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Terry Ilous

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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

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, as well as the lead singer of Great White from 2010 to 2018.[1] Over the course of his career, Ilous has sold more than 1.5 million records worldwide.[2]

Early life

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Terry Ilous was born in Lyon, France in 1966. He moved to the United States in 1986 to pursue a career in music.[3] Initially working as a session vocalist in Los Angeles, Ilous quickly became involved Sunset Strip rock scene, before getting signed to Enigma Records.[4]

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.[5] 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[6] which included a notable cover of the song Fire and Water by the band Free.[7] 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.[8]

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.[6]

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.[9]

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.[10] 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).[11] His tenure with the group lasted until 2018, when he was dismissed via email, a move he publicly expressed surprise over.[11] Between 2010 and 2018, Ilous performed in 560 concerts with Great White, most of which were sold out.[12]

Solo Work and Collaborations

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In 2010, Ilous formed La Famiglia Superstar, a collaborative hard rock project featuring Ilous on lead vocals, Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, The Dead Daisies) on bass, Atma Anur (Journey, Tony MacAlpine, Cacophony) on drums and guitarist Steve Saluto.

Their self-titled debut album, La Famiglia Superstar, was produced by former Dokken guitarist Alex De Rosso and blends hard rock with funk, blues and melodic metal. The album includes a cover of Whitesnake's Here I Go Again and showcases polished musicianship across a range of styles.[13][14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

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.[17] Ilous and Lynch have also toured together, performing songs from Dokken's catalog and their own musical repertoires.[18] 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.[19]

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.[20]

Session work

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Ilous has worked as a session vocalist on various recording projects across multiple rock subgenres. He has provided background vocals and recording session contributions for major artists such as Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, and David Bowie.[21] Ilous is also a songwriter, with over 300 songs written and published for other artists, as well as for film and television projects.[22]

Discography

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Solo

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With XYZ

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  • 1987 – XYZ (EP)[27]
  • 1989 – XYZ[28]
  • 1991 – Hungry[29]
  • 1995 – Take What You Can... Live[30]
  • 2003 – Letter to God[31]
  • 2005 – Rainy Days (demos)[32]
  • 2005 – Forbidden Demos 1985/1991[33]
  • 2008 – Best of XYZ[34]

With Great White

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  • 2012 – Elation[35]
  • 2013 – 30 Years: Live from the Sunset Strip[36]
  • 2016 – Great White – Metal Meltdown: Live from the Hard Rock Casino Las Vegas[37]
  • 2017 – Full Circle[38]

Other collaborations

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  • 1997 – JK Northrup – Cage (vocals)[39]
  • 2005 – Eddie Ojeda – Axes 2 Axes (vocals on "Tonight")[40]
  • 2007 – Emotions in Motion (with Takayoshi Ohmura)[41]
  • 2009 – Jun Senoue: The Works (guest vocals, with Jun Senoue)[42]
  • 2010 – La Famiglia Superstar – La Famiglia Superstar (with Marco Mendoza, Atma Anur, Steve Saluto)[43]
  • 2010 – Cage – Cage (lead vocals; featured guests include bassists Jeff Pilson, Tony Franklin and drummers Carmine Appice, James Kottak, Vinnie Appice, and Randy Castillo)[44]
  • 2011 – Liberty N' Justice – Chasing a Cure (guest vocalist)[45]
  • 2011 – Bridger – Bridger (guest vocalist)[46]
  • 2013 – A World With Heroes – A KISS Tribute For Cancer Care (vocals on "Forever")[47]
  • 2015 – Steve Saluto & Terry Ilous – No Quarter (lead vocals on Led Zeppelin cover)[48]
  • 2019 – Morano – Incognito (lead vocals on multiple tracks)[49]
  • 2020 – Rocha – Unum (guest vocals)[50]
  • 2020 – Ramos – My Many Sides (guest vocals)[51]
  • 2023 – "I Won't Back Down" (Tom Petty cover), duet with Jack Russell[52]

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[53] and the feature film Rugrats in Paris: The Movie.

Ilous has participated in a number of charity-related music projects. In 2011, he contributed to the all-star single "One Family," produced by United Rockers 4U to raise funds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The project featured artists from bands such as Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, and Poison.[54] In 2016, he performed at the Rock the Ride charity concert in Vernal, Utah, an event organized to support local community outreach programs.[55]

References

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  1. ^ "Terry Ilous (XYZ) Turns Florida Inside Out On Latest Tour". XS Rock. January 29, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  2. ^ "Terry Ilous, Lead Singer of Great White & Founder of XYZ, to Release New Solo Album". Rock At Night. April 14, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  3. ^ "CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWSTERRY ILOUS, Lead Singer of Great White and Founder of XYZ to Release New Solo Album". CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS. April 17, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  4. ^ "Terry Ilous, Lead Singer of Great White & Founder of XYZ, to Release New Solo Album". Screamer Magazine. April 17, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Billboard 200™". Billboard.
  6. ^ a b "Terry Ilous / XYZ Interview".
  7. ^ "Hungry - XYZ | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  8. ^ "The Cassette Chronicles – XYZ's 'Hungry'". January 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Guitarist Mark Diglio reveals XYZ's classic line-up has reunited and working on new song ideas - Sleaze Roxx". December 19, 2023.
  10. ^ "Terry Ilous of Great White – an Interview with This Legendary Band's Lead Singer and Songwriter". March 8, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Eddie Trunk Official Website".
  12. ^ "TERRY ILOUS Has 'No Regrets' About His Time with GREAT WHITE". July 31, 2022.
  13. ^ Wood, Denys (July 15, 2010). "La Famiglia Superstar – La Famiglia Superstar". MyGlobalMind. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  14. ^ "La Famiglia Superstar: La Famiglia Superstar". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  15. ^ "CRR Interview - Terry Ilous – Retelling the Classics!".
  16. ^ "Terry Ilous and the Vagabonds put a new spin on rock hits". Kitsap Sun. January 29, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  17. ^ "George Lynch Teams up with XYZ (Former Great White) Vocalist Terry Ilous for Blazing New Single "Dead or Alive"". August 15, 2022.
  18. ^ "Terry Ilous Interview".
  19. ^ "Former Great White singers Jack Russell and Terry Ilous share cover of Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down'".
  20. ^ "Hear the Legends of Classic Rock". The Southampton Press. August 22, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  21. ^ "Reviews – GEORGE LYNCH In Clearwater, FL With Photos!". KNAC. —. Retrieved 2025-06-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Terry Ilous". Dolce Vita Artists. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  23. ^ "Terry Ilous – Here And Gone". Discogs. 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  24. ^ "Terry Ilous – Gypsy Dreams (Album Review)". Decibel Geek. June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  25. ^ "Review: Terry Ilous – Gypsy Dreams". Sleaze Roxx. June 7, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  26. ^ "Terry Ilous – Hired Gun". Discogs. 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  27. ^ "XYZ – XYZ (EP)". MusicBrainz. 1987. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  28. ^ "XYZ – XYZ". Discogs. 1989. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  29. ^ "XYZ – Hungry". Discogs. 1991. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  30. ^ "XYZ – Take What You Can... Live". Discogs. 1995. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  31. ^ "XYZ – Letter to God". Discogs. 2003. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  32. ^ "XYZ – Rainy Days". Discogs. 2005. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  33. ^ "XYZ – Forbidden Demos 1985/1991". Discogs. 2005. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  34. ^ "XYZ – Best of XYZ". Discogs. 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  35. ^ "Great White – Elation". Discogs. 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  36. ^ "Great White – 30 Years: Live From The Sunset Strip". Discogs. 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  37. ^ "Great White – Metal Meltdown: Live from the Hard Rock Casino Las Vegas". Discogs. 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  38. ^ "Great White – Full Circle". Discogs. 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  39. ^ "JK Northrup – Cage". Discogs. 1997. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  40. ^ "Eddie Ojeda – Axes 2 Axes". Discogs. 2005. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  41. ^ "Takayoshi Ohmura – Emotions in Motion". Metal Kingdom. 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  42. ^ "Jun Senoue: The Works". VGMdb. October 21, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  43. ^ "La Famiglia Superstar – La Famiglia Superstar". Discogs. 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  44. ^ "Cage – Cage". Discogs. 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  45. ^ "Liberty N' Justice – Chasing A Cure". Discogs. 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  46. ^ "Bridger – Bridger". Discogs. 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  47. ^ "A World With Heroes (A KISS Tribute For Cancer Care)". Discogs. 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  48. ^ "Steve Saluto & Terry Ilous – No Quarter". Discogs. 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  49. ^ "Morano – Incognito". Discogs. 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  50. ^ "Rocha – Unum". Discogs. 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  51. ^ "Ramos – My Many Sides". Discogs. 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  52. ^ "TERRY ILOUS & JACK RUSSELL release 'I WON'T BACK DOWN' (Tom Petty Cover)". The Rockpit. April 2, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  53. ^ "Rick and Morty Cast & Crew". Trakt.tv. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  54. ^ "United Rockers 4U Release "One Family" Charity Single For Japan". Sleaze Roxx. June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  55. ^ "Charity Concert This Weekend in Vernal". Vernal Express. July 5, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
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