Created by ex-SCEPTRE and ABATTOIR frontman John Cyriis, Los Angeles based AGENT STEEL soon forged a reputation for surgically precise intense metal honed by Cyriis' distinct high altitude vocal range. AGENT STEEL's distinction in the Metal world is also undoubtedly enhanced by the band's Sci-Fi apocalyptic lyrical stance.

Created by frontman John Camps, the roots of AGENT STEEL lay in SANCTUARY, an act which dated back to 1980, when John Cyriis and drummer Chuck Profus co-founded a band under that name in November of that year, which folded during December 1981. Cyriis then forged a short-lived outfit dubbed TOKIX SHOK, initiated by ex-DECEIVER guitarist Kurt "Kilfelt" Colfelt. When this project faltered, Camps was next to be found on the track 'Taken By Force' contributed by SCEPTRE to the Metal Blade Records 1983 compilation album 'Metal Massacre IV'. As guitarist for SCEPTRE, the São Paulo born, Guitar Institute of Technology trained John Camps (a.k.a. João Campos), also featured as lead vocalist on the ABATTOIR track 'Screams From The Grave'. Camps, renaming himself 'John Syriis', later 'Cyriis', had auditioned for the position of lead vocalist with ABATTOIR, and, demonstrating an impressive multi-octave range, secured the position easily. However, within six months Cyriis was ousted and along with Chuck Profus engineered a new proposition billed as AGENT STEEL. During the interim, Profus was in a band called ABUSER with bass player George Robb between October 1983 and July 1984.

Subsequently, the pair hooked up with George Robb in August to form AGENT STEEL, rounded out by guitarists Bill Simmons and Mark Marshall. Strangely, John Cyriis issued a statement on September 17th, 1984 claiming that AGENT STEEL had officially changed their name to SANCTUARY - the line-up of the band at this time credited Cyriis, Mark Marshall, John Gott, George Robb and Chuck Profus. This was followed soon afterward, on September 25th, with another statement asking people to disregard the previous letter and stating that "the band is and always will be called Agent Steel"! This inaugural line-up cut the four song '144'000 Gone' demo in 1984.

AGENT STEEL had a complete switch of guitarists when Marshall and Simmons were ejected. Marshall would later make his mark with SAVAGE GRACE. John Gott briefly occupied the six string position before ex-ABATTOIR man Juan Garcia and Kurt "Kilfelt" Colfelt were inducted as permanent members for the groundbreaking, Jay Jones produced 'Skeptics Apocalypse' album. This Jay Jones produced album, released in August 1985, by Combat in the USA and Roadrunner Records in the UK, would make an immediate impact globally. The leading Thrash Metal journal of the time, Britain's 'Metal Forces' magazine, would see editor Bernard Doe citing 'Skeptics Apocalypse' as one of his favourite albums of the year whilst readers voted Cyriis fourth best Metal vocalist. Predictably, this band roster was also to prove fragile. Colfelt would bow out, later gaining recognition with the 'Terror And Submission' album for his new act HOLY TERROR, and in his stead would come the teen protégé of Bernie 'Versaille' Versye.

The band made their first live appearance opening for SLAYER in September 1984 at the Los Angeles Country Club. A brace of headliners later and AGENT STEEL were invited to open dates for British metallers RAVEN. Robb too made his exit in favour of bassist Michael Zaputil. The band released a highly praised EP in September 1985 titled 'Mad Locust Rising', cut at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, California, which featured an extreme cover version of JUDAS PRIEST's 'The Ripper'.

With Thrash Metal riding a high AGENT STEEL put in a notable show at the infamous Dutch 'Aardschok Dag' festival and toured Europe as support to OVERKILL and ANTHRAX, billed the "Speed Metal attack" tour, during May of 1986. The band's media profile would be raised during this period with stories that Cyriis, convinced that a Mayan end times theory was set to signal the end of the world, started to sign his autograph as "2011"- the supposed date of the impending apocalypse.

The 'Unstoppable Force' album, produced by Dan Johnson at Morrisound Studios, only served to heighten the band's reputation although critics did note a mellowing of Cyriis' vocal delivery. AGENT STEEL were by now the subject of numerous major label inquiries and in November 1986 reports leaked out that Capitol Records were showing a serious desire to sign the band. AGENT STEEL showcased successfully for the label but as negotiations dragged on the proposed deal withered. 'Unstoppable Force' emerged in March 1987.

Garcia quit to form EVIL DEAD with his ex-ABATTOIR colleague bassist Mel Sanchez. Garcia, alongside future TESTAMENT and SLAYER drummer John Dette, would also found the Spanish language Metal band TERROR cutting the Mexican release album 'Hijos De Los Cometas'.

Cyriis and Profus, now relocated to Florida, conducted a European tour by drafting in hired hands. Guitarists JAMES MURPHY and Jay Weslord figuring among their number. Another musician to be included in the AGENT STEEL ranks would be ex-PURGATORY bassist Richard Bateman.

This variant of AGENT STEEL, strangely decked in bright orange boiler suits, put in a London Hammersmith Odeon gig on June 20th supported by NUCLEAR ASSAULT, ATOMKRAFT and ONSLAUGHT.

In December 1987 members of AGENT STEEL were arrested in Arizona on charges of aggravated assault on a youth. The bizarre allegations centred upon a 17 year old male (actually a band roadie) the band had allegedly tied to a bed whilst they subsequently urinated on him and exploded firecrackers on his chest. Charges were dropped, but the group folded shortly after following another strange incident in which Cyriis allegedly tried to force band members to get AGENT STEEL tattoos. Whether the rumours of forced tattooing are true or not are unclear but the fact remains that many of Cyriis' former associates sport AGENT STEEL tattoos.

In 1988 AGENT STEEL officially disbanded. Whilst Cyriis, Garcia, Hill and Profus assembled the short-lived PONTIUS PROPHET, issuing a two-track demo 'Rites Of Hatred' that same year, guitarist JAMES MURPHY later joined HALLOWS EVE, DEATH, OBITUARY and CANCER. He would also figure in the ever fluid TESTAMENT line-up, record with Danes KONKHRA and release solo product.

Cyriis would declare his intention to retire in 1988. Profus would put his efforts into a new venture billed as MALFEITOR in union with ex-PONTIUS PROPHET guitarist Michael Hill. Intriguingly it was soon revealed that MALFEITOR's vocalist 'Max Kobol' was in truth none other than John Cyriis. Cyriis / Kobol would next be spotted as frontman for Tampa, Florida band LEMEGETON appearing on their 'Evil Against Evil' demo. Cyriis re-emerged in 1990 fronting New York's BLACK REIGN.

Ex-member Richard Bateman was added to the NASTY SAVAGE ranks in 1989. A decade later Bateman founded AFTER DEATH with ex-MORBID ANGEL, NOCTURNUS and INCUBUS man Mike Browning. Bateman would later tragically be killed in a car accident.

AGENT STEEL reformed in 1999 prompted by an offer to perform at the annual German 'Wacken Open Air' festival. German label Century Media would aid their cause by re-issuing their entire back catalogue. AGENT STEEL's reformation line-up now comprised ex-SYBIL singer Bruce Hall, guitarists Juan Garcia and Bernie Versailles, erstwhile EVIL DEAD bassist Karl Medina and drummer Chuck Profus.

Versailles also contributed the ENGINE project album assembled by ARMOURED SAINT's Joey Vera and FATES WARNING's Ray Alder. He would also act as live guitarist for FATES WARNING too.

The band cut another JUDAS PRIEST track 'Beyond The Realms Of Death' for the Dwell Records tribute album 'Hell Bent For Metal'. This track would also be included as a bonus track on American release versions, on the Metal Blade label, of the band's uncompromisingly intense comeback album 'Omega Conspiracy'.

The band toured Germany in early 2000 on a package bill with RIOT, ANVIL and DOMINE. Cyriis, apparently now going under the title of 'Max Havlock', resurfaced again in 2000 with a fresh act titled OUTER GATEWAYS.

AGENT STEEL would re-title themselves ORDER OF THE ILLUMINATI for new recording projects in 2001. As such the band laid down a cover of BLACK SABBATH's 'Hole In The Sky' for donation to a tribute album 'Evil Lives: A True Metal Tribute To Black Sabbath'. The same year would witness the retirement of Profus with Rigo Amezcua taking over the drum stool for the band's appearance at the 'Kalamazoo Metal' festival. Versailles would also find time to act as producer for Death Metal band SADISTIC INTENT.

As 2002 dawned it appeared that the relationship between Cyriis and the ongoing band had had defrosted somewhat with a possibility that the next studio album may emerge under the AGENT STEEL banner after all. In March the band performed the second annual 'Hellfest' event in Whittier, California ranked alongside fellow vets EXODUS. In December former frontman John Cyriis resurfaced in a new band unit STELLAR SEED.

AGENT STEEL signed to the Italian based Scarlet label to issue the 'Order Of The Illuminati' album, under the AGENT STEEL banner, in May 2003. UK and European dates projected into October 2003, dubbed the 'Bonded By Metal' trek, found AGENT STEEL co-headlining a billing comprising EXODUS, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, GOD DETHRONED, MORTICIAN, OCCULT and CALLENISH CIRCLE. However, the band dropped off this billing half way through the trek due to disagreements with the booking agency.

AGENT STEEL announced a high profile return to the live circuit with an appearance at the 'Keep It True IV' festival held in April 2005 at the Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Koenigshofen, Germany. They would use this opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 'Skeptics Apocalypse' by performing the Thrash classic in its entirety. Regular European gigs saw Belgian Thrashers AFTER ALL as support. That same month Bruce Hall was announced as new frontman for STEEL PROPHET.

On 9th July 2005 AGENT STEEL lined up at The Pound outdoor amphitheatre in San Francisco alongside TESTAMENT, VICIOUS RUMORS, LÄÄZ ROCKIT, HIRAX, DREAMS OF DAMNATION, DEKAPITATOR, MUDFACE, NEIL TURBIN, BROCAS HELM and IMAGIKA for the 'Thrash Against Cancer' benefit. Working with producer Bill Metoyer the band entered the studio on 17th October to craft a new album. AGENT STEEL announced signature with Dutch label Mascot Records in July 2006.

Former AGENT STEEL players bass player George Robb and drummer Chuck Profus returned to the scene in 2006 with OBSCENE GESTURE, a union with frontman Guy Green and the STEEL PROPHET and BODY COUNT credited Vincent Dennis on guitar.

AGENT STEEL teamed up with VICIOUS RUMORS and AFTER ALL for the 'Alienigma' European Tour 2007 beginning in early September.

The group cut new demo tracks in June 2009.

Garry Sharpe-Young