Meeting in the Illinois bar band scene of the late ‘60s, REO Speedwagon slowly made a name for themselves in the world of blues-based hard rock alongside groups like Bad Company and Foreigner. They released a prodigious nine albums between 1971 and 1979. By the ‘80s, they'd established themselves as purveyors of hooky riffs and bombastic anthems. The band crossed over to achieve mainstream success with a string of epic ballads released throughout the ‘80s, blurring the line between hard rock and soft rock. Speedwagon have slowed down their recording, but continue to tour successfully today.