No he isn't dead.But he is certainly all but forgotten - and that's a shame.
Gary Richrath was the original lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon. Now, mention REO Speedwagon to most folks and you usually get a negative reaction. That's because most folks remember the Speedwagon as an 80's mush band that produced songs heavy in hooks but low on real content and substance.
That is certainly the most FAMOUS version of the Speedwagon - but it isn't a true vision of who the band really was. The band actually began in the late 60's and they enjoyed somewhat of a minor "popularity status" during all of the 70's. They were a very "70's" band in their down-home "what you see is what you get" presentation. They were rockers - and they were important to the whole genre of 70's rock that fucking Disco came along later and suppressed. When Disco mercifully died - no one was left unchanged by it - including REO Speedwagon. Though they never had a "disco sound" - the band that emerged in the 80's had certainly learned that substance was secondary to a good "hook". That's what disco taught a lot of us.
Anyway ... back to Gary.
Gary was the quintessential 70's rock guitarist. As a guitarist myself - I consider the 70's to be the "golden era" of rock guitar. It was guys like Gary who served as a "bridge" between the blues inspired sounds of guys like Clapton - to the technical "ripping" of guys like EVH (Van Halen) and Yngwie Malmsteen.
So Gary is a sort of a "missing link". But here's the deal - I've always favored that "missing link" sound more than anything that came before, or after it. I've always found the blues inpired 60's sound to be a bit simplistic. And I've always found the technically confusing sounds of EVH and Malmsteen to be a bit lacking in soul.
For me - the perfect balance has always been guys like Gary Richrath, Neil Shon, Ted Nugent, etc. Those awesome 70's guitarists.
And Gary was the best of 'em I think.
It's no secret that Gary Richrath and REO frontman, Kevin Cronin, clashed for many years. For some reason, whether he was kicked or left on his own - Gary ceased to be a member of REO in 1991. We haven't heard much from him since.
But if Gary is out there reading this somewhere - I'd just like for him to know that he isn't forgotten by guys like me. To this day - I still try to emulate Gary on my guitar. And just like I did back in the 70's - I always come up short of the mark!
This is a salute to Gary Richrath!
Here's a YouTube clip of the REAL REO SPEEDWAGON back in 1971. Unfortunately, there's a long introduction to this song, 157 Riverside Avenue - but those who patiently sit through it will be rewarded by some of the best Richrath guitar work ever captured on film.
21 comments:
I agree completely, and I miss his music and his soul. Thanks for posting this tribute.
I agree..
I really miss his music.
Thanks for the tribute..
I liked Gary a whole lot, but the dude was just a little short in the cow bell department.
I mean "Riding the storm out" lacked cow bell. Keep pushing lacked cow bell. I can't fight this feeling anymore lacked cowbell.
Well ... you're right ... there was little to no cowbell. :)
Gary didn't need no cowbell. He definitely rocked.
The Midnight Special version of "Roll With The Changes" has got to be the hottest MS performance ever. Even Kevin's hair, the endless closeup zooms, Gary's kimono can not stop them.
I met Gary after he left the band in 1991 and we hung out for an hour or two each week. He had some of the same demons to overcome as so many musicians do, but I don't know if I've ever met a more genuine, sincere, nice guy. He'd turned to tennis and some working out at the club where I worked, and he'd been engaged to a great girl. Always drummed his fingers when we talked, "to keep up the speed," he'd say, and his dexterity was obvious. I hope he's doing great. I came to this website to get additional info because I lost contact with him the next year.
Oh, I hope Gary's doing well. I saw that VH1 is going to do "Behind the Music" again. I hope they replay or redo the REO episode. I didn't see it, but heard that Kevin wasn't kind to Gary.
I think Gary was my first real crush. I will never forget his solo in the "Keep on Lovin'You" video on MTV, where he wore the puffy silky blue shirt and did a spin. I wish he and KC could have held it together.
This guy G__Damm rocks. He is one of the best I've ever seen or heard. I am a big Zeppelin fan. I've seen Seger, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Nugent, ZZ Topp, and more. I've seen REO three times. The first time I saw REO was in Bay City, Michigan @ 1977 during the 'You Get What You Play For' tour. I still get shivers hearing Golden Country, 157 Riverside, Ridin' the Storm Out, .... NOBODY plays like that. It is g__damm kick@ss guitar.
PS-Shutup about the cowbell... You're watching too much TV
There is a little bar in E. Peoria called the Variety Club, there are daily sightings of him there...
Richrath became a scam artist after he was fired from REO for booking shows in the South as REO Speedwagon with his new band. I was duped into one of those shows. The opening act for him was a group from Shreveport, Louisiana named ANXIOUS and their bassist told me that a couple of nights before in Shreveport over 200 people had stormed out and demanded their money back. Some hero. Just another sad victim of drug abuse who flushed his life down the toilet. Last I saw he weighed about 300 pounds and looked like he was coming off a 6-week bender.
I just had a dream last night of
Gary. Remembering him of his guitar solo when we saw REO five times in the 70's. He was my favorite of the band, he can make his guitar sing like I've never had heard before or since. I sure miss him. God bless you Gary!
~ CFales
Dude I could not agree with you more! I have always blamed my age as the reason I feel 98% of the music today sucks but you hit it on the head with regard to the 70's guitar music from the gods. Led Zep, Bad Co, the southern rockers of the Allman Bros and Skynyrd, Boston, Nugent, Floyd etc...
All I can say is I feel sorry for my kids and their generation for missing the BEST years of Rock!
I met Gary in the 80's when he was trying to put together another band. I worked for a friend of mine who owned a studio, and Gary came in to record, stayed for a week or two. Also, he lived on top of the Santa Monica Mountains and I would run into him at the grocery store. A great guy,incredible guitarist and one helluva rocker.
Gary was one of the greatest guitarists in the 70's and 80's, in 1991 he started his own band called Richrath with Michael Jahnz as the lead vocalist and they put out a CD called Only The Strong Survive, Gary retired from playing in the late 90's, Michael Jahnz kept the wheels turnin with a band called "Project 3:13" i am the lead guitar player in this band and we play classic REO songs as well as songs that Gary and Michael wrote together, If you want to check out the website its www.myspace.com/project313rocks, gary is also listed as a friend there as Gary and Michael were very close, there will never be another guitar player like Gary, he was absolutely the best guitarist in the world. thanks Dennis
Gary took REOs (Kevin) songs and made them a force to recon with !!! I saw REO warming up The Allman Brothers right after Duanes death. To this day I have never seen a more Energy Filled performance. (this may have been before Kevin). Watching Gary that evening I was totally sold on the Gibson LesPaul as my guitar of choice. I just couldn't afford one till much later.
I miss Garys solos ..... But when I pull up an REO song I can still see him on that stage, bouncing around with that big hair, and a beautiful LesPaul guitar, sounding absolutely incredible. No, he didn't, or doesn't have those EVH or Steve licks, but he had soul and taste.
Glad to hear he is still Rockin !!!
Gary lives in Thousand Oaks, CA. He goes to the park everyday to read his newspaper and interact with his neighbors. He will take time out of his day to talk music with anyone. He will also jam in the park with anyone that brings him a guitar. He is truly the most reachable, and kindest of all of the guitar greats. I was living in So Cal and met him, and became great friends with him. I miss hanging out with him. He taught me a very important rule when it came to song writing: "Never write a song too complicated that you can't be played drunk."
I am not a guitar player (though I wish I were). However, I am a lover of great music and musicians and especially fond of great guitarists. That said, Gary Richrath is one of my favorites and arguably one of the best. I don't know what went wrong between Gary and Kevin but to me, Gary Richrath is REO Speedwagon. I mean the heart and soul this man puts into his playing is truly inspirational. I wish you well Gary but most of all, I wish you were here. God Bless!
Whilst i am a huge Gary fan and his contribution to REO was immense he was not the original lead guitarist, just the best. Dave Amatto comes nowhere near the playing of Gary and this is lost in a lot of the songs that are now live. Pity that kevin and gary cant kiss and make up
Doug Kauffman says. I saw REO at Cobo Hall in Detroit with The Babies warming up in 1978. You couldn't take your eyes off of Gary. His presence and playing just stole the show. Kevin probably got tired of being upstaged! One of the greats!
I completely agree as the rest have said. I was a young kid growing up in Illinois fairly close to where they all got their start. Gary's guitar playing is on of the main reasons I am a rocker today instead of something else. I was very much relieved they never tried disco. The birth of the power ballad that REO made famous was out of necessity and pressure from Epic to put out a big album. Gary and Kevin clashed creatively but it was that clash that put them in the main stream. I was lucky to have a chance to do security for one of their concerts in Pennsylvania just 2 or 3 months prior to their Live Aide appearance and it was the greatest experience of my life. I was front stage right side. Best concert ever! By the way, no disrespect intended, but Gary left the band in 1989 and it unfortunately Was The band that broke the bond. Gary had just gotten too far off the deep end with drugs and alcohol and it unfortunately split the band. Gary has been quoted as saying he knew it was coming but he just wasn't good when he was alone and that's when he got himself in trouble with substances all the time. He was definitely a great guy. A genuinely nice guy and one that just couldn't get his demons under control until it was too late. He passed away in I think 2015 and boy that was a sad day when I heard that. I was getting ready to go to a concert and I hadn't seen them in a while so I was wondering if they ever brought Gary back because I was hoping to see him. Then I seen online he had passed and it kind of ruined the concert. Yes it was a good show but all I could think of was what if? Anyway Gary rocked and was also the master of the pic slide. He could slide that pic up the neck of the guitar effortlessly and it sounded beautiful! Dave his replacement isn't really very good at it.
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