REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin recently shared a statement on their official website, disclosing the health battles of Bruce Hall and welcoming the new bassist Matt Bissonette to the lineup for the upcoming several shows.
The singer started his words, giving an update on Hall’s current health condition:
“Hi friends, by now you may have heard that Bruce is going in for back surgery and will be missing the upcoming shows. He has been powering through the last couple of tours, doing the best he could under difficult circumstances. But we talked it through and decided that the best thing for him personally, for REO Speedwagon as a band, and for the entire REO organization was for Bruce to be home resting his body and preparing for surgery and the following rehabilitation.”
Introducing Bissonette To The Band
The statement continued, revealing the details of Bissonette’s involvement in the band:
“We are very fortunate that our friend, bass guitarist/singer Matt Bissonette, was fresh off of touring with Elton John and available to sub in for Bruce at short notice. We have been working non-stop for the past week, and this weekend’s shows in Vegas, as well as the upcoming tour dates in San Diego, Phoenix, Colorado Springs, and Loveland, will go on as planned.”
Cronin’s Message Of Support For Hall
Cronin also sent his best wishes to Bruce by noting:
“Bruce is our brother. And times like these test us all. We have faith that Bruce’s surgery will be successful, that he will make a complete recovery, and that he will be back to being the hard-rocking bassist/singer that we all know. Bruce has our love and support, as we have encouraged him to take all the time he needs to get himself back to 100% strength.”
Fan Reactions To The Lineup Change
Bissonette is a seasoned player with a diverse musical background. He has been active since the 1980s and has played bass on at least 22 albums spanning genres such as jazz, jazz fusion, progressive metal, and instrumental rock. Because Matt has worked with many different musicians and music styles, we can expect him to easily adjust to playing with REO Speedwagon.
Apparently, the band’s fans also agree with the bassist’s adaptation to the band, considering their comments on social media. REO Speedwagon shared the same message on their Instagram, and one of the fans wrote under the post:
“Best wishes to Bruce, and I betcha he will be glad to have the pain behind him and back to living life fully soon! In the meantime, Matt will be superb at filling in. You got lucky with this sub. All will be back to normal in no time! Have fun and stay positive.”
During his career, Bissonette has worked with many notable names like David Lee Roth, Ringo Starr, Joe Satriani, Jeff Lynne, Boz Scaggs, and more recently, Elton John.
