Mr. Roboto - Bobby Kilroy

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Sadie found this article. Bobby - LOL



http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timeslea ... ertainment

Posted on Wed, Oct. 18, 2006
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Every song has a story ...
“Mr. Roboto” Styx
By Jeff Walker Special to The Weekender
“Mr. Roboto” was one of Styx’s biggest hits, even though most people had no idea what it was about. It was written by the band’s keyboardist, Dennis DeYoung, as part of a rock opera called “Kilroy Was Here.” And as DeYoung explains, it’s basically a science fiction story put to music.

“It’s based on a rock opera. It takes place in the future, where rock and roll has been banned by a man called Dr. Everett Righteous, who is able to correlate the bad times that America is going through to get rock and roll music banned. The night they are going to enact this legislation, Kilroy - his name is Bobby Kilroy - he plays in a band called Kilroy, and they are going to challenge the law. There is a riot, a kid is killed, and rock stars are then put in prison if they play the music. He goes into this prison, this Kilroy character, and the prison is guarded by Japanese robots called Robotos. In an attempt to escape, he overcomes one of the Robotos and gets into the robot outfit with the helmet and goes out into the world to bring back rock and roll. Mr. Roboto is that song. That’s why he says at the end, ‘I’m Kilroy, I’m Kilroy’ … Nobody much knows that, and that hasn’t stopped people from not liking the song.” (laughs)

Oddly, the song was never meant to be a hit single. DeYoung said it was only written to provide a smooth segue into the storyline at their live shows at the time. But “Mr. Roboto” marched to #3 in the country in February of 1982.

Source: Jeff Walker interview, 10/4/06

98.5 KRZ Jumpin’ Jeff Walker, shown with producer Shila, is the drive-time DJ on 98.5 KRZ-FM from 3-7 p.m. He also researchs and collects the orgins and inspirations for well-known pop songs.

[Blue Falcon]

Sadie found this article. Bobby - LOL

Nobody much knows that, and that hasn’t stopped people from not liking the song.” (laughs)

With the notable exceptions of these folks: James JY Young, Tommy Shaw, John Panozzo, and Chuck Panozzo.

Seriously, the whole idea for Kilroy sounds like one of the worst sci-fi novels ever written. Who knew That Other Guy (DDY) was a scifi geek?

As far as conecept for albums go, it's pretty weak. Especially when compared to Paradise Theater which was much more relevant. In today's day and age, the appearance of the Roboto's facial features should be considered racist.

[froy]

In today's day and age, the appearance of the Roboto's facial features should be considered racist.

[/quote]

Thats a good one

[StyxCollector]

Actually, futuristic stuff aside, the Kilroy story is one that did play out in real life to some degree and was a bit ahead of its time. Kilroy to some degree is about things like censorship, Big Brother, etc etc. Kilroy predated all of the labelling of albums and the PMRC.

Sure, the whole bit about Roboto and such seems silly, but the underlying concepts are actually fairly relevant IMHO

[yogi]

I TOTALLY disliked the album when it came out....... But the concept was TOTAL BRILLIANCE. Dennis was EONS ahead of the curve. Mind control, censorship,etc.... Shit he was talking about today back in the early 80's. Add to this the video and concert were AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As much as I disliked the music on that album, it's an album that they( esspically Dennis) should be extremely proud of. The concept was DEAD ON PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bugsymalone]

The lines -- "The problem's plain to see. Too much technology. Machines to save our lives. Machines de-humanize." -- are far more relevant today than they were 23-24 years ago.

Bugsy

[DarwinNebraska]

Kilroy is brilliant.... it's sad that most Styx fans are unable to realize how truly good of an album it was.

Far ahead of anything they've done since.

[yogi]

The album and the lyrics on most of the songs are brilliant. Ive never figured out how Dont Let It End fit the concept but so be it.

Still I did not like the music. I'm not a techno music lover. If Roboto& this album would of been my first exposure to Styx I would of never embraced them like I do.

Still I know they had Styxll, Equinox, Crystal Ball, The Grand Illusion, Pieces Of Eight, Cornerstone & Paradise Theatre already under their belts at the time Kilroy came out. I loved those albums and I like some of the songs on Kilroy but not the album.

The concept, the movie & the concert were PURE BRILLIANCE.


Who here can honestly say that they dont get chills when Tommy utters the lines' Rock code' or'Damn it, Damn it' .

[StyxCollector]

Kilroy is brilliant.... it's sad that most Styx fans are unable to realize how truly good of an album it was.

Far ahead of anything they've done since.

Brilliant is a bit of a stretch - it's not the Beatles, Beethoven, or seminal albums like the Who's "Tommy". But I think Kilroy stands up today much moreso than a lot of its contemporaries from that era. As has been pointed out, some of the lyrics have more relevance now than they did in 1983.

Some of the songs hold up better than others, mind you, but no album is perfect.

[StyxCollector]

Who here can honestly say that they dont get chills when Tommy utters the lines' Rock code' or'Damn it, Damn it' .

"Dammit Kilroy! Take out the trash!"

[sadie65]

"Righteous thinks it's over...but it's not".

Some doggone fine acting there....

[froy]

Kilroy is brilliant.... it's sad that most Styx fans are unable to realize how truly good of an album it was.

Far ahead of anything they've done since.

Great cd expect for Cold war

[Jodes]

I'd say the same.. except for High Time.. only stinker on that album..

[rajah2165]

I'd say the same.. except for High Time.. only stinker on that album..

High Time isn't bad...but it should not have been the third single...should have been Haven't We Been Here...

Worst song on the record is Cold War

And I agree, they could have done a better job fitting DLIE into the broader concept.

[Jodes]

High Time was a single? Huh?


I thought the 3rd single was "Haven't We Been Here Before" they had the video on MTV, etc..

I will say though that I like Cold War a bit more then High Time, especially the live version with the extra verse.

[ek88]

The album and the lyrics on most of the songs are brilliant. Ive never figured out how Dont Let It End fit the concept but so be it.

Still I did not like the music. I'm not a techno music lover. If Roboto& this album would of been my first exposure to Styx I would of never embraced them like I do.

I'm with you here. I have always thought the whole concept was absolutely great, but I could never stomach the music on the Kilroy album. Although if it was meant to represent the music that Kilroy was playing in the story, I can sympathize with Righteous wanting to ban it

[shaka]

I think Cold War is one of the better tracks on the album. I think it's musically interesting and one of the few tracks that could fit on another Styx album.

[OrlandoChris]

High Time was a single? Huh?


I thought the 3rd single was "Haven't We Been Here Before" they had the video on MTV, etc..

I will say though that I like Cold War a bit more then High Time, especially the live version with the extra verse.

Jodes, "Haven't" aired on NBC's Friday Night Videos, not on MTV.

[Jodes]

Close enough.. some American station that we couldn't get up here in the 80s

[rajah2165]

High Time was a single? Huh?


I thought the 3rd single was "Haven't We Been Here Before" they had the video on MTV, etc..

I will say though that I like Cold War a bit more then High Time, especially the live version with the extra verse.

Yes, High Time was the third single off the album. It went to #48 on the Billboard top 100 in the summer of 83. Haven't We Been Here Before never charted.

[rajah2165]

I think Cold War is one of the better tracks on the album. I think it's musically interesting and one of the few tracks that could fit on another Styx album.

My problem is that it takes to long to get anywhere... And when you finally get to the chorus, it is not very catchy