy. I know some other ladies would had a real good time. But even at 16 years old, I still knew what was I was getting into, when we were first invited. I went home first, to pick up my pearl handled 22 caliper gun, just to be sure. Once they got a glimpse of it, in my bag. They knew I was serious, they were all sweet as pie. I didn't need my gun after all.

[@mikecox855]

Gary was the man when it came to the axe

[@jettechdonatkins]

When Gary left REO was never the same.Kevin sold out to commercial pop type music.Gary was a good man,glad I saw him many times in the mid '70's!

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

Legendary

[@derekmoody1358]

Long live Gary!!!

[@shaywatson3856]

October 18, 2018: Happy Birthday, Gary. You are with your own Mothercloud today. We love you and we miss you, every day. Thank you for YOU!

[@derekmoody1358]

Thank you and please subscribe to our KZbin channel

[@josieowl7833]

Sweet don't have the words but Wow Gary Richrath my guitar hero forever my Angel

[@derekmoody1358]

Thank you and please subscribe to our KZbin channel if you would

[@kellyhays6425]

Thank you for posting this! I love Gary! Anawesome talent! I do a Gary tribute on my page, he was just amazing!

[@mikej70]

Top ten player so good tasteful melodic playi finally getting wider long deserved recognition for his genius playing. better late than never!!!!

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

The best

[@BelleMacaw]

I sure miss Gary...

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

RIP 🙏

[@Altnature]

I don't understand why he didn't sing his songs. What little I have heard of his voice sounded just fine.

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

RIP Gary

[@teddwayne]

I was at the Bradley Fieldhouse and met Gary after the show,he signed my hat for me. I was 16 and living in Candletree apartments and going to Dunlop High

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

I lived at Candle tree too! 1975 thru 78 & went to Wilder Waite grade school! Please subscribe here?

[@teddwayne]

@@thechurchofrockradioshow I was living there then too. Did you know Pat Johnson ?

[@p1nesap]

Historic interview.

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

He was the best. Thanks for Subscribing

[@ernestgenton5891]

REO Speedwagon was my very first concert April 19th 1982 at Freedom Hall Louisville Kentucky Blackfoot and Duke Jupiter opened up for them second time I saw them Glass Tiger and Joan Jett opened for them

[@patriciasuich5039]

My 1st concert too!! 1978 Cobo Hall Detroit Mi. Great show

[@Colhogan06]

I grew up in Illinois pretty close to Peoria. REO started about the time I was a teenager and because they were a local band I heard them more often than others. I really miss the REO that had Gary as the lead guitarist. He was the sound of that band and turned REO into the successful band it became. Kevin Cronin did his best work when he was teamed up with Gary Richrath. The best way to look at it is like this. Look at when REO made most of their hits and then look at how many of those hits were created after Gary left the band in 1989. You will find that after 1989 REO had no top 10 hits. In fact they didn't even have a top 50 hit after 1989. Bottom line REO stopped existing when Gary left. When he was replaced with Dave Amato, and the drummer Alan Gratzer left to be with his family, the band sort of became a cover band of their own music. I say that because they dont really have anything new and their concerts are filled with just their old hits. Dont get me wrong, I love this band and just saw them live in April. I just miss Gary's guitar, and the flair he brought to the show! RIP Gary Richrath, your fans miss you more than you probably ever realized they would before you passed. Update: I said that last part because Gary had some demons he just couldn't conquer in time to stop the band from separating from him. The Behind the Music thing Gary mentions he is getting ready to do for VH1, tells the story and explains why the band parted with Gary. It was mainly drugs and alcohol that Gary just couldn't get control of no matter how much he tried. If you search on KZbin for REO Behind the Music you can see this program and it's very detailed. Gary just tells it all and is brutally honest. You have to respect him for that. Plus he has finally conquered those demons. It's a great watch if you are a real REO fan. I learned a lot from it.

[@derekmoody1358]

Thank you and please subscribe to our KZbin channel

[@kaylarivers4377]

I was looking through some videos and came across this one, I had never heard or seen it! Thanks for the nice comment on BTM! Thought I'd send a comment here. Just awesome to hear Gary so enthusiastic about playing again. I suppose this was after Richrath band. Your words ring true. The REO that had Gary as lead guitarist, his sound was so distinctive, you knew when you heard the singing of the beautiful sound he produced from the LP, that is was REOSW. As much as I don't like to give Cronin credit, they had to work together, Gary couldn't do it on his own. So their teamwork was what made it work. Again, so true about not having any hits, nothing at all. Just riding on the coattails of what was a phenomenal band. Another thing I noticed about the REO cover band is Cronin has tried to make them "rock" more, I don't really know another way to explain it. It really is mostly him, trying to act and dress "cool", LOL. Truthfully, they have been playing this same music for 50 years, at least Neal has. WOW! I imagine it must have seemed so strange not to see Gary up there on stage, smiling down at the fans, giving them what they came to see....You are so right about Gary being honest in the interview and BTM. He never said a bad word about Cronin in interview or BTM. But I do believe they weren't on speaking terms. But I do respect that, not talking down about him. I suppose it's a show of his real character. This interview was just awesome imo. What did you think? Take Care fellow REO fan...

[@derekmoody1358]

@@kaylarivers4377 Thank you for the kind words and I am glad you enjoyed our interview. I grew up in Peoria and remember seeing speed wagon at Bradley University fieldhouse in about 1979 or something. Maybe 78? It was absolutely awesome and phenomenal. Thank you for listening and please subscribe to our channel. Long live Gary!

[@Colhogan06]

@@kaylarivers4377 Sorry I just got to this one. I agree Gary sounds so excited talking about REO and his experiences and he was always very gracious when speaking about Kevin. I know that takes a very courageous man. It's easy to slam someone especially if what your saying is true. But Gary has said he looked at Kevin like a little brother and even after Kevin did what he did, Gary remained professional, and still looked at him like a little brother so he stayed silent about the bad stuff. Gary I think, tried to conform to the softer band sound Kevin was trying to push on the band. He was the writer of "Take it on The Run" which made a top 5 I think on the charts and was included on the HIF Album. I believe he wrote "In Your Letter" as well. I guess I'm mentioning this because you didnt hear much coming from Kevin in the area of real rock music. Seems like it was a one way street. Gary trying to change but Kevin not so much. To me Kevin should have cranked out some rock tunes just to show he was trying to meet 50/50. They both did need one another in the writing department. My Favorite Gary songs are "Son of a poor man" and "Only the Strong Survive". "Riding the Storm Out" would round out the top 3 for me. I like Bruce's "Back on the Road Again". All of these songs along with most of their early stuff, before the Ballads. I give them credit for the ballads because they did do them well. There is no question about that. I just prefer to hear Gary's Les Paul a little more. BTO, Boston, and similar bands all had that screamin Guitar that was so popular in the 70's. It was very addictive to listen to. Once your a true rocker it's hard to hear real soft music. Not to say it isn't good. Soft music has its place in history. There would have been no High School Dances without it. And without it no chance for me to get to know a girl I liked when in Middle School. I was shy but didnt mind the slow dancing....Lol

[@jaynekneupper8202]

SFC Andy MP Corp ,

[@ronhoffman7941]

why was lighting never on the radio

[@jamesshelby5605]

One of my favorites. One of many of Gary’s awesome guitar solos!

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

We played it on Wwct ROCK 106

[@dogsratsfishcats]

❤

[@Tomchichi1975]

Lighting has Cronin/Richrath as songwriters credited?? I wonder if KC wrote the lyrics and Gary wrote the music

[@thechurchofrockradioshow]

Good question but thanks for Subscribing here