Agent Steel
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Agent Steel
- Genres: Rock
Biography
California's Agent Steel began as something of an anomaly, treading the murky waters between traditional melodic metal and more aggressive thrash. Too hard for Judas Priest's fans, too soft for Metallica's, the band initially wound up striking out with both camps, and continual internal turmoil soon brought their career to a halt at the close of the 1980s, although a new incarnation of the band resumed its speed and thrash metal assaults a decade later.Like many aspiring metal gods of the 1980s, Brazilian-born John Cyriis (aka John Camps) was a product of the famed California Guitar Institute of Technology, the higher-learning facility whose hallways had become flooded with Edward Van Halen disciples at the start of the decade. By 1983, the Los Angeles club scene was teeming with all manner of heavy metal activity, and after graduation, Cyriis put in short apprenticeships as guitarist and singer with numerous local acts, most notably Sceptre and thrash hopefuls Abbatoir. He then set out on his own, starting a band with guitarists Mark Marshall and Bill Simmons, bassist George Robb, and drummer Chuck Profus called Sanctuary, soon renamed Agent Steel. Enamored with the vocal acrobatics of Judas Priest's Rob Halford, Cyriis steered the group away from the popular thrash leanings of the day and toward a more conventional, melodically charged style of heavy metal, the better to back up his flamboyant voice. A demo tape entitled 144,000 Gone was recorded in the summer of 1984 and led to a deal with Combat Records, after which both guitarists departed (Marshall later formed Savage Grace) and were replaced by new recruits Kurt Colfelt and Juan Garcia, himself another Abbatoir alum.
This lineup released 1985's highly accomplished Skeptics Apocalypse album (actually, a retooled work-in-progress EP entitled Operation Redeye), which saw Agent Steel attempting to reconcile their precise, Iron Maiden-like guitar harmonies with the frenzied rush of speed metal -- not to mention Cyriis' trademark high-pitched operatic wailing. Though hardly a commercial success, the album was given favorable reviews by many of the day's major metal magazines, but from the very start, the band's unorthodox formula seemed to polarize fans and critics alike into distinct love/hate camps. This love/hate relationship was also becoming the norm within the Agent Steel ranks, as bandmember after bandmember invariably found himself at odds with the tyrannical Cyriis. Colfelt was the next to quit, going on to form cult favorites Holy Terror, and the hastily recorded Mad Locust Rising EP (issued in early 1986) featured bass player Michael Zaputil and young guitar prodigy Bernie Versailles (later of Fates Warning).
Barely pausing for breath, Agent Steel spent much of that year alternating spells of touring (with the likes of Anthrax and Overkill, as well as a set of European festival gigs) and studio work on their next album, to be titled Unstoppable Force. Mostly recorded at Tampa's soon to be legendary Morrisound Studios, the album was shopped to major Capitol Records, who were extremely interested in the band, having only recently bought out the contract of another Combat signing, Dave Mustaine's Megadeth. But a series of miscues, including another major band schism -- Cyriis and drummer Profus impulsively decided to relocate to Florida, prompting the rest of the musicians to quit -- and an ill-advised last-minute demand for more money by the group's management scared off Capitol. As a result, Unstoppable Force was released by Combat after all, and after drafting ex-Nasty Savage bassist Richard Bateman and guitarists Jay Weslord and James Murphy (later with Obituary, Death, and Testament, among many others), Agent Steel set off on tour across Europe with Nuclear Assault. This proved to be their last stand, however, and they officially broke up shortly after returning America -- though an in-concert video taped at the band's final Hammersmith Odeon show was eventually released in 1989. Since then, except for a bizarre incident where he was allegedly arrested for acts of devil worship in Phoenix, AZ, John Cyriis has maintained a relatively low profile.
Years later, onetime guitarist Juan Garcia eventually decided to transform his then band, Evildead, into a new version of Agent Steel, also featuring singer Bruce Hall, bassist Karlos Medina, and past members Versailles and Profus. A new album entitled The Omega Conspiracy was released in 1999, but the band was reportedly forced to change its name after facing the potential threat of legal action from Cyriis. This version of Agent Steel thus assumed the moniker Order of the Illuminati, but wrangling over the band name was soon a thing of the past, and the group resumed its thrashings under the Agent Steel moniker, giving the name Order of the Illuminati to its 2003 CD release. Later that year, Agent Steel issued the Earth Under Lucifer EP, and in 2007 the band returned with Alienigma on the Mascot Music label. Agent Steel’s most recent lineup has featured Garcia, Versailles, and Hall along with bassist Robert Cardenas and drummer Rigo Amezcua. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi
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Agent Steel
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| Agent Steel | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Speed metal |
| Years active | 1984–1988, 1999–Present |
| Labels | Combat, Music for Nations, Metal Hammer, Candlelight, Scarlet, Mascot |
| Associated acts | Grinchfist Sybil Redemption EvilDead Fates Warning Death Obituary SETI |
| Website | www.agentsteelonline.com |
| Members | |
| John Cyriis Juan Garcia Bernie Versailles Robert Cardenas Rigo Amezcua |
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| Past members | |
| Mark Marshall Bill Simmons Kurt Kilfelt George Robb B. East James Murphy J. Weslord Karlos Medina Tim Thomas Richard Bateman Mike Zaputil Chuck Profus Bruce Hall |
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Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California 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[1] -as the band's song]/lyrical themes. The band reformed in 1999 and has released three full length albums since.
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Contents
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Biography
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) and Bill Simmons joined the band for a short stay as the two guitarists with George Robb 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 and future Holy Terror guitarist Kurt Kilfelt became members. The first Agent Steel full length album titled Skeptics Apocalypse was released on Combat Records on August 17, 1985.[2]
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 in late 1985. It was released in the USA by Combat Records and in Europe by Music for Nations. This EP contained "The Ripper", one of a few Judas Priest 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 in Tampa, Florida to record the full length follow-up to Mad Locust Rising, Unstoppable Force. The band interrupted the recording for a few months to tour in Europe. They toured through the month of May with Anthrax and Overkill 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.[3]
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; 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 Evildead, 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, and UK thrash metal band Onslaught as the opener) culminated in a farewell Agent Steel performance video recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon. The video was released later that year.[3]
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
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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. 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 along with ex-members of Abattoir. The band released the two 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 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 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. In 2007, Agent Steel released their fifth studio album, Alienigma.[4]
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".[5]
Reunion
On May 3, 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."[6]
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 (1985)
- Mad Locust Rising (1985)(EP)
- Unstoppable Force (1987)
- Omega Conspiracy (1999)
- Order of the Illuminati (2003)
- Alienigma (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)
Members
Current
- Rick Mythiasin - Vocals
- Juan Garcia - Guitar
- Bernie Versailles - Guitar
- Rigo Amezcua - drums
- Robert Cardenas - Bass
Former
- Chuck Profus - Drums
- Karlos Medina - Bass
- George Robb - Bass
- Mark Marshall - Guitar
- Bill Simmons - Guitar
- Kurt Kilfelt - Guitar
- Michael Zaputil - Bass
- James Murphy - Guitar
- J. Weslord - Guitar
- Richard Bateman - Bass
- Bruce Hall - Vocals
Notes
- ^ "AGENT STEEL Vocalist JOHN CYRIIS' S.E.T.I. Confirmed For HEADBANGERS OPEN AIR Festival - July 14, 2011". legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net. http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=160687. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Agent Steel page at Last.fm
- ^ a b allmusic
- ^ MySpace.com - AGENT STEEL
- ^ Bruce Hall Leaves Agent Steel
- ^ Agent Steel announces Cyriis' return on MySpace
External links
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Mentioned in
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(Rock Band, '80s)
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(Rock Band, '90s, 2000s)
Candlelight Collection, Vol. 3
(2000 Album by Various Artists)
Abbatoir
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Evildead
(Rock Band, '90s)
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