the band followed deyoung's lead with their next project, "kilroy was here" (1983), another more fully realized concept album, embracing the rock opera form. it is set in a future where performing and playing rock music has been outlawed due to the efforts of a charismatic evangelist, dr. everett righteous played by james "jy" young. "kilroy was here" featured deyoung in the part of kilroy, an unjustly imprisoned rock star. tommy shaw played the part of jonathan chance, a younger rocker who fights for kilroy's freedom and the lifting of the ban on rock music. this future society is served by robots. called robotos, these automatons perform many jobs, and several serve as kilroy's prison guards.