Group
XYZ
USA metal band from Los Angeles, CA
- From
- Los Angeles, United States
- Since
- 1986–present
- Rating
- ★ 3
- Releases
- 10
- hard rock
- metal
About
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.
Read more
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 included 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.
Members
-
Pat Fontaine bass guitar
-
Terry Ilous lead vocals
-
Sean McNabb bass guitar
-
JK Northrup guitar
-
Joey Pafumi drums (drum set)
-
Marc Diglio guitar
-
Paul Monroe drums (drum set)
Discography
EPs
Singles
Compilations
Links
Listen
Official
Social
Buy
Reference
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 68fcf3ca-8ce3-411c-8217-a03ce20b1bbc
- ISNI
- 0000000111988788
- IPI
- 00450634375
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 7 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.