# Ahh Shit. Gary Richrath, RIP **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahh-shit-gary-richrath-rip/731234 "2015-09-14T19:23:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahh-shit-gary-richrath-rip/731234/1 "2015-09-14T19:23:33Z")
Before I got turned on to really hard music, Gary Richrath was a guitar hero of mine. Ahh shit! [http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/richrath-reo-speedwagon-guitarist-songwriter-dies-33748392](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/richrath-reo-speedwagon-guitarist-songwriter-dies-33748392) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahh-shit-gary-richrath-rip/731234/2 "2015-09-14T19:56:55Z")
I tip my hat. Solid player with a sunburst Les Paul plugged straight into a huge amp. REO ended up getting lumped in with Styx and Journey, but they had the heart of a great bar band, which I liked. Richrath was part of that - nice lead work. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahh-shit-gary-richrath-rip/731234/3 "2015-09-14T20:01:38Z")
I didn’t see this on line anywhere. How did you hear that he died…? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahh-shit-gary-richrath-rip/731234/4 "2015-09-14T20:04:55Z")
I saw it on the Google News page. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahh-shit-gary-richrath-rip/731234/5 "2015-09-14T20:11:49Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I didn’t see this on line anywhere. How did you hear that he died…? Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend… ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahh-shit-gary-richrath-rip/731234/6 "2015-09-14T21:12:40Z")
I’m so upset about this. Gary-era REO helped get me through a cancer battle last year. I knew he’d looked pretty rough the last few years, but was hoping he’d be able to get it together. Damn. This is how I want to remember him: And like this: :( ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahh-shit-gary-richrath-rip/731234/7 "2015-09-14T22:14:02Z")
I just remembered something. I was in the fifth row at a Toto/Yes concert last week that was amazing. I was mesmerized watching Yes guitarist Steve Howe who at 68 is active, precise and doesn’t miss a note. I couldn’t believe the tone he got with one of his guitars. I remember thinking that I wish Gary could get himself together enough to be like Howe and how incredible that would be. Sure didn’t expect THIS.