REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin thinks there's one problem with Alice Cooper's golf/music fundraiser “Coopstock.”
His band has had hits with songs like “Take It on the Run,” “Can't Fight This Feeling,” and “Keep on Loving You,” but he's not much of a golfer. do not have.
“I used to play a lot of golf,” he said. “I know my limits as an athlete, to say the least. In fact, people donate money to play golf with the cast of Coop Stock. I suggested that we raise money to keep them out of it. It's a smarter investment.”
Nevertheless, Cronin is scheduled to perform with house band Sixwire on Saturday, April 13, at Coopstock, a fundraiser for Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center. Cooper and Cronin will be joined by Tommy Thayer of Kiss, Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees, and Orianthi. , actor Patrick Warburton and performance artist Roc DeMarco at Las Sendas Golf Club in Northeast Mesa. Tickets start at $69.
Cronin understands that his music serves as the soundtrack to the lives of many of his fans. He loves hearing stories about the impact REO Speedwagon has had on listeners.
“It’s very emotional to me,” he said. “Music that you listen to often or that is popular at some point in your life is very memorable. It stays with you.
“I'm honored that my songs can contribute to people's lives in this way. I know the music that played that role for me. I know how important it is to my It's hard to understand that music can have such an effect on people.”
For Cronin, the Beatles helped shape his future.
“I was 12 years old and had been playing guitar for several years,” he said. “I started pretty young, just playing folk songs like 'Oh!' Susannah,” and “Down in the Valley.” Just learn how to play an instrument.
“Then the Beatles appeared on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and I was floored. I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do, and I, too, and millions of others. People and people too.”
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and their surrounding bands Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, and the Hollies are among his other influences.
“Sometimes it's incredible how life unfolds,” he says.
“I ended up writing a song with them that went on to appear on two separate Crosby, Stills and Nash albums (one studio version and one compilation version),” he said. Ta. “Talk about The Circle Completed. I'll tell that story in my long-awaited memoir, which I've been writing for seven years. Books are much longer than songs, after all. I don’t know if you noticed.”
Cronin calls himself blessed. At a recent gig with Cheap Trick in St. Augustine, Florida, I realized the impact his music has had on the world.
“As you can imagine, I went out and played the opening chords of 'Time for Me to Fly,' and I saw 6,000 people standing up, and I just played the opening chords. I'm just playing the song. I haven't really started writing the song yet.
“The anticipation for those songs brings so much joy to people. It's a feeling that brings so much joy to me as well. It's like an exchange of energy that happens between the audience and me as a singer-songwriter. It's indescribable. I'm trying to explain it in my book and hopefully I'll succeed. I feel like I'm the luckiest man in the world.”
He helped his long-time friend raise money for the teenager center and is delighted to be able to show his gratitude on stage at Coopstock.
“I first met Alice at the VH1 music and golf fundraiser Fairway to Heaven,” he said.
“We did that in the '90s. You know, we have this image of Alice bleeding out of the mouth and cutting people's heads off on stage. If you don't know him, people won't meet him. when you expect him to be a brutal person.
“The first time I met him was in the swag tent. I bumped into him in his golf shoes, and he was with his mom. Still, he got on stage and played this alter ego. As far as I'm concerned, his stage persona is the exact opposite of who he is in real life. He's the friendliest, down-to-earth guy I've ever met. That's a big reason why I'm doing this. That's why. It's his fault. That's kind of his personal charm. Plus, it's a big cause. There are a lot of good reasons, but there are some people you want to be around. And Coop is one of them. I'm alone.”