Artist description NY 60s-influenced mod/garage/rock/pop band from the mid-80s

Music Style High-Energy Soul, Mod

Similar Artists Early Who, Zombies, The Jam, The Animals, early Stones, The Creation, The Shambles, The Insomniacs, Manual Scan, Mod Fun

Artist History Formed in mid-1984 on Long Island, The Secret Service were a high energy band that became popular in the garage revival scene of New York City. They released a six-song 12" EP in early 1988 titled It's All Happening Here! The band broke up in December 1988, but reunited briefly for Cave Stomp '97.

Group Members Wayne Manor - vocals, Rob Normandin - guitar, Jim Gange - bass, Steve Peper - drums

Instruments Guitar, bass, drums

Albums It's All Happening Here!

Press Reviews THE MORNING CALL (John Terlesky) SAYS: "The Long Island, NY-based Secret Service was part of the mid 80s neo-garage/mod scene that flourished in and around New York City and "Power and Volume," a 28-track compilation of studio and live material, recaptures the speedy, no-nonsense sound that typified the period. Originals such as "I've Been Hurt So Many Times" and "You've Been Gone For So Long" show that The Secret Service had some serious pop chops, blending Who-like energy with Merseybeat melody, while still maintaining a contemporary edge. But it's in the live cover songs that the band comes off best, combining an obvious love for a bygone era with a raw abandon that makes it seem new again." THE BIG TAKEOVER (Mick Lewis) SAYS: "The Secret Service was part of what may be the most ignored U.S. subgenre of the '80s: mod-revival. With their image and sound a recreation of the usual '60s mod touchstones, the Secret Service made Smithtown, Long Island their Brighton and tried to find some numbers to groove to their brand of scrappy R&B... Singer Wayne Manor showed everlasting faith in live covers of Titus Turner's "Sticks and Stones" (originally covered by the Zombies), two Chuck Berry tunes including "Too Much Monkey Business" (Yardbirds), the Creation's "Biff Bang Pow!" and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates's "Shakin' All Over" (less heavy than The Who's). Also included is a well-rehearsed acoustic SUNY-Stony Brook radio session version of the Who's "A Quick One, While He's Away." SCOOT! QUARTERLY (Blake Ricks) SAYS: "This retrospective of the legendary Long Island NY garage R&B group The Secret Service is an in-depth look into a band who were a major musical force on the New York garage rock scene from 1984-88. Led by the soulful yet ready-to-rumble voice of frontman Wayne Manor, who sounds eerily reminiscent of Eric Burdon/The Animals, the band slashes through 28 tracks of mostly original tunes with a few covers that make up Power And Volume! The CD opens with a blistering live version of their own "It's All Happening Here!" with drums that pound like there's no tomorrow, setting a tone that is relentless through the whole album! There is an urgency to each song that is infectious. Though there is not a dud on the whole album, the song "I've Been Hurt So Many Times" truly jumps out. The production of most of the songs here are as true to the sixties sounds as are the songs themselves, and the musicianship is top notch. This is a DEFINITIVE MUST HAVE for all sixties garage rock enthusiasts (so what if they were from the eighties!)"

Location New York, New York - USA

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