Kilroy Was Here (album)

For other uses, see Kilroy was here (disambiguation).
Kilroy Was Here
Studio album by
Styx
ReleasedFebruary 22, 1983 (1983-02-22)
Recorded1982
StudioPumpkin Studios, Oak Lawn, Illinois
GenrePop rock
Length40:41
LabelA&M
ProducerStyx
Styx chronology
Paradise Theatre
(1981) 		Kilroy Was Here
(1983) 		Caught in the Act
(1984)
Singles from Kilroy Was Here
  1. "Mr. Roboto"
    Released: February 1983 (US)[1]
  2. "Don't Let It End"
    Released: April 1983 (US)[2]
  3. "High Time"
    Released: August 1983 (US)[3]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Rolling Stone[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]
Sounds[7]

Kilroy Was Here is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band Styx, released on February 22, 1983.[8] A concept album and rock opera about a world where rock music is outlawed, it is named after a famous World War II graffiti tag, "Kilroy was here." It was the last album of original material to be released by the "classic" lineup of Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James "J.Y." Young, John Panozzo, and Chuck Panozzo.

The album spawned two hit singles, the synth-pop "Mr. Roboto" which later became one of their signature songs, and the power ballad "Don't Let It End." Both of them were major hits in 1983, peaking at No. 3 and No. 6 respectively, on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The album is certified platinum by the RIAA.[9] It is the most recent studio album by the band to be certified platinum.

In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the album #50 on their list of the 50 Greatest Concept Albums of All Time.[10]

  1. ^ "Styx singles".
  2. ^ "Styx singles".
  3. ^ "Styx singles".
  4. ^ DeGagne, Mike. Styx: Kilroy Was Here at AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "Kilroy Was Here". Rolling Stone. 14 April 1983.
  6. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "Styx". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 789. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  7. ^ Barton, Geoff (26 February 1984). "Styx: Kilroy Was Here". Sounds. p. 24.
  8. ^ Robinson, Lisa (February 4, 1983). "Rock Music". St. Petersburg Independent. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  9. ^ Recording Industry Association of America. "Gold and Platinum Searchable Database". RIAA. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  10. ^ Gross, Joe (October 12, 2022). "The 50 Greatest Concept Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 27, 2023.