REO Speedwagon

[Arkansas]

REO's a strange band. They come up with some great tracks and some stuff that's so mediocre you'd think they could tell. I'll give them credit for not trying to release a cd every 3 years anymore just for the hell of it.

Their '96 cd wasn't too bad and the last has a couple decent tracks. They've lost the plot though.

Always thought 'Back On The Road Again' was one of the rockin'est best songs ever.
And I always loved it even more because Cronin didn't sing it.


later~

[Rhiannon]

I didn't ignore it. I didn't even see it when you sent it.
I just got a new phone, meaning new settings to fuck with. Grrr!
It wasn't alerting me of texts. As SOON as I saw that I'd missed yours, I fixed all the settings.

And wtf were you doing taking the L to that stop alone at night.
We're gonna have to have a talk young lady.

No worries. I didn't go all the way there though, I got off at California instead. Met some people for drinks. I was actually back to Cumberland by 1am. We should do a Starbucks and/or food soon though. You can help me figure out how the hell I'm gonna get to O'Hare at 6am on a Friday morning in a few weeks.

[Tito]

Also, it was way more than 100 people turned away.

[Saint John]

If they're going to invite a legendary band like REO in their own neck of the woods they need to make sure the facility can hold at least 75,000 people. It's a shame people were turned away. 60,000 person capacity was clearly not enough. And yes, it was a LOT more than 100 people that were turned away.

[RedWingFan]

"Native Illinois rockers REO Speedwagon became the first band to sell out Naperville's Ribfest twice.

Organizers from the Naperville Exchange Club expected to have to close the park Friday and kept a watchful eye on attendance all day. By 4:30 p.m. organizers were already planning the cutoff.

"Our gates are now wireless so we have regular counts on the bar codes on the tickets," Ribfest Chairman Don Emery said. "We try to keep a handle on how many people have left, but there's not a real reliable way to track that."

Pretty cool they had such a huge turnout. Used to love REO. Bought everything I could from them when I was a kid back in the 80's.

[Saint John]

"Native Illinois rockers REO Speedwagon became the first band to sell out Naperville's Ribfest twice.

Organizers from the Naperville Exchange Club expected to have to close the park Friday and kept a watchful eye on attendance all day. By 4:30 p.m. organizers were already planning the cutoff.

"Our gates are now wireless so we have regular counts on the bar codes on the tickets," Ribfest Chairman Don Emery said. "We try to keep a handle on how many people have left, but there's not a real reliable way to track that."

Pretty cool they had such a huge turnout. Used to love REO. Bought everything I could from them when I was a kid back in the 80's.

Agreed. They're just a fun band. Nothing intricate or overwhelming, but they put together great hooks and cathcy, sing-along choruses. They've made some great music over the years.

[bluejeangirl76]

We should do a Starbucks and/or food soon though. You can help me figure out how the hell I'm gonna get to O'Hare at 6am on a Friday morning in a few weeks.

This sounds like something I need to hear more about. Email me.
I was mssg you about Sbux today anyway.

[jrnychick]

"Native Illinois rockers REO Speedwagon became the first band to sell out Naperville's Ribfest twice.

Organizers from the Naperville Exchange Club expected to have to close the park Friday and kept a watchful eye on attendance all day. By 4:30 p.m. organizers were already planning the cutoff.

"Our gates are now wireless so we have regular counts on the bar codes on the tickets," Ribfest Chairman Don Emery said. "We try to keep a handle on how many people have left, but there's not a real reliable way to track that."

Pretty cool they had such a huge turnout. Used to love REO. Bought everything I could from them when I was a kid back in the 80's.

Agreed. They're just a fun band. Nothing intricate or overwhelming, but they put together great hooks and cathcy, sing-along choruses. They've made some great music over the years.

I am amazed that they had such a huge crowd there, but I've never been to Ribfest. I don't even think I've ever been to Naperville. Ribfest has never been an interest to me because I hate ribs! My husband would have a fit if I dragged him to some fest with 50,000 people! He hates fests, so I'm lucky that I can drag him to Buffalo Grove Days every year.

[tammy]

Haven't seen REO since 1981, I believe! I saw them in Wisc. in the pouring rain...I was amazed how many girls were swooning over KC...tiny, scrawny guy with big hair. I'd like to see them again as I do like their radio songs.

[Tito]

"Native Illinois rockers REO Speedwagon became the first band to sell out Naperville's Ribfest twice.

Organizers from the Naperville Exchange Club expected to have to close the park Friday and kept a watchful eye on attendance all day. By 4:30 p.m. organizers were already planning the cutoff.

"Our gates are now wireless so we have regular counts on the bar codes on the tickets," Ribfest Chairman Don Emery said. "We try to keep a handle on how many people have left, but there's not a real reliable way to track that."

Pretty cool they had such a huge turnout. Used to love REO. Bought everything I could from them when I was a kid back in the 80's.

Agreed. They're just a fun band. Nothing intricate or overwhelming, but they put together great hooks and cathcy, sing-along choruses. They've made some great music over the years.

I am amazed that they had such a huge crowd there, but I've never been to Ribfest. I don't even think I've ever been to Naperville. Ribfest has never been an interest to me because I hate ribs! My husband would have a fit if I dragged him to some fest with 50,000 people! He hates fests, so I'm lucky that I can drag him to Buffalo Grove Days every year.

Arlington Heights has a nice fest too. They had Night Ranger (who I forgot about last Tuesday ) and Dennis Deyoung. F-ck Taste of Chicago, that place always sucked and you may got shot there as well.

[Saint John]

F-ck Taste of Chicago, that place always sucked and you may got shot there as well.

You can say that again. Watching 50 shit heads running around like European soccer fans whose team just lost was hilarious. Someone has to find that on youtube. You won't see that sort of shit at Summer Fest in Milwaukee...then again Summer Fest is 95% white.

[Tito]

F-ck Taste of Chicago, that place always sucked and you may got shot there as well.

You can say that again. Watching 50 shit heads running around like European soccer fans whose team just lost was hilarious. Someone has to find that on youtube. You won't see that sort of shit at Summer Fest in Milwaukee...then again Summer Fest is 95% white.

I was going to say they didn't look European to me on TV.

[Rhiannon]

I was mssg you about Sbux today anyway.

Done. Email you in a bit.

Speaking of the Taste and shootings, I heard someone did get shot there last week. Damn!

[stevew2]

REO had 50,000 people for a reason, and that reason is that they are rock stars with an unbelievable catalog and the people in their backyard are proud to call them our own. These guys, much like Journey, are an 80's hit parade in concert. These guys are 80's superstars and the attendance reflected that. I don't care if they were giving away free dicks at a gay parade, 50,000 people is still 50,000 people, and the vast majority of them were rocking out.

50,000 people did not show up to hear REO Speedwagon.Thats is retarded.Not even close to that amount of people turned out to see them and Styx and Journey combined. I was there, you must be drunk.

Here's one of the articles, dick lips. As Tito mentioned, the $10 admission ($8 if you bought during the presale) and children under 11 being free probably had a lot to do with it. You could actually bring your spouse and 2 children and pay only $16 if you bought during the presale. There were 60,000 people there....an estimated 50,000 of whom were watching REO...get over it.

"Native Illinois rockers REO Speedwagon became the first band to sell out Naperville's Ribfest twice.

Organizers from the Naperville Exchange Club expected to have to close the park Friday and kept a watchful eye on attendance all day. By 4:30 p.m. organizers were already planning the cutoff.

"Our gates are now wireless so we have regular counts on the bar codes on the tickets," Ribfest Chairman Don Emery said. "We try to keep a handle on how many people have left, but there's not a real reliable way to track that."


Capacity at the Knoch Park site is about 60,000. Organizers closed the park at 7:05 p.m. Friday, 10 minutes before the band was set to take the stage, after estimating they had reached that number. Naperville police officials are ultimately responsible for the decision.

"What we look for is the main walkways to remain open," Emery said.

About 100 people were turned away at the south gate when the announcement was first made. The park was to remain closed during the fireworks show that was set to go off after the band left the stage at 9:30 p.m.

Traffic remained steady all day with long lines forming at the four entrances before the park opened.

"We got here early to get a good seat even though the people we're meeting are bigger fans of the band than we are," said Naperville resident Dave Pekala, who had a spot staked out at 2 p.m. "But we came early for the ribs."

Brendan Waldoch of Geneva was there early enough to get a stageside seat, even though this is the first time he's seen REO Speedwagon live.

"It's definitely worth it to get here early," he said. "My mom has seen them about three times and so I figured I should see them too if she likes them so much."

Some fans that were turned away stuck around to listen to the concert outside the perimeter of the festival after being turned away. They said the sellout crowd is a testament to the band's appeal despite the fact they haven't had a No. 1 song for more than two decades.

"We thought they'd have enough room for everybody," said Sandy Apps of North Aurora. "But I'm not surprised this many people came, that's why we came."

Hootie & the Blowfish, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Heart are the only other bands to sellout Ribfest in the event's 21-year history."

Ribs and fireworks had a hell of alot to do with it, plus a holiday weekend.You get to carried away