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The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Kevin Cronin | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Billy Corgan

Music, Arts, Performing Arts

4.6 • 731 Ratings

🗓️ 21 January 2026

⏱️ 108 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin joins Billy Corgan for an intimate conversation about Midwest rock, a shared Catholic upbringing, and five decades inside one of America’s defining bands. Cronin shares the real story behind writing “Keep On Loving You,” his getting fired in the early days—and later rehired—by REO, and the creative partnership with guitarist Gary Richrath that led to the diamond-selling Hi Infidelity. From Chicago folk clubs to Soldier Field, as well as unknowingly providing cover for gun runners with the band’s plane, to navigating the industry alongside titan Irving Azoff, Cronin reflects on the working-class ethos behind rock and roll made from the heart.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

I remember I think I stepped the piano and I looked at him and we looked at each other and it was like we kind of knew

0:07.0

I think you I think you have something that's super rare which is an earnest quality I believe what you're singing

0:13.0

well I mean you know some people would say I was fired other people would say that we had create the creative differences of role Okay, you tell me, because you were in the room.

0:21.6

I was fine.

0:22.6

The plane was found with no seats full of quailudes, pot, and guns.

0:31.6

Oh yeah.

0:34.6

Oh yeah.

0:35.6

I heard them all, but that's a new one.

0:39.4

Kevin Cronin, thank you so much. I'm so honored to talk to you today.

0:42.8

I've literally been listening to you almost my entire life.

0:46.3

Well, you couldn't help it.

0:47.3

You were from Chicago, right?

0:48.7

Well, in Chicago, we'll talk about that.

0:50.9

But I want to start here.

0:56.3

Born in Evanston, Illinois.

0:57.2

Is that accurate?

0:59.4

So I was born in Chicago and the lake.

1:01.9

So essentially, we were born about 20 miles apart.

1:04.7

And although we're a slightly different generation, we grew up in the same world, Catholic world of Chicago.

1:09.0

Yeah.

1:09.1

And back then, Chicago was heavily Catholic, heavily working class.

1:14.6

It's changed a bit.

...

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