Agent Steel Biography
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This US heavy metal unit was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1984, although it had existed in various guises since the early 80s. The most popular line-up comprised John Cyriis (João Campos, Brazil; vocals, ex-Abattoir), Juan Garcia (guitar, ex-Abattoir), Kurt Colfelt (guitar), George Robb (bass), and Chuck Profus (drums). Signing to Combat Records, the band released their 1985 debut Skeptics Apocalypse, which introduced their trademark lyrical obsession with UFO conspiracy theories. However, they experienced difficulty with their record label and internal wrangles owing to Cyriis’ reputed eccentricity. With label problems resolved, the band (featuring new guitarist Bernie Versye/Versailles) released an EP entitled Mad Locust Rising. A further line-up change saw Michael Zaputil replacing Robb on the band’s finest recording, 1987’s trash-fixated speed metal classic Unstoppable Force. On the brink of greater acceptance, Agent Steel experienced further disruption when Cyriis decided he wanted to relocate the band to Florida. Only Profus joined him; the rest of the band was less than delighted with the provisional change in locale and left (or rather, stayed). Cyriis continued with various musicians in the new location, but was never able to match previous standards. Disillusioned, he dissolved the band in 1988, and, after a brief tenure alongside Profus in Pontious Prophet, left the music business for several years. Garcia formed Evildead with former colleagues from Abattoir. Garcia, Profus and Versailles returned at the end of the 90s with a new line-up of Agent Steel, featuring Bruce Hall (vocals) and Karlos Medina (bass, ex-Evildead). They recorded a well-received new studio album, Omega Conspiracy, released on the Candlelight label in 1999. Due to pressure from original vocalist Cyriis, the band was temporarily forced to change their name to Order Of The Illuminati. The moniker was subsequently used as the title of the band’s 2003 release, which featured new drummer Rigo Amezcua. The 2007 follow-up Alienigma hit a new low in the band’s ever-worsening cover designs, but the music within was a healthy slice of old-school speed metal.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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