XYZ (US band)

XYZ was originally created in Lyon (France) where Patt Fontaine and Terry Ilous were born and grew up. Then they moved to Los Angeles, and began a musical career in 1986. XYZ started off as the unofficial house band of "The Whisky A Go Go" nightclub in Los Angeles. The original members were Terry Ilous (vocals), Bobby Pieper (guitars), Patt Fontaine (bass) and Joey Pafumi (drums). A tour of the US with Enuff Z'Nuff and Alice Cooper followed the success of their 1989 Enigma released debut album, and they were signed by major label Capitol for their second.^[1]

History

The band played clubs throughout the mid 1980s and first got a record deal in 1989 with Don Dokken as their producer. Terry Ilous's vocal style on the band's first album was very similar to Dokken's. Ilous and Fontaine then recruited Mark Diglio (guitars) and Paul Monroe (drums) to replace the departing Pieper and Pafumi, to record a debut album, 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 received reasonable airplay; however, the album itself was not an overall success, managing to reach only No. 99 on the Billboard charts. A third single from the album, "Maggy" was used in the 1990 Dolph Lundgren movie I Come in Peace. The next album, Hungry, released in 1991, had even less commercial success—not charting at all. Diglio and Monroe left the band and were replaced by Tony Burnett and Joey Shapiro, respectively. After the next tour was finished, band members went separate ways once again. They reunited in 2002 with the lineup of Ilous, Fontaine, Tony Marcus, and Shapiro, and still perform to the present day.

Recent events

XYZ is gaining success again in USA and Europe doing several festivals and shows. In addition to being lead vocals for XYZ, Terry Ilous is also currently doing vocals for Great White, replacing Jack Russell.

Terry was recently interviewed by Argentinean rock journalist Lucas H. Gordon, where the singer talked about a recent charity event called '80's Rockers for Japan' organized by Ilous to raise money for the Red Cross from Japan, to help victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

In the event many hard rock celebrities appeared like ex-Toto Bobby Kimball, Paul Shortino, Rudy Sarzo, Michael T. Ross, John Payne, Carmine Appice, Vinny Appice, Lorraine Lewis and others.

XYZ performed at Rocklahoma Festival in 2008, the M3 Rock Festival, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, and Firefest, Rock City, Nottingham, UK in 2012.

Drummer Joey Shapiro recently purchased drumstick and guitar pick grip company Gorilla Snot.^[2]

While Terry Ilous is still the frontman for XYZ, he is also current lead singer for 80's band Great White as of 2010.

Paul Monroe was a contestant with his Daughter on the 10/19/2016 episode of "That Awkward Game Show" on Spike TV.

Members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums

Notes

External links

• Interview with XYZ Bassist Patt Fontaine
• Official website of XYZ
• Interview with Terry Ilous at Paisajes Eléctricos Magazine (Spanish)