Terry Ilous mo… Read Full Bio ↴Singer, solo artist, and founding member of band XYZ.
Terry Ilous moved to Hollywood from Lyon, France in 1984, and formed the metal band XYZ along with friend and bassist Pat Fontaine. XYZ released their debut self-titled album [produced by Don Dokken] in 1989 on Enigma Records; followed by the 1991 Capitol release “Hungry” and “Take What You Want Live U.S” in 1995, with a Euro. Edition to follow in 1996. The band quickly gained attention selling over 1.5 million records world wide and played with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner, Soundgarden, Ted Nugent, and Alice Cooper. XYZ consistently released albums over the following years with “Letter to God” in 2003, “Forbidden Demos” in 2005, and “The Best of XYZ” in 2008.
In 2009 Terry was contacted to play a handful of dates with hit 80’s recording artists Great White. By 2011 Ilous became the official lead singer for the band, quickly heading out on an extensive U.S. tour. By 2012 Great White had released their first CD with Ilous,”Elation”. The positive response from fans and press alike was overwhelming; with 3 videos, and the song “Hard to Say Goodbye” (written by Ilous), reaching number 8 on Billboards Classic Rock Radio Chart. And in June 2017 the band released their 13th studio album ‘[album artist=Great White[/album ]Full Circle’, by renowned producer Michael Wagener, with songs written by Great White, Terry Ilous & JK Northrup. ‘Full Circle’ was the last album to feature Ilous as lead vocalist.
In May of 2017 Terry released his own album, ‘Gypsy Dreams’, a retelling of classic rock favorites with a Latin / Flamenco feel, with the song ‘Whole Lotta Love’, charting on iTunes Indie Chart. “Gypsy Dreams” includes an amazing assortment of some of the best L.A. based Latin & Flamenco musicians; was mastered by Latin Grammy winner Andres Mayo, and mixed by renowned engineer / composer, Tony Phillips.
In addition fronting bands, Terry is also an accomplished session singer, working with a wide range of musicians, including AC/DC , Guns And Roses, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, David Bowie, Rod Stewart and many others. Terry has also appeared on the hit NBC daytime drama ‘Passions’, and is an active participant in the Voice Over and Jingle world, having worked with mega-producers Shuki Levy [ Spider-Man , Power Rangers Maya L’ Abeille] , and Georgio Morodor [Toyota, Dr. Pepper, Asahi, EBay, Levi’s, Wrigley] and worked in films like Paramount Pictures (Rug Rats In Paris)
Currently Ilous has begun his 2019 tour with XYZ , starting with The Monsters Of Rock Cruise, and they are preparing a new album to be released by 2020. Terry is also actively supporting his solo album ‘Gypsy Dreams’, with show dates to be announced !
Whether he’s touring solo, playing with XYZ, recording, writing music, or playing a charity concert; one thing is for sure, Terry Ilous is an unstoppable force in the entertainment industry with a powerful voice, and genuine love for his fans, with no plans of slowing down anytime soon !
Ride Like The Wind
Terry Ilous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is the night My body's weak
I'm on the run No time to sleep
I've got to ride Ride like the wind
To be free again
And I've got such a long way to go
So I'll ride like the wind
Ride like the wind
I was born the son of a lawless man
Always spoke my mind with a gun in my hand
Lived nine lives
Gunned down ten
Gonna ride like the wind
And I've got such a long way to go
To make it to the border of Mexico
So I'll ride like the wind
Ride like the wind
Accused and tried and told to hang
I was nowhere in sight when the church bells rang
Never was the kind to do as I was told
Gonna ride like the wind before I get old
It is the night My body's weak
I'm on the run No time to sleep
I've got to ride Ride like the wind
To be free again
The lyrics of Terry Ilous's song "Ride Like the Wind" tell the story of a protagonist who is on the run. The song captures a sense of urgency and the need for freedom. The first verse establishes the night setting, with the singer's body feeling weak and a sense of constant motion, leaving no time to rest or sleep. The singer acknowledges the long journey ahead but expresses determination to ride like the wind, signifying the need to push through obstacles and reach a state of freedom once again. The repetition of the line "Ride like the wind" reinforces the urgency and determination of the singer.
The second verse reveals that the singer is the son of a lawless man and has always been fearless and outspoken, often resorting to violence. The line "Lived nine lives, gunned down ten" suggests that the singer has faced numerous near-death experiences and has possibly been involved in dangerous situations. Despite this, there is a relentless drive to keep moving forward and escape, emphasized by the repetition of the "Ride like the wind" line.
The third verse adds another layer to the story, with the singer being accused and tried, potentially facing the punishment of hanging. However, the singer was not present when the church bells rang, hinting at a life of evasion and rebellion. The lyric "Never was the kind to do as I was told" further emphasizes the singer's resistance to authority. The goal is to ride like the wind before getting old, embodying a sense of urgency and a desire to live life to the fullest while they still can.
Overall, the song "Ride Like the Wind" explores themes of freedom, rebellion, and the pursuit of escape from a life filled with danger and restrictions. It captures the essence of a character who refuses to conform and instead chooses to embark on a daring journey to regain their freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
It is the night My body's weak
Under the cover of darkness, I feel physically exhausted
I'm on the run No time to sleep
I am constantly evading capture, unable to rest
I've got to ride Ride like the wind
I must continue moving swiftly, just like the wind, to escape
To be free again
In order to regain my freedom once more
And I've got such a long way to go
I still have a considerable distance to travel
To make it to the border of Me
To reach my own personal boundary or destination
So I'll ride like the wind
Therefore, I will continue my fast-paced journey
Ride like the wind
Continue moving at high speed, resembling the wind
I was born the son of a lawless man
I come from a lineage of individuals who lived outside the boundaries of the law
Always spoke my mind with a gun in my hand
I consistently expressed my thoughts and opinions through the use of my firearm
Lived nine lives
I have narrowly escaped death multiple times
Gunned down ten
However, I have also taken the lives of others in self-defense
Gonna ride like the wind
I am determined to continue my high-speed journey
Accused and tried and told to hang
I have been falsely accused, put on trial, and sentenced to execution by hanging
I was nowhere in sight when the church bells rang
At the exact moment the church bells rang, I was nowhere to be seen
Never was the kind to do as I was told
I have never conformed to the expectations or demands placed upon me
Gonna ride like the wind before I get old
I am determined to maintain my fast-paced journey before aging catches up with me
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER C. CROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind