George, the tale of Agent Steel begins with Dave Mustaine; in 1983, singer John Cyriis found himself fronting an early incarnation of Megadeth, did you know about that? Were you also aware, that he was involved in Abattoir, Vermin, Medusa and Sceptre?
First, thank you for asking me to do the interview. I wasn’t aware that this would be mostly about John Cyriis and Agent Steel. But I’ll be good sport and try to answer all your questions.
I wasn’t aware of John in Megadeth until John told me. You know he still brags about it today. As far as I know, Dave has never publicly verified this story. I did know that he was in Abattior, Vermin and Septre.
It mean, he was a well-known dude, right?
I don’t think that John was we’ll known in Los Angeles at that time at all. As Agent Steel became more prominent he did have a name but for all the wrong reasons.
You on bass, Kurt Colfelt and Juan Garcia both on guitars joined the band, after John Gott, Bill Simmons and Mark Chase Marshall were sacked, what happened? How did all of you get in the picture to replace them?
Well, let me set the story straight. Chuck Profus and I were the original members of Agent Steel. John NEVER gave me that credit. I don’t even know who Bill Simmons was.
What about yours and Kurt’s musical past, by the way?
I was playing metal covers and shit prior to 1984. Then in the beginning of 1984 Chuck and I started an original metal band called Abuser. That band was short lived because in Aug 1984 John approached Chuck and I to start Agent Steel.
How did you view the L. A. scene at this point? In your opinion, was it devided into two parts? There were the hair/glam outfits and the underground thrash/speed, power ones…
The L.A. scene was thick wit Metal/Thrash/Power bands thru 1983/1984. Then the hair/glam scene came around in 1985. The clubs from that point wanted nothing to do with us. It got really fuckin’ tough going getting a show there after that.
You recorded a second demo, did it catching the attention of the ever-expanding Combat Records? Were there perhaps other labels’ interests in the band too?
I have no idea of this 2nd demo really. I know for a fact that we only recorded one demo, “144,000 Gone”. Besides Combat, I don’t know of any other labels that were interested then.
At which point did you start working on the debut album Skeptics Apocalypse? What was your songwriting system at all?
That’s funny because we were working on those songs in Aug 1984 when we first got together. We were performing that first album since Sept 1st, 1984. My personal songwriting system is that I would write tons of lyrics and keep them in a file. Then I would come up with some riffs and put those all together into a cohesive song. Afterwards, I would go through my lyrics and find something that fits.
The album was recorded and mixed from December 1984 – February 1985 somewhere in Los Angeles, with the help of Jay Jones, how did the recording sessions go? Did you get on well Jay with?
The Skeptics recordings went pretty well. We did have one glitch though. I believe it was on “Bleed for the Godz”. There seemed to have been a bad spot on the master tape and we had to go back in the studio and punch in on that one spot. It was kinda’ crazy. Jay Jones was a pretty cool guy. I really liked him. We used to get high often.
Did Skeptics Apocalypse boldly go lyrically where few thrash albums dare: interstellar?
Yeah, I guess so.
Were the masterminds behind this idea John Cyris and Chuck Profus (R. I. P.)?
Well, the whole space concept was Johnny’s idea. Although he never gave any of the credit to the rest of the band.
There’s John Cyriis’ glass-shattering vocals, the unforgettable guitar duels, a tight rhythm section, isn’t it?
Very much so. Unfortunately my bass was completely drowned out of the mix.
The Rigelian Council of Interstellar Culture intercepted Skeptics Apocalypse, an auditory document that to the untrained sensory receptors of Earthlings would be classified as speed or thrash metal…
I have no fucking idea what you are asking me! Rigelian Council?!? Sounds like some bullshit that Johnny would rant about.
Do you think, that the metallurgic chemistry of the band is evident, as all instruments contribute to this outstanding piece of speed metal?
I definitely think so.
While Cyriis capable of passing the atmosphere and reaching outer space with his high falsetto, is without a doubt one of the best aspects of this release, correct?
Again, I think every aspect contributed to that release. Of course, Johnny had his vocals completely out front in the mix. Even my back-up vocals were kind of buried.
Do you agree with, that Skeptics Apocalypse lacks the mosh riffs and antisocial attitude that fueled the likes of your thrashing peers?
Skeptics Apocalypse was definitely a Speed Metal release.
Were you sonically lying closer to the US power metal scene and traditional metal acts like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, or did you deliver precise speed metal based upon captivating riffs and expert hooks designed to draw the listener into each song?
Definitely precise Speed Metal path.
Did Skeptics Apocalypse cement Agent Steel as an unstoppable force within the U.S. metal underground?
I think Skeptics Apocalypse did begin our legacy in the underground metal scene.
It’s also definitely surpasses much of what was being delivered from the U.S. in 1985, isn’t it?
Well, Skeptics, in my opinion, was one of the top Speed Metal releases of 1985.
Do you agree with, that instrumentally, the main characteristics of the Agent Steel sound are the almost exclusive use of fast tempos and flat-out drumming as well as the attention to melody in the riffs and harmonies, which is possibly one of the differentiating elements from one’s more classic thrash metal sound?
Definitely that is one of the hallmarks of Speed Metal. I don’t think that is exclusive to Agent Steel.
In your opinion, is the production clear, but not polished, lending the album a slight rawness that is suggestive of the intensity of the band’s live sound?
I think the production was kind of weak actually. I’m not sure what I expected but I thought the final product would be more polished. We really went all fuckin’ out when we played those songs live though.
Did the production job suit Agent Steel’s sound quite nicely in that it offers a nice combination of rawness and clarity and has a distinctly underground mid-80’s metal vibe to it.
Again, I didn’t think the production job did those songs enough justice. It definitely did have that mid 80’s metal vibe though.
How do you mind that the simplicity of the production is part of what prevents this album from being shelved along with so many other hopelessly dated recordings from this sub-genre and period, and what ultimately contributes to the continued vitality of this album after over 20 years?
It’s been 40 years and I don’t think that the production has anything to do with the albums legacy.
Were there any shows/tours in support of the record?
We did a lot of California shows (Los Angeles and San Francisco). Then we drove to Montreal to play a festival with Slayer and Exodus. Along the way we picked up a couple more shows. One with Exodus in N.Y.C.
If we talk about 1985, a lot of masterpieces have been issued besides Skepctics: Hell Awaits, Bonded By Blood, Vicious Attack, Master of Disguise to name a few, how did you view that year as a whole?
1985 was an awesome year. He’ll Awaits, Bonded by Blood were definitely god damn masterpieces. Hearing He’ll Awaits for the first time absolutely changed my life.
Unfortunately Chuck Profus passed away this year, how do you want him to be remembered?
Chuck Profus was one of my closest friends. He was one of the most awesome drummers of the 1980’s and beyond. We played together in 2005/2006 in Obscene Gesture and he was a beast then. He and I were totally inseparable during the Agent Steel days also.
George, thanks a lot for your answers, what are your closing words?
I would definitely like to say to all the fans out there to keep supporting underground music! I have re-hashed my old thrash project “Violent Revolution“ this past year. We have like 6 new songs and are about to demo them out. We’re going to record a new album very soon and it should be released before the end of the year. Our first album “State of Unrest“ is still available also.
You Mother Fuckers better keep an eye out for it!
And remember……. THRASH TILL DEATH!!!!!!!!!
