XYZ (French band)
XYZ | |
|---|---|
Whisky a Gogo window with XYZ logo circa 1988 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Lyon, France |
| Genres | Hard rock, glam metal |
| Years active | 1980–1992, 2002–present |
| Labels | Enigma, Axe Killer, Capitol |
| Members | Terry Ilous Pat Fontaine Tony Marcus Joey Shapiro |
| Past members | Bobby Pieper Joey Pafumi Mark Diglio Paul Monroe Paul Villet Uncle RV |
| Website | officialxyz |
XYZ is a hard rock band. It was originally formed in 1978 in Lyon, France, where Pat Fontaine and Terry Ilous were born and grew up. The first members were Paul Villet on drums, Uncle RV on guitars and Pat Fontaine on vocals and bass. After a few shows as a trio through western Europe and even New York's CBGB, Terry Ilous joined as the lead vocalist, cementing XYZ as a four-piece, and in 1984 the band moved to Los Angeles. Both Villet and RV bowed out a few months later and were replaced by Robert Pieper from New Haven, Connecticut on guitars and Joe Pafumi from Boston, Massachusetts on drums.
XYZ started off as the unofficial house band of the Whisky a Go Go nightclub in Los Angeles. A tour of the US with Ted Nugent followed the success of their 1989 Enigma-released debut album, which includes one of their best-known songs "Inside Out", and they were signed by major label Capitol for their 1991 follow-up Hungry. XYZ disbanded in 1992 but has reunited occasionally since the early 2000s.