Formed by high school friends Rob Normandin and Dave Long on vocals and guitar and Jim Gange on bass in 1984, The Secret Service was one of the bands that made up the New York garage scene in the mid 80’s.  Joined by Steve Peper on drums the band covered their influences; The Who, The Animals, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and The Jam.  Dave Long was soon replaced by Wayne Manor, and The Secret Service was soon playing an infectious and original interpretation of the 60’s mod and garage sounds. 

            Playing in several local clubs, The Secret Service soon came to the attention of Chris Xefos, who recorded four original songs.  Three of those songs were released locally on the compilation The Origin of Grapefruit.

            By 1985 the band was playing in New York City’s top clubs, including CBGBs.  They went back into the studio with Chris Xefos to record 8 songs at Noise New York.  Those recordings would be the basis of the first and for a time only The Secret Service release.  The recordings were brought to Tom Schizzano who helped them turn it into the mini-LP It’s All Happening Here!

The recording caught the attention of  Dean Brownrout, then an A&R representative for Celluloid Records.  However,  The Secret Service and Celluloid could not agree on terms, and the deal fell through.  The Secret service released the record themselves under the Invader Records name. The album had some underground and college radio success. 

            The Secret Service went back into the studio with Tom Schizzano in 1988 to record a new demo tape to attract a major label.  Also at this time, however, conflicts over Wayne Manor’s excessive drinking, differences in musical direction and friction between the band members came to a head.  Before anything could happen with the new demo, The Secret Service broke up.

            As with so many bands that come and go, this would have been the end of what is called ‘a band with potential.’  However, fate, in the guise of Jon Weiss, formerly of the Vipers, stepped in to help resurrect The Secret Service.  He organized a gig of some of the bands that made up the  80’s New York garage scene called Cave Stomp ’97, and this included The Secret Service.  He contacted Rob Normandin, who then began to work at getting The Secret Service back together again.  Jim Gange decided not to be a part of the reunion and Wayne Manor was a question mark.  At the last minute, however, Wayne Manor was able to rejoin the group, and founding member Dave Long was brought in on bass.  After their success at Cave Stomp ’97, The Secret Service decided to give it another go.  A compilation of much of their recorded material was already in the works and was released as Power and Volume!, and new recordings may be forthcoming.