I'LLBEONTHEFÖNETOYOU was a Houston, Tx post-punk art-wave band active from 1982-’89.

Starting as an improvisational ensemble who performed with electronic toys and Casio VL-Tone digital synthesizers, they later wrote and performed original songs influenced by then-emerging Post-punk and New Wave artists. Members included Clay Bowman (Guitars, Piano); Ralf Ero Melendez (Voice, Percussion, Electronics); Harlan Kimbrough (Drums, Percussion); Harry Leverette (Voice, Electronics, Guitars, Vibraphone); Penny Smith (Voice, Electronics, Flute, Piano); and Gary Yokie (Voice, Electronics, Bass).
In 1982, C.I.A. Records published their one-and-only EP, simply titled I’LLBEONTHEFÖNETOYOU, on 12” vinyl that is now very hard to come by. Its clipped, absurd, funny-scary sound - so much a part of its historic, cold-war-infected moment - has found new relevancy in the current age of American autocracy.

The band eventually built up a repertoire of over twenty original songs that they performed during the following years at local Houston venues such as The Island, The Caribana, The Ale House, Rudyard’s, and the UH Lawndale Annex.  On February 19, 1983, they had the distinction of headlining the Syzygy New Music Series at Rice University’s Hamman Hall.

While focusing on synth and guitar heavy songs with idiosyncratic lyrics, IBONFTY continued to entertain improvisational projects such as soundtracks for installations and performance art.

They went on hiatus in 1984, their members moving on to do different projects (Flesh Farewell, Thin Man, Burning Man, Pandemonium, Tohu-Bohus, Señor Bubba, Dr. Sonik, Driving Off the Spleen, and The Winkler and The Hare.