The breakup of Led Zeppelin in 1980 quietly gave rise to a little-known supergroup project called XYZ. The collaboration brought together members of Yes—bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White—alongside former Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.
In early 1981, the trio recorded four demo tracks, sparking excitement about the possibility of a full-scale band. There was even hope that Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant might join, but the project never fully took shape. Ultimately, XYZ dissolved before releasing any official material, with two of the demos later resurfacing on Yes albums.
Though short-lived, XYZ remains a fascinating “what-if” moment in rock history—serving as a brief creative detour for Squire while leaving the door open for future collaborations that never came to be.
