Live Aid rock star looks unrecognizable in new snaps 40 years after iconic concert

One of the many artists who graced the stage at the star-studded Live Aid in 1985 is barely recognizable in recent photos, four decades after the iconic concert.

On July 4, Kevin Cronin, the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for rock band REO Speedwagon, posted a photo of himself looking vastly different from his younger, rock 'n' roll self, posing with his son Josh.

The 73-year-old musician has swapped his signature flowing blonde hair for a shorter bleach blonde style, and traded his clean-shaven look for grey stubble. In the Instagram post, Cronin donned glasses and wrapped his arm around his son Josh as they both grinned for the camera.

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The rock star captioned the post with some thrilling news, writing, "Hi Friends, the hardest part of being a touring musician is the day we have to pack up and leave home.

"Although it has been part of our life together for the past 36 years, saying goodbye to Lisa, knowing I won't be seeing her for over three weeks, never gets any less heartbreaking."

Cronin then revealed that his son will be joining his Brotherhood of Rock Tour with Styx and Don Felder as a new assistant tour manager.

Heaping praise on Josh, he added, "Josh has a degree in Music Industry from USC, took care of the business end of Sir Please, and toured as the merch guy with Sara and the Sundays.

"So for the rest of the summer tour, I will have a little bit of home out here with me. Josh grew up around touring, has travelled extensively, and is an all-around bright, sociable, hard-working lad. He is a welcome addition to the awesome KCB crew."

He concluded the caption, "Pictured: Father and Son prepare to hit the road."

Cronin tied the knot with his wife Lisa Marie Wells on April 25, 1992, and together they have children, Shea, Mylee, Liam, Tierney, Maelin, Kennilee, as well as Josh and his twin brother Shane.

The music icon also has a son named Paris from his first marriage to Denise, which ended in divorce in 1987.

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REO Speedwagon shot to stardom in the 1970s and 80s, with several hits making it to the Billboard Top 100.

Keep On Loving You, released in 1980, and Can't Fight The Feeling, released in 1984, are arguably REO Speedwagon's most popular songs and were penned by the star himself.

Despite having a staggering 22 members throughout its nearly six-decade career, one of the band's highlights was performing at 1985's Live Aid, which is marking its 40th anniversary this year, at the John F. Kennedy Stadium.

Cronin recently made a cameo appearance in the third season of Netflix's Ozark in 2020, leading to a resurgence of the band's songs on the charts.

Meanwhile, he continues to tour with his own group, the Kevin Cronin Band.

The vocalist recently expressed his regret over missing REO Speedwagon's one-off reunion at a concert in Champaign, Illinois, in June.

Former members and co-founders Neal Doughty and Alan Gratzer, joined by bassist Bruce Hall and early band contributors Terry Luttrell, Mike Murphy, and Steve Scorfina, were in attendance.

Expressing his discontent in a detailed statement, he declared, "I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this.

"After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded."