Agent Steel
Encyclopedia
Agent Steel is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....

 band from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis (birth name disputed, possibly João Campos or Jean Pierre),and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988. They were most notable for John Cyriis's high-pitched vocals, catchy songs, melodic riffs, and fast tempos mixed in with their unusual (in heavy metal) UFOs, and differential Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...

 -as the band's
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...

 song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...

/lyrical themes
Theme (music)
In music, a theme is the material, usually a recognizable melody, upon which part or all of a composition is based.-Characteristics:A theme may be perceivable as a complete musical expression in itself, separate from the work in which it is found . In contrast to an idea or motif, a theme is...

. The band reformed in 1999 and has released three full length albums since.

Rise

John Camps left Sceptre, (which then disbanded) and went on to join Abattoir as their vocalist under the name John Syriis, which soon changed to "Cyriis". He left Abattoir and teamed up with drummer Chuck Profus to form Agent Steel. Mark Marshall (before he joined Savage Grace
Savage Grace
Savage Grace is a 2007 film directed by Tom Kalin and written by Howard Rodman, based on the book Savage Grace by Natalie Robins and Steven M.L. Aronson. The story is based on the dysfunctional, allegedly incestuous relationship between heiress and socialite Barbara Daly Baekeland and her son, Antony...

) and Bill Simmons
Bill Simmons
William J. "Bill" Simmons III is a sports columnist, author, and podcaster. He currently writes columns and hosts podcasts for Grantland.com, which is affiliated with ESPN.com. He is a former writer for ESPN The Magazine and Jimmy Kimmel Live!...

 joined the band for a short stay as the two guitarists with George Robb
George Robb
George Robb is a former footballer who played outside left for Tottenham Hotspur and England. He represented Great Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games. He also had a career as a schoolteacher.-Career :...

 on bass. In 1984 this line-up recorded with producer Dan McConomy, the "144,000 Gone" demo. The demo was subsequently played on KMET - The Mighty Metal hour; and with the help of new recruit guitarist Juan Garcia; got the attention of Combat Records and signed Agent Steel to a record deal. Agent Steel's debut show was opening for Slayer at The Country Club in Reseda, California. Steve Sinclair from Combat records signed the band.

Various guitarist changes occurred after the "144,000 Gone" demo, but eventually ex-Abattoir guitarist Juan Garcia
Juan Garcia
Juan Garcia* Juan Tyrone Garcia, Famous Mexican Marial Artist and actor* Juan M. Garcia, U.S. politician, Texas State Representative* Juan Garcia Abrego drug lord, Gulf Cartel* Juan García Esquivel , Mexican band leader...

 and future Holy Terror guitarist Kurt Kilfelt became members. The first Agent Steel full length album titled Skeptics Apocalypse
Skeptics Apocalypse
Skeptics Apocalypse is the debut album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California and mastered at Frankort Wayne Studios by Tom Coyne...

 was released on Combat Records
Combat Records
Combat Records was an independent record label from New York City. The label was home to predominantly metal and punk rock acts including Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dead Brain Cells, Possessed, Crumbsuckers, Agnostic Front, Agent Steel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Zoetrope and...

 on August 17, 1985.

Kurt Kilfelt soon left the band after a falling out with Cyriis and formed Holy Terror. He was replaced by guitarist Bernie Versailles and an EP was recorded entitled Mad Locust Rising
Mad Locust Rising
Mad Locust Rising is the second release from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded at Indigo Ranch Studios, Malibu, California and mastered at Frankort Wayne Studios by Tom Coyne...

 in late 1985. It was released in the USA by Combat Records and in Europe by Music For Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....

. This EP contained "The Ripper", one of a few Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

 cover songs that were recorded by the band.

George Robb left the band soon after the "Mad Locust Rising" EP was released and was replaced by bassist Michael Zaputil. In March, 1986 the band entered Morrisound Studio
Morrisound Recording
Morrisound Recording is an audio recording facility in Temple Terrace, Florida, owned and operated by brothers Jim and Tom Morris. Since its opening in 1981, Morrisound has been responsible for the popularization of genres such as heavy metal and death metal, but of course caters to every genre of...

 in Tampa, Florida to record the full length follow-up to "Mad Locust Rising", Unstoppable Force
Unstoppable Force
Unstoppable Force is the second album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded at Morrisound Recording Studios in Tampa, Florida...

. The band interrupted the recording for a few months to tour in Europe. They toured through the month of May with Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

 and Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...

 where the split video US Speed Metal Attack was recorded. They returned in June to finish recording the "Unstoppable Force" album. The album was released in 1987 due to delays in the recording sessions.

Fall

After the recording of "Unstoppable Force", the band was severed when the band members spread out across the USA. Cyriis and Chuck Profus went to Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...

, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

; while Juan Garcia, Bernie Versailles, and Michael Zaputil decided to remain in Los Angeles. The disenchanting L.A. metal scene climate is one of the main reasons which inspired Profus and Cyriis into relocating where metal music was thriving. Meanwhile; Juan Garcia went on to form the band "Evil Dead", while Mike Zaputil joined a "crossover" band, "The Mofo Homeboys".
In Tampa, Cyriis and Chuck Profus hired guitarists James Murphy and J. Weslord, as well as bassist Richard Bateman for a European tour. The tour was very successful. So much was the success - selling out shows in Holland/Amsterdam - that on June 20, 1987, the final show of the tour (with Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...

, and UK thrash metal band Onslaught
Onslaught (band)
Onslaught are an English thrash metal band from Bristol, England. Initially active from 1983 to 1991, they reformed in 2004. The band initially drew influence from the second wave punk rock bands such as Discharge and The Exploited, and then adopted a straight forward thrash metal...

 as the opener) culminated in a farewell Agent Steel performance video recorded at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon. The video was released later that year.

In early 1988, Cyriis, disenchanted with all the "rip-offs", and "jealousy politics" within the metal scene, disbanded "the former Agent Steel", dissociating completely from the music business to "pursue his philosophical interests."

Revival

After the band broke up in 1988 Chuck Profus and Cyriis joined and formed a number of projects both together and separately. One of these was called Pontious Prophet, with an old Brazilian guitarist friend of Cyriis called Silvio Golffeti, from the Brazilian thrash metal band Korzus
Korzus
Korzus is a Brazilian thrash metal band, formed in 1983 in São Paulo. They are one of the oldest and most important bands of the Brazilian thrash metal scene, along with bands like Sarcófago and Sepultura...

. In 2002 Cyriis went on to form Stellar Seed with Japanese physics professor and black metal guitarist/keyboardist, "Dr. Shuichi Oni". The nature of the music was ambient speed metal. The two recorded one live demo-song titled "The Godz of Man". Shuichi Oni, and (Cyriis) Dr.Jean Pierre, have recently resurfaced after having completed work on the first series of recordings for S.E.T.I. - Shuichi Oni's new band. The songs are to be released on a DVD (featuring visual simulations on film and art graphics) titled "Cosmology and the PK Wars: Series 1 - "VAULT OF COSMIC HORRORS".

Juan Garcia, after leaving Agent Steel, went on to form the thrash metal band Evildead
Evildead
Evildead is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1987. The band was originally composed of members of two former bands, Agent Steel and Abattoir, including guitarist Juan Garcia, who is their only permanent member member...

 along with ex-members of Abattoir. The band released the 2 full-length albums "Annihilation of Civilization" and "The Underworld", and a 3-song EP entitled "Rise Above" on Steamhammer Records. They had reasonable success in the European metal scene touring with bands like Laaz Rockit. EvilDead disbanded in the early 1990s; some of the members, including Juan Garcia, went on to form the band Terror, which released the full-length "Hijos de Los Cometas" on BMG in Mexico before officially disbanding.

In 1999, Agent Steel was reborn. Juan Garcia brought in bassist Karlos Medina that had been in EvilDead, and Terror; while Chuck Profus and Bernie Versailles returned; along with new recruit Bruce Hall as the new vocalist. Bruce Hall's vocals were not as high-pitched as Cyriis' but the clean sung vocals remained in the Agent Steel vein.

Agent Steel recorded Omega Conspiracy
Omega Conspiracy
Omega Conspiracy is the third full length album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was their comeback album after not releasing any new material in 13 years due to the band splitting up. A video was made for the song "It's Not What You Think"....

 in 1999 which was their first album in 13 years; their sound continued on as speed metal with some modern influences.

Chuck Profus sustained a hand injury and Rigo Amezcua (ex-Terror drummer) filled in for him for live performances. Profus decided to leave the band and Rigo Amezcua replaced him on a permanent basis. With this new revamped line-up the band started writing new material for their next full length album starting in 2001. In 2003, Agent Steel released the album Order Of The Illuminati
Order Of The Illuminati
Order Of The Illuminati is the fourth album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. The album was released by Scarlet Records on the 10 June 2003.-Track listing:# "Avenger" – 5:29# "Ten Fists Of Nations" – 7:03# "E.U.L...

 to rave reviews with the band returning to a more of a traditional classic metal sound.

Following the release of "Order Of The Illuminati", a mini CD was available in late 2003 entitled "Earth Under Lucifer" as a promotional product to coincide with a European tour with Exodus. In 2005, Agent Steel released an official DVD which contains an entire live performance with no "overdubs" from their appearance at the Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air
Dynamo Open Air was a festival in the Netherlands held every year since 1986, until 2005. Originally held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Dynamo rock club in Eindhoven, it has grown exponentially since then, and from a 5,000-person attendance in the Dynamo parking lot, it had grown to...

. In 2007, Agent Steel released their fifth studio album, Alienigma
Alienigma
Alienigma is the fifth album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. The album was released by Mascot Records on August 31, 2007.-Track listing:# "Fashioned from Dust" – 4:44# "Wash the Planet Clean" – 5:25# "Hail to the Chief" – 6:37...

.

On April 24, 2010, it was announced that Bruce Hall had left the band, as stated by Bruce, "I'm sure for the people who know us very well this comes as little surprise. I complain a lot and I've pretty much lost my stamina for bothering with anything new as far as Agent Steel goes. Sadly, the continual walk in John's shoes has entirely drained my passion for doing anything other than treating Agent Steel as a cover band. Y'know, go out, play the first two albums for a free trip to wherever and call it a swell hobby? Well, that wasn't going to work for anyone in the band but me. They still have the fire and desire to continue making new music with Agent Steel and I wish them the very best of luck with whomever they get to fill John's shoes".

Reunion

On May the 3rd, 2010, the band announced the comeback of Cyriis with the following statement:

"As some of you may, or may not have already heard the news that AGENT STEEL has parted ways with vocalist Bruce Hall. We as a band would like to acknowledge the accomplishments together with Bruce and the (3) three solid metal offerings; 'OMEGA CONSPIRACY', 'ORDER OF THE ILLUMINATI', and 'ALIENIGMA'. Together we had the fortune of touring and sharing the stage in some amazing places and visited some breathtaking countries. Bruce dedicated over a decade to AGENT STEEL and for this he should be recognized, and we part on good terms. We as a band still have the fire and passion to deliver the metal goods to fans from the past, present and future. We had been writing new material for the next chapter of AGENT STEEL, and after the news got out that we separated from Bruce; we were contacted by original singer; CYRIIS. Call it destiny; call it what you will, but now the communicative channel is open between AGENT STEEL and vocalist CYRIIS; we are in talks about an imminent AGENT STEEL reunion tour possibly involving summer/fall 2010 appearances and an extensive '2011' Metal-blitz. Honestly, we do not know how long this reunion will last; however this could be the long awaited destiny of AGENT STEEL originally interrupted, so long as everything moves forward in an evolving good working climate. Our objective regarding this AGENT STEEL reunion is attached with the intentions of providing the opportunity to not only the dedicated fans, but also to a whole new generation of metal fans the chance to see AGENT STEEL live on stage with CYRIIS; the original voice on the classic ‘SKEPTICS APOCALYPSE’, ‘UNSTOPPABLE FORCE’, and ‘MAD LOCUST RISING’ releases. The legacy continues...stay tuned."

On Sept 18-19, 2010 Agent Steel performed two live shows with John Cyriis returning as lead vocalist for the first time in over two decades in Tokyo, Japan at "Thrash Domination 2010" along with Exodus, Overkill, Nevermore and the Japanese band Outrage. Agent Steel also performed live in Europe with John Cyriis on vocals again at the "Sweden Rock Festival" in Solvesborg, Sweden on June 10, 2011.

Discography

  • Skeptics Apocalypse
    Skeptics Apocalypse
    Skeptics Apocalypse is the debut album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California and mastered at Frankort Wayne Studios by Tom Coyne...

    (1985)
  • Mad Locust Rising
    Mad Locust Rising
    Mad Locust Rising is the second release from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded at Indigo Ranch Studios, Malibu, California and mastered at Frankort Wayne Studios by Tom Coyne...

    (1985)(EP)
  • Unstoppable Force
    Unstoppable Force
    Unstoppable Force is the second album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was recorded at Morrisound Recording Studios in Tampa, Florida...

    (1987)
  • Omega Conspiracy
    Omega Conspiracy
    Omega Conspiracy is the third full length album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. It was their comeback album after not releasing any new material in 13 years due to the band splitting up. A video was made for the song "It's Not What You Think"....

    (1999)
  • Order of the Illuminati
    Order Of The Illuminati
    Order Of The Illuminati is the fourth album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. The album was released by Scarlet Records on the 10 June 2003.-Track listing:# "Avenger" – 5:29# "Ten Fists Of Nations" – 7:03# "E.U.L...

    (2003)
  • Alienigma
    Alienigma
    Alienigma is the fifth album from the US speed metal band Agent Steel. The album was released by Mascot Records on August 31, 2007.-Track listing:# "Fashioned from Dust" – 4:44# "Wash the Planet Clean" – 5:25# "Hail to the Chief" – 6:37...

    (2007)

Videography

  • US Speed Metal Attack (1985)
  • Mad Locust Rising: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon June '87 (1987)
  • Live @ Dynamo Open Air (2005)
  • Mad Locust Rising (2007)

Current

  • John Cyriis - Vocals
  • Juan Garcia
    Juan Garcia (guitarist)
    Juan Garcia is a Cuban-American heavy metal guitarist. He is perhaps best known as the guitarist for the thrash metal bands Agent Steel and Evildead and the power metal/speed metal band Abattoir...

     - Guitar
    Guitar
    The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

  • Bernie Versailles - Guitar
  • Rigo Amezcua - drums
    Drum kit
    A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....

  • Robert Cardenas - Bass

Former

  • Chuck Profus - Drums
  • Karlos Medina - Bass
  • George Robb
    George Robb
    George Robb is a former footballer who played outside left for Tottenham Hotspur and England. He represented Great Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games. He also had a career as a schoolteacher.-Career :...

     - Bass
  • Mark Marshall - Guitar
  • Bill Simmons
    Bill Simmons
    William J. "Bill" Simmons III is a sports columnist, author, and podcaster. He currently writes columns and hosts podcasts for Grantland.com, which is affiliated with ESPN.com. He is a former writer for ESPN The Magazine and Jimmy Kimmel Live!...

     - Guitar
  • Kurt Kilfelt - Guitar
  • Michael Zaputil - Bass
  • James Murphy - Guitar
  • J. Weslord - Guitar
  • Richard Bateman - Bass
  • Bruce Hall - Vocals
    Singing
    Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...

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