REO Speedwagon

Famed for their power ballads, this all American rock group found its feet playing cover songs in university bars where two of its original members (Neal Doughty and Alan Gratzer) were studying. They soon recruited an army of devoted fans thanks to a prolific touring schedule, before releasing their debut album in 1971. A string of personnel changes then followed and were to continue throughout the group's lifetime, with Doughty being the only original member to make it to present day. However, the constant comings and goings didn't stop the band from striving for a huge commercial breakthrough, which they finally achieved when previously sacked band member Cronin was welcomed back to the fold. 1977 heralded the arrival of mega-selling albums Live: You Get What You Play For, and in 1978 You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish - which garnered gold and platinum respectively. But it wasn't until the release of their ninth studio album Hi Infidelity, that the boys hit the big time. The slightly more pop-orientated album spawned the Number 1 hit Keep On Loving You, as well as Take It On The Run and Don't Let Him Go, catapulting the group to worldwide fame. A string of steady releases and compilations has since followed but the band's success of yester-year has yet to be repeated.