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Draft:Terry Ilous

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Terry Ilous (born February 20, 1966) is a French-American rock singer, best known as the founder and lead vocalist of the hard rock band XYZ, and for his tenure as the frontman of Great White from 2010 to 2018.[1]

Terry Ilous
Birth nameTerry Ilous
Born (1966-02-20) February 20, 1966 (age 59)
Lyon, France, France
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, glam metal
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active1989–present

Early life

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Terry Ilous was born in Lyon, France in 1966. He moved to the United States in the early 1980s to pursue a career in music. Initially working as a session vocalist in Los Angeles, Ilous quickly became involved in the Southern California rock scene.[2]

Career

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XYZ

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In the late 1980s, Ilous co-founded the band XYZ with bassist Pat Fontaine. The band signed with Enigma Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1989, produced by Don Dokken. The album peaked at number 99 on the Billboard 200. [3] Ilous and XYZ gained national exposure with music videos on MTV and they toured extensively throughout the early 1990s.

The group released a second album, Hungry, in 1991 [1] which included a notable cover of the song Fire and Water by the band Free.[4] Released during the decline of hair bands and the rise of grunge , Hungry failed to reach the Billboard charts. Further, Ilous and XYZ faced controversy over the portrayal of women in the music video for the song Face Down in the Gutter [5].

XYZ disbanded in the mid-1990, but later reunited for several performances and recordings. Throughout the years, Ilous has remained the band’s consistent frontman, performing internationally under the XYZ name.[1]

In late 2023, Ilous and rest of the classic lineup began writing new songs together and planned to record material in Denver, Colorado at former XYZ drummer Joey Shapiro's studio. [6].

Great White

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In 2010, Ilous began performing with Great White, initially as a fill-in vocalist, to cover for original vocalist Jack Russell who became ill. [7] He became the band’s official lead singer in 2012 following Russell's official departure.

Ilous later recorded two albums with Great White: Elation (2012) and Full Circle (2017).[8] His tenure with the group lasted until 2018, when he was dismissed via email, a move he publicly expressed surprise over.[8] Between 2010 and 2018, Ilous performed in 560 concerts with Great White, most of which were sold out. [9]

Solo Work and Collaborations

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Ilous released a solo album in 2017 titled Gypsy Dreams, featuring flamenco-style renditions of classic rock songs. The album was well-received for its unique arrangements and vocal performances.[10]

Ilous later toured under the name Terry Ilous and the Vagabonds, performing a unique set that blended classic rock hits with a Latin-inspired sound. The project showcased Ilous's vocal versatility and reinterpreted well-known songs through flamenco, salsa, and gypsy-jazz arrangements.[11]

In 2022, Ilous collaborated with guitarist George Lynch on the single "Dead or Alive" as part of a project with the band All or Nothing.[12] Ilous and Lynch have also toured together, performing songs from Dokken's catalog and their own musical repertoires.[13] Ilous also collaborated with Jack Russell, the singer he replaced in Great White, in 2022. The two performed together on a cover of Tom Petty’s I Won't Back Down.[14]

In addition to his solo and band work, Ilous has toured as part of the Legends of Classic Rock, a touring ensemble of prominent rock musicians from bands such as Foreigner, Toto, Asia, and The Cult. The group performs classic hits from each artist's respective catalog, with Ilous contributing vocals on songs spanning multiple decades of rock history.[15]

Personal Life

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Terry Ilous resides in Southern California and remains active in the music scene, performing both as a solo artist and with XYZ. In addition to his singing career, he has worked as a voice actor and contributed to both television and film projects. His credits include work on the animated series Rick and Morty and the feature film Rugrats in Paris: The Movie.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Terry Ilous / XYZ Interview".
  2. ^ "Terry Ilous - Interview - Interview - Rock'n'Reviews - Music first".
  3. ^ "Billboard 200™". Billboard.
  4. ^ "Hungry - XYZ | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  5. ^ "The Cassette Chronicles – XYZ's 'Hungry'". January 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "Guitarist Mark Diglio reveals XYZ's classic line-up has reunited and working on new song ideas - Sleaze Roxx". December 19, 2023.
  7. ^ "Terry Ilous of Great White – an Interview with This Legendary Band's Lead Singer and Songwriter". March 8, 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Eddie Trunk Official Website".
  9. ^ "TERRY ILOUS Has 'No Regrets' About His Time with GREAT WHITE". July 31, 2022.
  10. ^ "CRR Interview - Terry Ilous – Retelling the Classics!".
  11. ^ "Terry Ilous and the Vagabonds put a new spin on rock hits". Kitsap Sun. January 29, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  12. ^ "George Lynch Teams up with XYZ (Former Great White) Vocalist Terry Ilous for Blazing New Single "Dead or Alive"". August 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "Terry Ilous Interview".
  14. ^ "Former Great White singers Jack Russell and Terry Ilous share cover of Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down'".
  15. ^ "Hear the Legends of Classic Rock". The Southampton Press. August 22, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
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