XYZ (metal band)

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XYZ was a glam metal band, formed in the late 80s. XYZ started off as the unofficial house band of "The Whiskey", a nightclub in Los Angeles. The original members were, Terry Ilous (vocals), Bobby Pieper (guitars), Patt Fontaine (bass) and Joey Pafumi (drums). The band recorded the album Rainy Days, however for reasons unknown the album wasn't released, and the band split up.

Ilous and Fontaine then recruited Mark Diglio (guitars) and Paul Monroe (drums) to record a new album, which was produced by Don Dokken. The album was released in 1989 and contained the hits "Inside Out" and "What Keeps Me Loving You". Videos for both songs were made and got reasonable airplay. However, the album wasn't an overall success, managing to reach only #99 on the billboard charts. The next album, Hungry, released in 1991, had even less commercial success. Diglio and Monroe left the band and were replaced by Tony Burnett and Joey Shapiro, respectively. After the next tour was finished, the band went its separate ways once again.

1 Follow-up Projects
2 The Latter Years
3 Members
4 Discography
5 External link

[edit] Follow-up Projects

Ilous recorded with guitarist JK Northrup, in a band known as "Cage", who would eventually record as "Flynn". Fontaine and Shapiro also performed in their separate effort, "Puzzle Gut" however neither band was as successful as XYZ.

[edit] The Latter Years

In 2003, Ilous formed a third incarnation of XYZ, with JK Northrup on guitars, Sean McNabb (a veteran of Quiet Riot, Great White and House Of Lords) on bass and Paul Monroe again taking to the skins. The effort, originally to be titled XYZ III was changed to Letter To God after Ilous' son died a childbirth. During the supporting tour, JK Northrup damaged his hand near the start, however Ilous went to stage and asked if any audience members could play the guitar and knew XYZ songs, to come on stage, one lucky soul did (Rich Sorensen from Watervliet, NY), saving the tour.

In 2005, XYZ finally released Rainy Days, the band's original debut album. Some of the tracks also appeared on the 2005 release, Forbidden Demos 1985/1991 some of which were re-recorded with Diglio and Monroe.

It seems unlikely that XYZ will record again, perhaps disheartened by never being able to garner the publicity they deserve. However the songs will always remain popular with their close group of fans.