# Concept albums set in a dystopian future in which rock and roll has been made illegal **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049 "2002-07-21T03:37:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fortawesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/47e85d/32.png) [@fortawesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortawesome)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/1 "2002-07-21T03:37:31Z")
So far, I can only think of two: Rush’s “2112” and Styx’s “Kilroy Was Here”. But it seems like the sort of concept that would have had legs with other awful, awful bands as well. Any others I should (or shouldn’t) know about? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/2 "2002-07-21T03:46:44Z")
> [@](#): > > So far, I can only think of two: Rush’s “2112” and Styx’s “Kilroy Was Here”. But it seems like the sort of concept that would have had legs with other awful, awful bands as well. Any others I should (or shouldn’t) know about? In the early '70s, the Who was working on a rock opera called “Lifehouse” with that sort of setting. The project was abandoned, but many of their greatest works (Baba O’Riley, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes et al) were written to be used in it. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/3 "2002-07-21T03:59:22Z")
How about “Joe’s Garage” by Frank Zappa, or am I not remembering that one correctly? ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/4 "2002-07-21T04:24:48Z")
“Joe’s Garage” by Zappa fits. Damned good album with some truly inspired lyrics. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/5 "2002-07-21T04:26:27Z")
Wasn’t Kilroy was Here a follow/continuation of Paradise Theatre? ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/6 "2002-07-21T05:54:56Z")
Someone always beats me to the Zappa things. Joe’s Garage is probably one of Zappa’s best albums. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/7 "2002-07-21T07:08:49Z")
_Joe’s Garage_ is the BE-ALL and END-ALL of this entire genre. (Speaking of which, last week I saw Ike Willis performing with Project/Object, the Zappa tribute band. They were great, and Ike sang a number of the songs from _Joe’s Garage_, including “Stick it Out,” “Wet T-Shirt Nite,” “Sy Borg,” and “Outside Now.” I got him to sign my copy of the libretto. My existence has been validated…) ---
**Author:** ![jharek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9dc877/32.png) [@jharek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/8 "2002-07-21T10:34:50Z")
i have to download Joes Garage now… ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/9 "2002-07-21T10:43:44Z")
Starz - Violation ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/10 "2002-07-21T10:53:19Z")
Doea that abysmal video game with Aerosmith count? [Revolution X](http://www.somethingawful.com/article.php?id=2) Note to mods: the linked page has a link to a rom, so if I’m violating any copyright laws here, feel free to take it out. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/11 "2002-07-21T20:20:00Z")
**Smapti** beat me to _Lifehouse_, but failed to mention that Pete Townshend has revisited the project several times, including a solo concept album called _Psychoderelict_, about an aging rocker who revisits a concept album he abandoned back in the '70s… I believe this general idea of a future without rock and roll is also behind the recent musical _We Will Rock You_, based on the music of Queen, although I am pretty sure that no Queen songs were actually written with that concept in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Mythos45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@Mythos45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mythos45)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/12 "2002-07-21T20:38:34Z")
**Fear Factory** ’s 1998 album **Obsolete** is set in a world in which a mechanized police force has declared humanity illegal, and I suppose rock & roll would diappear along with man. [http://lyrics.rockmagic.net/lyrics/fear\_factory/obsolete\_1998.html](http://lyrics.rockmagic.net/lyrics/fear_factory/obsolete_1998.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/13 "2002-07-21T21:18:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > \*\*Wasn’t Kilroy was Here a follow/continuation of Paradise Theatre? \*\* Most critics dismissed “Paradise Theater” as a concept album without a concept and “Kilroy Was Here” as a concept album with TOO much concept. “Paradise Theater” had better songs comparatively speaking. “Kilroy…” was the beginning of the end for Dennis DeYoung’s involvement with Styx. Check out _Behind the Music_ for more info. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/14 "2002-07-22T00:21:10Z")
I have a children’s book called “The worst band in the universe” that came with a music CD. In the book, music is outlawed on the homeplanet except certain songs, or something. People who try new songs are shot into space. The people in the book join up and Rock and Roll their way back home. But that may be not what you’re asking for. ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/15 "2002-07-22T00:37:00Z")
I’m gonna echo the remarks on “Joe’s Garage”, a truly great album and probably my favorite of all Zappa’s work. Years of studying German all became worthwhile when I was able to sing along with the German lyric verse of “Stick It Out.” As soon as I saw the title of this thread I assumed it must be about “Joe’s Garage”, was surprised not to see it in the OP. I figured it was more well known than perhaps it is. BTW, the OP’s implication that Styx and Rush are “awful, awful bands” is fine by me, but nobody better start dissing on Zappa, or there’s gonna be a rumble in the jungle right here. ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/16 "2002-07-22T04:20:18Z")
Styx=boring Zappa=Way more interesting in interviews and essays than musically. Rush=Along with hockey and my family, one of the top three achievments of Canada.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/17 "2002-07-22T06:51:19Z")
I disaree **P.T.** , Zappa is probably the best musically and in essays and interviews. Styx is ok. Rush is one of the worst bands I have ever heard. Talented, but boring. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/18 "2002-07-22T07:02:35Z")
I agree with **Mudshark**. One of my favorite things about Zappa is that he believed that making ultra-dramatic music was a cheap shot, technically. He proves it by often using that kind of musical atmosphere on his stupidest songs lyrically, like the mock rock opera feel of part of “Why Does it Hurt When I Pee?” Besides that, he also worked in almost every musical genre in existence during his lifetime, and added a few of his own. I love _Joe’s Garage_ not only for its awesome storyline, but because it is a musical testament to Zappa’s ability to create music that ranges from the (deliberately) stupid to the sublime (and usually mixes both). ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/19 "2002-07-22T07:36:55Z")
Different taste. Ho hum. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049/20 "2002-07-22T08:10:23Z")
_Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?_ happens to be on the very same **Joe’s Garage** we all speak of. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concept-albums-set-in-a-dystopian-future-in-which-rock-and-roll-has-been-made-illegal/120049.md?page=2)