He is a very under rated guitarist.Deserves alot more credit and attention than he ever got.Very tasteful player .Cronin has gay written over his forehead.THink what it could have been if Gary would have gotten in with some better musicians that would have been more like him musically
RICHRATH RULES ONE OF THE BEST GUITARIST OUT THERE IT IS TOO BAD HE LEFT THOUGH REO STILL LIVES ON EVEN THOUGH GARY LEFT IT WAS A HELL OF A RUN !!! BUT IT HAPPENS!!! BEST WISHES TO THE BAND ANYWAY CLASSIC ROCK RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have seen these guys a dozen times or more ,gary was the best but even after he left thay still kick ass,the band is so tight it;s like puting on the album .if you git the chance to see them DO IT
@HackerGuitarist Gary did not get kicked out for drugs. He actually wasn't doing any drugs then. His alcohol was the main issue. He would be too drunk to perform at rehearsals. Plus, the issue that really ended it was the arrangement of the songs. Gary was the chief producer, and Kevin arranged the songs. Kevin had begun limiting the opportunities that Gary had to solo in his arrangements. This was a very tension causing thing. They began to hate each other over the direction of the band.
@jacobwalters85 That is exactly what I have heard. The once great rock and roll, which Gary was such a large part of, was being replaced by the more pop oriented music being initiated by Kevin.
@jacobwalters85 AMEN to that! I could not have stated it better myself. People, please believe! This was/is the real deal. How could there not have been tension in the band. Gary is a true guitar hero and He was basically out voted by the rest of the band in regards to the bands direction.There is an interview from the late 80's where KC states this very fact. Imagine needing to be able to shred like Gary does and being stifled. Gary is one of the BEST. ROCK ON!!!
@HackerGuitarist Echoing jacobw alters, it wasn't drugs that lead to the dismissal of Richrath from the band, it was his heavy alcohol use, combined with the fact that cronin was limiting his solo time in the arrangements, it lead to a huge rift between the two, one that has yet to be patched up.
I agree with you about Kevin Cronin taking over the band. I think the time they recorded this was my favorite period for the band. I recorded this video of MTV
REO lost its edge and the music shows after Gary was kicked out of the band,you can all ways get some one else to play,but the heart is gone,that Gary has.He is one of those guys that just can not be replaced.
@freebirdbobo You got THAT right, freebirdbobo. it's really saddening what happened to REO after it basically became "The Kevin Cronin Band". My dad was a huge REO fan and to hear him talk of the old days when they were a good, honest rock& roll band was fascinaing for me. He saw them in Nashiville on the "Good Trouble" tour. It was one of his favorite concerts ever. BTW, this vid is from an old VHS entitled "Live Infidelity". It was one my dad watched a lot. I now have and cherish it.
@cpickard1022 THANK YOU!!! But Gary didn"t leave as we were all led to believe, he in fact was "kicked out" by Cronin. Cronin "KILLED" REO the day he kicked Gary out. All of REO"s albums (since Richrath"s exit) have FAILED to chart. Serves you right, Cronin.
Check out the guitar chord!!!! bringing all that Les Paul power to thousands \m/\m/
chiefgypsy 2 weeks ago
He is a very under rated guitarist.Deserves alot more credit and attention than he ever got.Very tasteful player .Cronin has gay written over his forehead.THink what it could have been if Gary would have gotten in with some better musicians that would have been more like him musically
rlta04 4 weeks ago
RICHRATH RULES ONE OF THE BEST GUITARIST OUT THERE IT IS TOO BAD HE LEFT THOUGH REO STILL LIVES ON EVEN THOUGH GARY LEFT IT WAS A HELL OF A RUN !!! BUT IT HAPPENS!!! BEST WISHES TO THE BAND ANYWAY CLASSIC ROCK RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
drawblood1119 1 month ago
Like the Ghost Riders in the middle...second song I learned on guitar, first was Cotton Eyed Joe
themidniteryder 3 months ago
his name is Gary Richrath . . . .
theean 3 months ago
Gary was REO in my opinion!!!!!!
nallaeroom1 3 months ago
Kevin Cronin=DOUCHEBAG.....Gary Richrath=great guitar hero
TheXXXDB 4 months ago
I so miss Gary in REO.
1danrobbins 5 months ago
It"s so understandable that Gary had a drinking problem. . . . . WORKING WITH KEVIN, WHO WOULDN"T????
ExDemocrat64 5 months ago 6
who talks on the phone like that! Gary does
Annabananag 5 months ago
I have seen these guys a dozen times or more ,gary was the best but even after he left thay still kick ass,the band is so tight it;s like puting on the album .if you git the chance to see them DO IT
MrVaporized420 6 months ago
IT'S!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE'S NOT A RUBBER BOAT.
spaggs64 6 months ago
@HackerGuitarist Gary did not get kicked out for drugs. He actually wasn't doing any drugs then. His alcohol was the main issue. He would be too drunk to perform at rehearsals. Plus, the issue that really ended it was the arrangement of the songs. Gary was the chief producer, and Kevin arranged the songs. Kevin had begun limiting the opportunities that Gary had to solo in his arrangements. This was a very tension causing thing. They began to hate each other over the direction of the band.
jacobwalters85 8 months ago
@jacobwalters85 That is exactly what I have heard. The once great rock and roll, which Gary was such a large part of, was being replaced by the more pop oriented music being initiated by Kevin.
1danrobbins 5 months ago
@jacobwalters85 AMEN to that! I could not have stated it better myself. People, please believe! This was/is the real deal. How could there not have been tension in the band. Gary is a true guitar hero and He was basically out voted by the rest of the band in regards to the bands direction.There is an interview from the late 80's where KC states this very fact. Imagine needing to be able to shred like Gary does and being stifled. Gary is one of the BEST. ROCK ON!!!
GNFAN1987 4 months ago
Why did Cronin kick him out anyway?
zenmasterb 9 months ago
@zenmasterb drugs ... like really bad drug problem... why let someone bring your band down no matter how good he is >?
HackerGuitarist 8 months ago
@HackerGuitarist Echoing jacobw alters, it wasn't drugs that lead to the dismissal of Richrath from the band, it was his heavy alcohol use, combined with the fact that cronin was limiting his solo time in the arrangements, it lead to a huge rift between the two, one that has yet to be patched up.
Doug4422 5 months ago
I agree with you about Kevin Cronin taking over the band. I think the time they recorded this was my favorite period for the band. I recorded this video of MTV
years ago when they were broadcasting real music.
1016vortex 10 months ago
REO lost its edge and the music shows after Gary was kicked out of the band,you can all ways get some one else to play,but the heart is gone,that Gary has.He is one of those guys that just can not be replaced.
freebirdbobo 11 months ago
@freebirdbobo You got THAT right, freebirdbobo. it's really saddening what happened to REO after it basically became "The Kevin Cronin Band". My dad was a huge REO fan and to hear him talk of the old days when they were a good, honest rock& roll band was fascinaing for me. He saw them in Nashiville on the "Good Trouble" tour. It was one of his favorite concerts ever. BTW, this vid is from an old VHS entitled "Live Infidelity". It was one my dad watched a lot. I now have and cherish it.
GuitarChickSG1 10 months ago
@GuitarChickSG1
enderdrm 9 months ago
Richrath...wish he still played with REO
emmylane 1 year ago
This guy is absolutely awesome!
mmitzner2 1 year ago
I just watched this, as it's from a 1981 show in Denver, CO...
ChuckieInMT 1 year ago
Gary you rock greetings from Holland
stratorobert 1 year ago
this is real music, we need more of it, this is when REO rocked
beatlejuice001 1 year ago 4
he's got a really good live sound here.
csmpeoil 1 year ago
No one done it better then Richrath, I haven't been an REO fan since he left the band.
cpickard1022 1 year ago
@cpickard1022 THANK YOU!!! But Gary didn"t leave as we were all led to believe, he in fact was "kicked out" by Cronin. Cronin "KILLED" REO the day he kicked Gary out. All of REO"s albums (since Richrath"s exit) have FAILED to chart. Serves you right, Cronin.
ExDemocrat64 1 year ago
Love the old R.E.O. Seen them in the summer of 81. Memphis, TN. Mid South Coliseum!! He did pretty much the same solo.
sizzlehalt 1 year ago
Richrath
chiefgypsy 1 year ago
That is great stuff, thank you for posting. Do you have any more? ...MORE!!!!! MORE !!!! MORE !! MORE !!! vintage REO SPEEDWAGON !!!!
BlueBranchBill 1 year ago