Only The Strong Survive

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic track "Only The Strong Survive" by REO Speedwagon, a song that resonates with the Zoo Freaks for its gritty determination and rock 'n' roll spirit. Released in 1979 on the album Nine Lives, this track captures the band's raw energy during their transition from bar-circuit rockers to arena rock giants. In a 2007 interview with Classic Rock, lead singer Kevin Cronin described the late '70s as a time when the band was "hungry and scrappy," pouring their relentless touring ethos into songs like this one, which speaks to resilience with lyrics like "You may not know this, but you are everything you've ever needed." The song's driving rhythm and Gary Richrath's fiery guitar riffs made it a fan favorite, though it never charted as a single, unlike their later power ballads.

Social media posts from fans on platforms like Reddit highlight the song's enduring appeal. In a 2023 r/ClassicRock thread, user u/No_Policy_146 called it their favorite REO Speedwagon track, praising its "underrated edge" and how it captures the band's early, harder-rocking vibe. Another post in 2024 on r/TheTikiHut by u/Electrical-Cry-1805 sparked discussion among fans who see it as a testament to the band's never-say-die attitude, with one commenter noting how the song's title inspired their personal mantra during tough times. These fan-driven conversations show how "Only The Strong Survive" remains a cult classic within the band's catalog.

Interestingly, the song's title also appeared in a different context when former guitarist Gary Richrath, after leaving REO Speedwagon, formed a band called Richrath and released an album titled Only The Strong Survive in 1992. While not directly tied to the 1979 track, this move reflected Richrath's own resilience, a theme central to the song's message. In a 2001 VH1 Behind the Music episode, Cronin and Richrath reflected on their tumultuous history, with Cronin noting that songs like "Only The Strong Survive" were born from the band's real-life struggles to keep going amid lineup changes and industry pressures.

REO Speedwagon began in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois, when keyboardist Neal Doughty and drummer Alan Gratzer, both University of Illinois students, started jamming together. Doughty, inspired by learning The Doors' "Light My Fire" on his Farfisa organ, teamed up with Gratzer, who had been drumming in local bands since high school. They named the band after the REO Speed Wagon, a 1915 truck designed by Ransom Eli Olds, after Doughty spotted the name in a transportation history class. The band’s early days were humble, playing cover songs at fraternity parties and campus bars, with their first gig famously descending into a food fight. By 1971, after adding guitarist Gary Richrath, bassist Gregg Philbin, and singer Terry Luttrell, they signed with Epic Records, thanks to manager Irving Azoff, who later became a music industry titan. Their debut album, R.E.O. Speedwagon, was released that year, kicking off a decade of relentless touring that built a loyal Midwest following.

The band’s official online presence includes their website, where fans can find tour dates and merchandise, and their active social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where they share updates and nostalgic posts about their career. Fan communities thrive online, with groups like the REO Speedwagon Fan Club on Facebook fostering discussions and sharing concert memories. Websites like REO Fan Club offer dedicated spaces for superfans to connect, while platforms like r/ClassicRock and r/TheTikiHut host ongoing threads celebrating the band’s legacy, ensuring the Zoo Freaks and beyond keep the spirit of REO Speedwagon alive.