Last Thursday I got my first tattoo inside my left forearm. It’s the REO Speedwagon emblem. I got it as part of our fall fundraiser. I offered three choices for folks to vote on: 

• The REO Speedwagon emblem
• A raised fist signifying the power of organizing
• The Bible verse, “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves.” Leviticus 19:28

Yeah, I thought the last one would win. But REO Speedwagon did so, that is what I got! And yes, I can almost hear you ask out loud, “What’s a REO Speedwagon?” The easy answer is that they are my favorite rock band from the 1980s and they have been my favorite band because first and foremost, I just love their music. It’s positive, it’s fun, it’s melodic. 

I remember when their first multi-platinum album came out in 1981, Hi Infidelity. I loved the song, Don’t Let Him Go. That song rocked (still does). Then, in 1982 came the album, Good Trouble. I was mowing lawns and I had a Sony walkman and was able to listen to the cassette – you remember cassettes? I loved both those albums. 

But it was on January 6, 1985 when REO Speedwagon became my favorite band. I was a senior in high school and my girlfriend at the time, Inga, gave me their latest album, Wheels are Turnin’, for Christmas along with two tickets to see them live (with Survivor opening) at Reunion Arena on January 6. 

REO put on the best live show I have ever seen that night. I loved every minute of it and I especially loved the new music they were touring to support. Wheels are Turnin’ has gone on to be my favorite album I listen to, especially side 1. But something else happened that night. When Inga and I sat down we were sitting right next to an older couple who, once Survivor took the stage to open for REO, began to smoke pot. Now, this was back when you could smoke inside of arenas and most anywhere. As they smoked through Survivor’s set and then smoked throughout the long set REO Speedwagon played, I remember feeling so mellow, so happy, so filled with elation. I remember the concert felt like it lasted forever, but I LOVED that it was lasting forever. 

I was having the BEST time and I kept on having the best time after the concert was over. Even Inga was a little surprised at how good a time I was having. I don’t remember driving home but Inga was actually a little worried. After I took Inga home I then was so incredibly tired, but I was also so incredibly hungry. I ended up staying up til about 3 eating everything I could find. January 6 was a Sunday night so I had an enormous headache all day the next day at school. But I didn’t mind. I had the best rock and roll night of my life. 

I didn’t realize that I had gotten high on second hand pot smoke until I was a sophomore in college because I had never been high and I actually had never drank alcohol. So, I had absolutely no frame of reference. 

There were two things I took from that night. One was that REO Speedwagon was my favorite band and I dove in to find out everything I could about them. I learned that REO first started in the late 60s and made their first album in 1971. I began to collect all of their albums and traced the story of their very long road towards success. They are anything but an overnight success. They toured for years and years throughout the 70s before they made it big. I remember that even though I was a slacker and weirdly prided myself on not trying at anything I really respected the hard work they put in doing what they loved and doing it together. I really resonated with that. It was inspiring to me and I honestly just loved the positive nature of the music. 

Today is Kevin Cronin’s birthday. He is the lead singer for REO Speedwagon and the principal songwriter. This is why I decided to write about REO Speedwagon. I could have written about the ongoing government-sponsored terror and oppression happening in DC every day. I could have written about how DC’s Mayor continues to capitulate to the federal government at every turn. I could have written about how we had another ICE scare at our building last week and how absolutely sick and tired of this crap. But I decided I focus on something that gives me and millions of others joy. I will definitely write about these other things in the coming weeks. But today I feel like celebrating something I love. 

Oh, and the second thing I took from that January night 40 years ago? I actually really like pot smoke! I haven’t been drunk or high since that night, but every time I smell it – which is nearly every day on Columbia Road, which is where the Festival Center is located – I think of my favorite band. And if you decide to check out REO start either with side one of Wheels are Turnin’ or just give Roll With the Changes a try. I don’t know if your life will be changed, but you will feel good and sometimes that’s enough.