Website Official website | ||
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Years active 1986–1992, 2002–present Past members Bobby Pieper
Joey Pafumi
Mark Diglio
Paul Monroe
Tony Burnett Origin Los Angeles, California, United States (1986) Albums Hungry, Take What You Can... LIVE, XYZ, Letter to God Members Terry Ilous, Pat Fontaine, Sean McNabb, Tony Marcus, Joe Shapiro Record labels Capitol Records, Enigma Records Genres Glam metal, Heavy metal, Hard rock Similar Terry Ilous XYZ, Great White, Rough Cutt, BulletBoys, Don Dokken Profiles | ||
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.
Contents
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.
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.
Songs
What Keeps Me Loving YouTake What You Can LIVE · 1995
Face Down in the GutterHungry · 1991
When I Find LoveHungry · 1991