Blackout is the eighth studio album by German rock band Scorpions. It was released in 1982 on Harvest Records and Mercury Records.

After losing his voice during the writing of the album lead singer Klaus Meine had to undergo surgery on his vocal cords and was uncertain as to whether or not he would be able to record. Demos of the material were recorded with singer Don Dokken. However none of those recordings are featured on the album and Dokken is only credited with backing vocals.

In Kerrang! issue 12 Rudolf Schenker said that he could not choose between his guitar solos on "China White" so the US and European releases differed in this detail.

A self-portrait of artist Gottfried Helnwein is featured on the cover of the album. Rudolf Schenker portrays this character in the "No One Like You" music video.

The RIAA certified Blackout Gold on 24 June 1982 and Platinum on 8 March 1984.

"China White" was used as entrance music for the professional wrestling tag team The Skyscrapers in World Championship Wrestling.

Rolling Stone ranked Blackout as 73rd on their list of "The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time" in 2017.

All music is composed by Rudolf Schenker.

Personnel

Scorpions

• Klaus Meine – lead vocals
• Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitars, 6 & 12-string acoustic guitars, lead guitars on tracks 4, 8, 9, backing vocals
• Matthias Jabs – lead guitars, rhythm guitars on tracks 4, 8, 9, 6 & 12-string acoustic guitars, backing vocals
• Francis Buchholz – bass, backing vocals
• Herman Rarebell – drums, backing vocals

Others

• Don Dokken – backing vocals

Production

• Dieter Dierks – producer, engineer
• Gerd Rautenbach – mixing
• Bob Ludwig and Howie Weinberg – mastering at Masterdisk, New York