Terry Ilous | XYZ | Great White | June 2003 |
I was always a XYZ fan..But not nearly as much as I am now.. the new c.d. is amazing..
and they have become one of my favorites..
Terry is a really great guy who has finally "found his voice"
As you will see when you read on..
J-First off.. we have to go wayy back.. how did you hook up with the guys in XYZ? The original line-up?
T-Well I had come from Europe in the 90's ..I mean the 80's..and I new Pat from Europe as well.. the bass player, and we put ads in all the magazines in L.A.. and eventually we found Paul.. it was a very difficult task actually. cause not to many people at the time wanted to play with me, cause I was from Europe, so it was a difficult thing, to form a band, cause it was basically the bass player and myself. it was a really difficult task..haha..
J-And how long were you together before you got signed?..
T-Umm.. lets see.. from 86'to 89'.. 3 years and we played every club.. it was so damn hard to get a deal, everyone passed on us. Well I mean everyone was passing on everyone. so it was a problem. but it came to a point were we were like.. what are we going to do? and in late 80's from 89' to 90'.. not too many bands were releasing any c.d.'s.. like they do now.. you have the internet..and you can release stuff.. at the time, no one was releasing anything.. so we just said.. lets just do it anyway. so we were on our way to do our own thing.. cause I was not about to give up, when eventually, the only label.. we did not approach was Enigma, we did not approach them, cause they were small, and at the time.. everybody wanted to be with a big label.. anyway, a friend of mine approached a girl that worked there.. for me.. and he did that on my behalf..and they gave us a deal right away..
J-So Don Dokken produced the first album.. how was that working with him?
(long pause..)
T-Well.. uhhh..
Don is a nice guy..but lets just say he's a bit over whelming.. and we got off on a really big deal, it was close to a half million dollars and at the time, it was incredible for me.. coming from Europe.. so we took the deal.. and Don Dokken decided to produce the band he actually changed the sound of the band completely.. made it sound more like Dokken.. and changing my vocals and giving me all kinds of advice.. bla..bla..bla.. and I end up sounding like him, and I respect his voice, of course, but I was pretty upset by that..but there was not much I could do about it.. and to be honest with you.. I did not really care at first.. I was like..ok I'm losing my identity.. but I'm getting such a huge record deal, and so much attention..and eventually.. I would get very depressed.. people were getting the c.d... and it went gold in some other countrys.but I was upset cause I lost my identity.. and I was not allowed to be at the studio because Don realized I had such a strong personality.. and so he would say.. the singer can not be around, unless he has to sing..and that's it. so I did what I was told came and sang and that was it.. and looking back at it.. I learned allot. it was an experience.. but I wont do it again..
J-Who does the writing in the band?
T-I do, it depends on the songs.. but most the time..the music and the melodies are being done my myself..or Marc.. the guitar player, but usually I take care of a good part of it.. and Pat.. at the time, took care of the lyrics..now things have changed.. cause Pat is no longer w/me.. so I just kinda took over, and do things myself.. but it was hard for me.. I wrote all these songs, and did the demos.. then they are produced and they don't sound the way they were supposed to sound.. but the album sold..
J-Yep..and it got your name out there.
T-Yes, it got my name out there but I remember hearing the reviews.. this is the best Dokken album ever..
J-Right.. the best Dokken album Dokken never did...hahaha
T-I was like...ahhh fuck.. I still get emails.. even just the other day.. "Oh my god.. you kick Dons ass so many times.. your so much better of a singer then him" and I'm like I don't want to be better that anyone else.. I just want to be a great singer..and I respect his voice alot actually.. I've seen Dokken live many times.. I just don't want to sound like him.. but I respect the artist..absolutley respect him.. who am I to criticize someone who has sold 5 or 6 million albums..
J -What was your favorite tour you did back in the day?
T-I have many many favorite tours.. but the first one.. we actually went from clubs to playing area shows with Ted Nugent.. and Ted in the late 80's was an icon..and the first show we did with him, was 17,000 people, but my ultimate favorite tour would be the last one with Michael Schenker.. it was an acoustic set.. for me it was the best tour ever.. at a much smaller scale., doing venues..doing anything between 400 to 1,500 people..and with acoustic shows you get a much better vibe onstage.. and you can get to the crowd much better..to me this is what music is all about, its the communication between the fans and the group.. so it was for me the best tour ever.. it was so cool.. plus I am acoustic player.. I play acoustic myself.. so it was quit amazing actually..
J-I love acoustic too..and its nice to hear songs scaled down..
T-Are you a musician?
J-I used to play drums.. but I'm just so into music.. and I've been a fan of everything.. and all these "hair bands" and my goal now is to let people know all these great bands are still releasing music.. cause half the people don't know.. the magazines don't cover the smaller groups now.. so its hard to find it.. its not like buying Metal Edge back in the 80's.. you could keep up with everyone..
T-Right.. Metal Edge doesn't want to cover anything.. except the ugly bands...hahaha..
J-Ya.. so I try to cover all these I hate to call them 80's bands, but that's when they came out..
T-Yes.. some of these bands are putting out some great c.d.'s..
J-Yes.. I just got Lynch Pilson.. and it's amazing..
T-I knew you were going to mention them..cause yes, its a really good c.d...
J-Yes.. and I've heard some of the new XYZ and its also amazing..so I have a feeling these 2 will be my favorite new c.d.'s..
T-Well thanks you.. I tried to, and I know you hate the 80's band thing.. but I tried to get that sound.. the 80's big rock sound..but I mixed it up with something a little more modern to bring an edge to it. I just didn't want to repeat myself.. cause what's been done has been done, however..lets not spit on the past..oh well I'm an 80's guy.. so now lets do Limp Bizkit music.. first of all I don't like Limp Bizkit, I hate that kind of music anyway.. I mean its good for them..it works for them.. but it wouldn't work for me..
J-So what led to the break up?
T-Break up.. well it ended up being we just got tired of each other..and Capital just wasn't the right label for us.. the first record went gold.. bla bla bla... then the second album only sold 180,000 in the US.. which by today's standards is great..but we were disappointed. and the label, grunge was coming into the states, and nobody was interested anymore.. at all.. in 80's bands..all the sudden we are like outlaws.. so we got disappointed, all though we could have released c.d.'s in Europe.. and things.. we felt like it was time to take a break..and move on..
J-Do you still talk to any of the members?
T-Oh of course, I talked Marc recently.. cause I'm planning on doing an acoustic c.d., as soon as this one is almost dead. I want to do an acoustic c.d.. right away.. I just love acoustic music, and Marc will be playing guitar on that.. that I can guarantee you that.. Marc has always been one of my favorite guitar players.. he is like a little brother to me, he's only a couple years younger.. but he will always be like a little brother.. I'll always love his playing.. the thing is, when I met Marc, I changed his sound a little bit.. by showing him, not telling him, but introducing him to new sounds, European sounds and eventually he became what I would love to be able to play.. and he plays even better now.. cause he's grown so much.. so eventually I know we will work together again, in fact I just talked to him 4 days ago.. and Pat is doing something different.. he's doing punk.. Pat's a punk rocker in his heart. and you cant argue with that.. he's the ultimate Jessie James of rock n roll.. hahaha.. oh my god you would not believe that guy.. he's a true rocker.. haha.
J-Then after XYZ you went on to do some solo stuff.. how was that?
T-Well after XYZ I went into a total state of disarray.. after getting a half a million dollar deal and 40,000 dollar publishing deal in my pocket.. and merchandising.. and I'm still placing songs.. cause I'm a song writer.. so I had songs everywhere I did a sound track over in Europe. and I did really well for a few years.. when all of the sudden... I spent a lot of money. and didn't do anything constructive.. lost my wife.. and lost everyone around me.. and I became homeless.. I became a homeless person for a few months.. I mean no home.. no place to be.. no friends.. every time I see a homeless person on the street it just breaks my heart, cause it reminds me of myself, because I was living in Beverly Hills in a great place. I bought a place w/my wife, and all the sudden I took a turn and I was sleeping in my car, not knowing who to talk to... and I was really lucky, I had a friend of mine that worked at Capital Records, helped me out.. and said no.. you cant be on the streets, you can stay at my place.. so I stayed with him for close to one year. without doing anything.. and he started introducing me to people at Paramount.. and I started to sing for a lot of soundtracks, I've lent my voice to many many sound tracks.. and I've leant my voice to many rock c.d.'s were I'm not allowed to say who.. cause we have a deal.. but my voice is everywhere..on soundtracks.. I've dubbed many singers.. so I did that for a while, then I went back to voice overs.. cartoons.. I do lots of Rugrats.. and stuff like that.. I love it cause I love kids.. and I do Spanish music, cause I'm Spanish.. and my background is from Spain.. so I went on.. I did ok.. but it was an interesting roller coaster..
J-What about the Flynn release?
T-Flynn was a great c.d., that never go to see the light.. but I have seen some people have copies of it..but my manager at the time released it cause he lost so much money on that.. but I never gave the ok.. to release the c.d... I wasn't completely satisfied with the production of it.. I did the writing, so I though the writing was ok.. but the production was not my thing.. it was too pop.. and the edge was gone, and my voice was too nice, I'm like this is not me.. I have balls where are my balls..hahaha.. and they are saying, well that's the way it is now, singers don't sing like that anymore.. you cant be like that.. and I said.. if I cant be like that, I wont be at all.. so I decided to do movies.. and other things..
J-Right.. ok, what made you decide to get the band back together..?
T-Well it was actually.. so many labels keep calling me..and saying will you do another c.d... and id say no.. but over the years I've written so many songs that I thought would be a great 3rd c.d. for XYZ, but I never had the heart to do it. I didn't think anyone be interested in another XYZ c.d. again.. never.. so eventually MTM in Europe made me an offer and I said I'll do it not for the money.. cause to be honest, I spent way more then they gave me.. but I'll do it cause I want to please myself, so I did this XYZ c.d. and I'm really happy with it..
J-And how did you find these players?
T-Jeff is a friend of mine for 10 years now..great partner of mine, we have done many things together we have many songs for soundtracks we've done together.. so he was easy to find. Sean.. same thing, I've used Sean many times on soundtracks I've produced, Sean is a great bass player, and I have a thing for great musicians.. and your a drummer, and you know what that's all about... for me.. besides being good looking, that's important, but the most important thing is can you play.. or can you write.. some people can not play.. but they can write.. vice versa.. but Sean can play.... that's for sure..
J-What's your favorite track on the c.d.?
T-"All I'm asking" because I wrote it for my dad, when my dad passed away during the recording of the cd. I realized I was not such a good son.. I never took the time to say I love you to my dad. I never took the time to say anything except.. hey how are you doing.. what's up. just like some kids are, and when he passed away it just broke my heart, so I wrote a song, to ask him for forgiveness.. and its basically what the song is saying, so "All I'm asking " is very close to me.. this entire cd is very close to me.. cause also during this.. I lost my son...so it was interesting recording this cd ..sometimes it was horrible.
J-How long did you work on the cd?
T-8 months.. it took me 8 months to record it.. cause see Jill, I didn't want to record an album.. that was... I don't know.. so many 80's bands put out cds .. and its just not..
J-Well the production of some of them is just horrible.. I hear a lot of stuff.. and I'm really picky about the sound..
T-Well you will find that this new cd is produced really well..
J-Yes I find it very important... even if you have songs that are not as well written, but you turn it on.. and its just in your face.. its going to be a good cd, no matter what..
T-Yes.. this cd.. I worked with Pro-Tools, and Logic Audio, and I used real drums, of course.. but yes to me the sound is very important that's why it took so long to do, I rewrote a lot of the parts.. but I said if this is my last album and I have to bow out after this.. I want to make sure people know what I'm all about.. that I'm not a Dokken wanna be or anything like that.. I want them to get the real me, and after that, if I have to move on..its ok.. I'll move on.. so I wanted to give the fans a true, good cd.. and I compare my c.d.'s to others and they just don't sound as good.. I mean these drums are heavy.. they sound good.. I just love the drums, they are so important, believe me I'm a sound person, I'm not a sound engineer, believe me.. but I work with good people.
J-Ok. How about touring plans?
T-Touring plans.. I just got confirmation today.. but I'm not sure if I can say, but I think we have a tour.. we have a pretty huge tour, in fact.. damn I don't know if I can say it..
J-Ok.. well is it going to be in the states?
T-Yes in the states..with 2 other bands..and its going to be a very controversial tour.. cause the band that is headlining, just got out of some serious problems recently.. its going to be interesting to see how people react to the tour.. as far as I'm concerned.. I cant wait to go on tour.. I love going on stage and talking to the fans, its just amazing how people come and talk to you.. and its always a challenge to play for a crowd that may not like you.. there is always somebody that is like.. you guys are fags..and you play..and you rock..and at the end of the show, they think you are pretty good.. hahah.. its like thanks a lot, I take it as a compliment.. cause playing live is amazing, we are not a studio band.. we're going to do a studio album.. then go out and do it live.. I think the fans are everything.. with out the fans, we can write music, ok.. but we need two things.. we need you.. to help promote.. and we need the fans..
J-Yep..and that's what's cool for me.. cause I'm such a big fan, I've even seen you here in Tampa at the Rocket Club..
T-Oh my god.. I've been there.. many times..
J-Ya.. and I absolutely love all these bands that I cover, so I just don't sit here..and ask whatever.. I've followed all these bands since the first release..and all the side projects.. so its really exciting for me..
T-Wait a minute... I know who you are.. cause Nancy just gave me the phone number to call.. but you have a website right? in fact I have you in my favorites... you have pictures of yourself with lots of bands..ya know I wanted to get a hold of you.. cause I go to that site, and I'm like wow.. that girl is working so hard, with all these bands, and you have something about Ty Longley right?
J-Yes.. I have a whole tribute to Ty.. and I saw them here 2 weeks before that fire happened, and I interviewed Jack..
T-Exactly.. I've been to your site many many times...cause we just did a show with Great White..
J-Right I was going to ask next.. how was that show?
T-Fantastic.. I mean it was not about XYZ ..lets put it that way.. I was happy to be on stage after 10 years, so see fans.. but the truth is.. I was touched by the emotions.. cause everybody was there for Ty.. the emotion was so strong.. in fact I changed the words in one of my songs in "All I'm asking" at one point it says.. I knew the father but I wish I knew the man.. and instead I said I knew the brother.. I wish I knew the man.. brother meaning him.. cause I didn't know him very well.. but I told the audience, I'm going to change the lyrics a little for the show tonight.. and the response was incredible.. everyone was rocking all night... and I came out w/ an acoustic guitar and said screw it.. this is for him.. not for me.. so it was just me, and acoustic guitar and a cello. and the crowd went nuts.. I can assure you people were crying..and it was so touching..
So now ill tell you.. the band we are going on the road with is Great White..
J-I was hoping that is who it was.. but I didn't want to ask..haha
T-Ya its L.A. Guns and Great White.. so I think its going to be a great tour.. we are the first band.. and that's ok.. and I'm really excited, financially its not the best move for me.. hahaha
J-But its going to get your name back out there..
T-Yes.. and I agreed to give part of the money to the Ty Longley foundation.. so I think this is a really good thing, and of course there is a lot of controversy cause people don't think Great White should go back on the road.. I do think what they are doing is very brave. very brave... Jack has balls.. serious balls.. cause he stood up..he did not hide behind management, or attorneys.. and I have to give him credit for that..he stood up like a man. But I've always loved jacks voice.. and he's going to give me a run for my money.. that's for sure.. I have a thing.. being an ex-boxer.. so being on stage is like fighting.. so I'm always looking to win, and going on stage w/someone who is so good.. I'm preparing myself.. I went back to the gym.. I'm preparing myself.. and working on my voice.. cause I'm thinking..god hes so good.. and I need to be really good too..so its going to be great.. I cant wait to get on the road..
J-Well good I cant wait either.. ok.. is there a website people can keep up with you?
T-Yes its www.xyzmusic.com and let people know not to be afraid to contact me..thinking I will not answer, ill always answer.. since the announcement of the band getting back together last year.. I've had over 9000 emails..
J-Ok.. thanks about it.. anything you want to say to your fans reading this?
T-thank you so much for being loyal and faithful over the years..and being so patient and being so nice, like I said I received so many emails, sorry about my dad and my son.. and also some great fans that send me old pictures that are really funny.. and I think.. wow that was me.. anyway, I wanna say thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I cant wait to see and meet people on the road.. I'm a very humble person, I don't do the rock star thing.. ill talk to everyone..and take pictures.. and if I look like crap.. I'll wear glasses.. hahaha.
