Kroi lands first US Billboard entry with Steel Ball Run opening theme SPIN
Japanese band Kroi has entered a United States Billboard chart for the first time with “SPIN,” the opening theme for STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
The song debuted at No. 44 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, the US ranking for rock and alternative tracks, on the chart dated Oct. 10, 2026. Billboard reported the result on Oct. 14 and described it as the group’s first-ever entry on a US chart, according to Billboard.
The anime connection was confirmed in September. The official JoJo Portal published a notice titled ‘SBR Opening theme confirmed! “SPIN” by Kroi’ on Sept. 23, presenting exclusive cover artwork, and followed it with a dedicated music page for the opening theme on Sept. 24. Anime News Network reported on Sept. 23 that the rock band would perform the opening song.
Kroi confirmed the news itself on Sept. 24, announcing that its new song ‘SPIN’ had been chosen as the opening theme. Opening themes play over the title sequence of each episode. For a general audience, they often act as a first point of contact with the show.
Billboard then spoke to the band about the assignment for an article published Oct. 14. Vocalist Leo Uchida and guitarist Yuki Hasebe took part in the interview. Drummer Hidetomo Masuda was absent through illness.
The two musicians came to the series from different places. Hasebe said Steel Ball Run was his favourite instalment of JoJo. Uchida said he had not encountered JoJo before the offer to perform the theme. The band had previously released a song called “Funky GUNSLINGER.”
STEEL BALL RUN is set in America in 1890. It centres on Johnny Joestar, a gifted jockey left paralysed from the waist down, and Gyro Zeppeli, an outlaw pursued by Johnny. The chase drives the early story.
What makes this stand out is that split in the band. One member arrived as a committed reader. The other arrived cold. That gives American listeners two ways into the same series, and the first chart entry shows that listeners are finding it.
