REO Speedwagon Only The Strong Survive

[TheBrendabrown]

my class song back in 1983

[Freyja1133]

I saw the original REOLine up back in 1977

And I Agree with you...GARY PLEASE COME BACK !!!!

[65boogerbutt]

Losing Gary was like the Eagles losing Don Felder!

[coldfarted]

My sister showed me a pic a few years ago.. she was standing be some old guy with short blond hair.. i ask her who it was.. she said look at it... It was Kevin Cronin.. lol

[sparkie119]

 Totally love Gary's Les Paul Standard-wish I had it.

[Freyja1133]

I've written a set of tribute lyrics which are inspired by Only the strong

Would anyone like to read them?

[JRMull1]

all i can say is this is what REO was all about. 1 of the best guitarist of all time. Rock on Gary

[enriquebenitez51]

I hope gary have beat all of his demons and be back where he belongs,,,,with REO Speedwagon, saw him performing a few years ago in a sports bar in Peoria....

it was very sad seeing him playing for peanuts after hitting the big time

[newarkcatholicfan]

This one should have been a bigger hit then it was.

[TonyBudi]

Always been my fav REO tune

[3impersonators]

Why is it that when people list some of the greatest guitarists, they'll say the ones for Santana, Lynrd Skynrd, and Van Halen, but they NEVER MENTION GARY RICHRATH?!?!

[lickknob11]

Nine Lives. The last REO album with balls.

[iucoltsfan]

ive got this song on the album 9 lives plus on 45 vinyl record

[musicwitch2006]

I was also at this show.... I met Gary Ritchrath after sneaking back stage He said "Hey little girl you'll die in there before we get to the next gig" (climbed into a keal case) I came out he said" how old are you" I said 18 (I was 14) I hung out with Gary for 3 weeks before he dumped me in Texas... Had a blast...wouldnt change a thing....

[65metal]

@musicwitch2006 No kidding? If that is true, that is an amazing story, hope your parents (or the cops) didn't find out, lol. Did Gary ever find out he was with a 14 year old? Maybe the reason you got dumped in Texas was that Gary was starting to feel the heat and didn't want to do any time. Thanks for sharing, though, always interesting to find out about "life on the road" with a rock band.

[ESW367]

Really had no interest in REO since Gary left. Glad to have been able to see them with the classic lineup before Gary and Alan exited.

[xswtnamazingx]

Gary is one with the guitar....just that simple....he is the best ever

[irish2197]

what an amazing performance!

[southplnk]

this just might be the greatest song of all time especially the chorus

[cmd1958]

This song (and album) will always remind me of the summer of 1979. Gary's guitar sound/tone was a huge part of REO; when he left, so did the classic REO sound. Dave Amato is a good guitarist but he has never been able to fill Gary's shoes.

[kennysdad65]

Best REO song ever!!

[tsavoke]

What a godamn great performance!

Just love Gary & Kevin without any fuckin reason. :-)

[ezymk69]

We freakin love Gary!!!!!!!

[beyondtheveilofdeath]

AAAAHH - good rockin' that makes you hot and ready! Gary is a great guitarist and he plays with awesome naturality... good ole times,still alive!

[tsavoke]

PERFECT! i love Gary Richrath & Kevin Cronin **********

[hey22jim]

great performance by REO of a cool song! Gary Richrath is an explosively original guitarist.

[khcat9]

dam right!!!!!!!

[dannyd1572]

Wherever your at Gary...we miss you! Please come back and put some balls back into REO!

[perking77]

Without Gary's afro, it's just not REO!

[dakotaescher]

Reo without Gary, is like Zep without Page, why bother?

[veronicalovesgdr]

Gary wrote this song and I love it!

[3impersonators]

One of the best (yet most underrated) guitarist of all time. He makes it look so easy.

[rwalker2006]

And love the way he has that silly smile on his face at all times,yes it's eay for him,that's why he's grinning.making money,the easy way.

[gwynsgj]

this is when REO was Good.. I so miss Gary

[Beetmonger]

I had a chance to see them last year but decided not to, I would rather remember them like this. Richrath is the man!!!!

[veronicalovesgdr]

Gary was born to play!

[LetsGetRocked]

At 1.50, when Garry comes out with that solo, I get chills down my spine. I wish I was around back then to see him doing what he does best!

[ELJ1st500]

Thanks for posting this. It brings back some good memories of that night. I was at this concert which was filmed in Denver in April of 1981. Great concert and this is my favorite REO song. Gary is a great guitar player and has a very distinct sound to his playing. I wish Gary had been able to stay with REO.

[offshute]

Couldn't agree with you more. I wish I had seen this concert live.. REO without Gary just ain't the same...

[artheriford]

@ELJ1st500

My memory is starting to fade, but this was either the night before or night after I saw them in Kansas City.

[unsexynstupid]

@ELJ1st500 Oh how lucky you were to have been at that concert. I taped it many years ago but the tape kinda died. I so envy you - enjoy the memory!

[paperboy6996]

@ELJ1st500 yes big mistake Letting Gary go

[veronicalovesgdr]

citiizenCS, where at in Peoria? I bet he packed the house.. I would have loved to been there too....standing right in front of gary!

[CitizenCS]

I got to see Gary play this song in Peoria after he left REO. I was standing right in front of him. The best guitar lesson I ever had!

[ezymk69]

I have seen the current line-up of Reo Speedwagon twice. All I can say is, "Come back Gary!"

[Freyja1133]

@ezymk69 Come Back Bary & Alan! REO isn't the same with out you!

[veronicalovesgdr]

Gary is my favorite guitarist!!!

[jobybryan]

Man, Gary is so gifted!!! I wish he was still performing. Awesome rock and roll guitarist!