XYZ (band)

XYZ was one of the first "supergroups" of the 1980s. The name XYZ is taken from eX-Yes-&-Zeppelin. The group consisted of ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, along with ex-Yes members Chris Squire (bass guitar, vocals, keyboards) and Alan White (drums). Page believed the band needed a strong vocalist and sought out former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant -- Plant did attend one XYZ rehearsal in 1981 but decided not to join the group, and the project was shelved shortly thereafter.

Related Topics:
Supergroups - 1980s - '''Y'''es - '''Z'''eppelin - Led Zeppelin - Jimmy Page - Chris Squire - Alan White - Robert Plant - 1981

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Since the mid 1990s, a number of bootleg tracks have surfaced, originally recorded by XYZ at Chris Squire's home studio at New Pipers, in Virginia Water, Surrey, during April 1981. They are believed to have been sourced from demo tapes stolen from Jimmy Page's house at Cookham, Berkshire, in 1987.

Related Topics:
1990s - Bootleg - Surrey - 1981 - Jimmy Page - Berkshire - 1987

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Four demos are known to have been recorded in 1981: two instrumentals (one of which was an embryonic version of The Firm's "Fortune Hunter"; the other was later incorporated in to the 1997 Yes song "Mind Drive"), plus vocal numbers known as "Telephone Secrets" (or "Telephone Spies") and "And (Do) You Believe It" (or "Can You See"). The latter track was re-written by Yes in 2001 and released as "Can You Imagine".

Related Topics:
1981 - The Firm - Yes

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Squire and White later released a single called "Run With the Fox", based on an XYZ melody, in December 1981, before forming Cinema with guitarist Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Tony Kaye.

Related Topics:
1981 - Cinema - Trevor Rabin - Tony Kaye

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