Kilroy Was Here 2020

[Abitaman]

I was listening to Kilroy Was Here the other day, the first time in a long time I have sat down and listened to the whole thing from start to Finish. Back in 83 when it first came out, it was met with a great divide among band members, critics and fans. The reasons then as now still remain the same. Some said it split the fans, band members said they did not want to do another concept album, especially about robots and the critics as always never understood Styx. The few that did, still seemed to miss the boat. One thing is certain, whether you liked the songs and concept or not. Like the book 1984, it had a commentary for the times, and the year 1984 was less than 10 months away when it was released.

As I listened to the songs, I began to realize, it fit more with the sign of the times that the Robots/Kilroy/let’s make rock great again. As each song rolled past, I say today’s commentary in each song. Not just the worries of the early 80’s but with all the things happening today, that album lands right in the middle of the world’s issues today.

Mr. Roboto- Yes in 83 it was about Kilroy using a robot to escape Dr. Righteous prison, but it talked about machines taking over our jobs. Look at today…Robots can do just about anything we can. With AI it can think, it can be a doctor, line worker, therapist, and just about any other skill. Soon it will be a taxi driver, surgeon, pilot. It can pick thinks for you to watch based on your interests. It can read to you, write for you, change channels on a to. Pull up your music and play it, it can even have sex with you. It hits you here and now.

Cold War- Take a look at what is going on now a day. Every bit as much a cold war as the 80’s before the wall fell. Now a days it black lives matter, equal pay for women, transgender rights, and on and on. We sit at spill our venom on the internet, tv, and radio. Sometimes it spills over to fights, protests and such. We sit on computer and trash talk people who in real life we would be afraid to say anything against.

Don’t Let It End-While a love song, for the most part, it still has a commentary for today. Look at the pandemic, people saying good bye to their loved ones as they go into the hospital and wondering if they will ever see them again. Some die and they can’t even go to the funeral. People losing spouses, kids, parents. Don’t Let It End this way…. indeed!

High Time-Its high time to start a revolution… Maybe a revolution is what we need. It is not just Black Lives that matters, it is ALL lives that matter. We treat everyone like crap. The pandemic had big brother watching over us more and more, saying what we can and can’t do. I debating if it is right or wrong during this crisis, but when it is over, will this be the new norm? We need to take a stand for what is right. All lives matter, government for the people. I have nothing against rich people, but they should pay their taxes, etc…anyway I am getting off subject here, but we as Americans and I as a Christian need to stand for what is right.

Heavy Metal Poisoning- This song was just about Dr. Righteous stopping Rock and Roll, it was also about the poisoning our brains, our land. Something that still rings true today. Look at our oceans, look at the porn in your pocket on your phone. We put so much bad stuff into us, no wonder we need a revolution.

Just Get Through This Night- We all have dreams, be rich, movie stars, writers, rock stars, etc… but it is harder today to make it that it ever was. People steal music, movies, other people’s copyrights, and we think it is alright. If we take from other people, how are they going to make it. There have been times I wondered if I would make it to the next day. I remember weeks of feeling that way after hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now with people out of work due to C-19, it is the same way. I am a lucky one, I work in the health care field, so I have had a job. My wife has not worked since 1st of March. What of the families were both providers on a single parent home where the only worker is laid off because of this?

Double Life-This song was about JY and the person who was going around saying he was JY. ID thief. I thought as computer’s got bigger and better in the world, ID thief would be a thing of the past. Boy, was I wrong!! It is bigger than ever. Also we have the armchair critics who cut everyone down and trash talk them because their point of view is different. I have no issue with a different point of view, sometimes you learn from it, sometimes they learn from you. Not anymore, look at release the Snyder cut. I am glad it is getting released. But out that movement, mush like black lives matter, people are being creative, but there are the few who show no mercy. They will talk about you dead mamma. They will be abusive, destructive, just to get their way. But when they are not behind that computer, they are nice and set as can be….

Haven’t We Been Here Before- We have, and we do NOT learn from our mistakes. The politic correct movement is killing us. Removing Gone with The Wind from TV, because of racism. Excuse me, didn’t this movie take place in the Civil War? Removing confederate statues, how will you remember the past. DO NOT change history, or you will be doomed to repeat it. We are not as strong, smart, pretty, rich as someone else. We all not get a trophy for last place. It takes the edge of wanting to be better than someone, face it, some of us have to work harder to get what we want.

Don’t Let it End (Reprise) –Need I say, Long Live Rock-n-Roll.

I know I went off far too long, and probably said more than I should. I understand Tommy and JY having hard feelings about this album. But when you think of it, it really has stood the test of time and in today’s world that is a feat in itself. And no, I did not smoke anything before listening to the music or before writing this. Just my thoughts, yours?

#unitetheStyx
#Dennisonemoretime
#Styxwithdennis

[FormerDJMike]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. When this was released I was 12. I loved it! Styx was already my favorite band anyway at this point. I still play it from time to time and started playing it more when UMe reissued the A&M stuff on vinyl. I bought it on vinyl and played it quite a bit. Enjoyed it so much I started listening to it on my drives to work. Some people don't like it but I find it to be an enjoyable listen and the musicianship/playing is top notch for all 5 guys.

I'll give it another spin this weekend. I see how it relates to what is going on in the world today. I even remember thinking the album was way ahead of its time. It predated "Parental Advisory" stickers yet it had one of its own with the MMM Sticker.

[StyxGuy]

I got to teach someone about the Kilroy vinyl this week.. they weren't aware that it's a dark translucent purple (at least initial North American pressings were)

[FormerDJMike]

I got to teach someone about the Kilroy vinyl this week.. they weren't aware that it's a dark translucent purple (at least initial North American pressings were)

Yes, my original copy is that way. It is because they used virgin vinyl at the pressing plant. My Police "Synchonicity" is the same way. Any "black" record that uses virgin vinyl will appear this way. If you hold it up, it looks black but shine a flashlight through the back and you can see it is a translucent dark purple.

[ztyxlynne]

I have told alot of people how KWH was so way before its time. Double Life is my 2nd favorate JY song next to Half Penny 2 Penny.

[StyxGuy]

I got to teach someone about the Kilroy vinyl this week.. they weren't aware that it's a dark translucent purple (at least initial North American pressings were)

Yes, my original copy is that way. It is because they used virgin vinyl at the pressing plant. My Police "Synchonicity" is the same way. Any "black" record that uses virgin vinyl will appear this way. If you hold it up, it looks black but shine a flashlight through the back and you can see it is a translucent dark purple.

Virgin vinyl just means it doesn't come from recycled content. vinyl (PVC) itself is semi-clear/white and dyes are used to colour it.

The vinyl that Kilroy and other A&M (along with other labels as well it seems) records were pressed on was a specific formulation and named Quiex II. Apparently there are 'Quiex II' albums which are not translucent, which would lead me to believe that certain Quiex II pressings indeed used a dark purple dye and not carbon black (which is what gives us black vinyl)

Now I want to know more about this Quiex vinyl

[masque]

I won't bother to try to tie any of the songs to any current times, but it was interesting to read your thoughts above.

to me, I have always enjoyed KWH....it is my least favorite A & M albums on the run from 75-83, but you have to remember that I love Styx....LOL so while it would be at the bottom, I have always listened to it and actually just listened all the way through a couple of weeks ago.

[Abitaman]

KWH is not at the bottom of the A&M years for me, next to it, but not the bottom. Crystal Ball is the worse of the A&M years to me. CB is way below rest of the A&m albums.