# Agent 51

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**Agent 51** is an American [punk rock](/source/Punk_rock) band from [Poway, California](/source/Poway,_California), formed in 1995. They released three albums on various record labels before going on indefinite hiatus in 2005. The band played several reunion shows between 2008 and 2022, before returning to active status in 2023. Over the course of their career their music evolved from straightforward [punk rock](/source/Punk_rock) to incorporate aspects of [classic rock](/source/Classic_rock) and [heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music). The band has maintained a [mythology](/source/Mythology) about their origins, which purports them to be rogue secret agents on the run from a clandestine government organization with ties to [extraterrestrials](/source/Extraterrestrials).

## Band history

### Formation

Agent 51 formed in Poway, California in 1995 under the name Area 51. Initially, the band were part of a thriving local punk rock movement that included other groups such as [Blink-182](/source/Blink-182) and [Unwritten Law](/source/Unwritten_Law). Founding members Chris Armes, Jered Herndon, and Eric Davis had attended [Poway High School](/source/Poway_High_School) with Blink-182 member [Tom DeLonge](/source/Tom_DeLonge), and Armes' previous band Openfast had played as openers for Blink-182 on several occasions. This experience contributed to the impetus for forming Area 51.

The band's original lineup consisted of Chris Armes on [guitar](/source/Guitar) and vocals, Jered Herndon on [bass guitar](/source/Bass_guitar) and vocals, and Eric "Airwick" Davis on [drums](/source/Drum_kit). Herndon and Armes met in kindergarten and first started playing music together at age 13. After the breakup of Openfast, the two began Area 51 together, writing the band's first songs. Eric Davis joined the group shortly after, and the three collaborated on a core of tunes for their eponymous demo, including "Chuck", "Designed", "Runnin' Outta Luck", and "Homecoming Queen"; songs that remain fan favorites to this day. Area 51 began to grow a following with the demo release, but personal issues would lead to Herndon leaving the band in 1997. The band had previously discussed changing their name due to the number of other groups calling themselves Area 51. Herndon was replaced by Greg Schneider, who suggested the name "Agent 51" so that they could continue to use the "neighborhood watch" character Armes had designed and the name stuck. Davis moved to second guitar and Rob Hunter joined as drummer. Later, the band would re-record the songs from the original demo along with new material and release it under the title *[Red Alert](/source/Red_Alert_(Agent_51_album))*.

### Early albums and mythology

Their first album, *[Red Alert](/source/Red_Alert_(Agent_51_album))*, was released in 1998 by local label Alphabet Records. The album gained them notoriety in the local punk rock scene,[citation needed] and an independent [music video](/source/Music_video) was filmed for the title track. Armes took the stage name "Broken Armes" at this time due to an injury he suffered in 1997 which left his arm in a cast. In order to record his guitar parts on *Red Alert* he removed the cast himself and recorded while still injured.[citation needed]

Around this time the band began disseminating the mythos that they were rogue secret agents on the run from the government due to their knowledge of secrets related to [extraterrestrial](/source/Extraterrestrial_life_in_popular_culture) life. Schneider's influence matched this theme, suggesting the band wear matching black suits while performing. It also became common for the band to cover songs from the [classic rock](/source/Classic_rock) and 1970s metal genres in concert, such as [AC/DC](/source/AC/DC)'s "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Highway to Hell." [original research?]

By the recording of their second album in 2000, Hunter had been replaced on drums by Mike "Mikey L" Levinson. The album, *[Just Keep Runnin'](/source/Just_Keep_Runnin')*, was released that year on the band's own label Suburban Hooligans Records. The music was faster and slightly less punk-based than *Red Alert*, and included several songs that had become favorites in the band's live set over the last few years such as "Who's Gunna Riot?" and "The Last Pirate Standing."[original research?] The album's artwork and liner notes greatly expanded on their secret agent mythos by describing each member as a rogue agent enhanced with superpowers through extraterrestrial [DNA](/source/DNA) and technology, as well as detailing their struggle against a secret government organization called "The Agency."[original research?] The band played on the [Warped Tour](/source/Warped_Tour) that summer on the [Ernie Ball](/source/Ernie_Ball) side stage, winning Ernie Ball's Battle of the Bands competition.[citation needed] They also recorded the theme song for the short-lived San Diego [public-access television](/source/Public-access_television) [cable TV](/source/Cable_TV) show "Radiation Nation." The song was later included on the 2001 Warped Tour compilation.[citation needed]

*Just Keep Runnin'* caught the attention of [Billie Joe Armstrong](/source/Billie_Joe_Armstrong) of [Green Day](/source/Green_Day) and his label [Adeline Records](/source/Adeline_Records), who re-released it in 2001 with 2 bonus tracks recorded with new bassist Sean Scura, as Schneider had by then left the group. The band continued to tour, playing at San Diego's [Street Scene](/source/Street_Scene_(San_Diego_music_festival)) and other festivals.

### Success and break-up

Agent 51's next album was 2003's *[The Red & the Black](/source/The_Red_%26_the_Black)*, released on southern California label [Surfdog Records](/source/Surfdog_Records). With it the band moved towards a sound more reminiscent of classic rock and [Heavy Metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) bands such as AC/DC, [Motörhead](/source/Mot%C3%B6rhead) and [Def Leppard](/source/Def_Leppard). They also distanced themselves from their secret agent mythos by not mentioning extraterrestrials or conspiracies, and by ceasing to wear their matching suits in concert.[original research?] The song "She's My Heroine" received airplay on local rock radio station [91X](/source/91X), while "American Rock n Roll" was used in the opening episode of [MTV](/source/MTV)'s *[The Real World: San Diego](/source/The_Real_World:_San_Diego)* and "Air Raid" was later used in the [video game](/source/Video_game) *[Big Mutha Truckers 2](/source/Big_Mutha_Truckers_2)*.[citation needed] The album was nominated in several categories at the 2003 [San Diego Music Awards](/source/San_Diego_Music_Awards) and won for "best punk album."[citation needed]

Despite their growing popularity,[citation needed] however, Armes announced that he was leaving the band due to musical and financial pressures. Davis and Levinson formed 51 Guns in the summer of 2004, along with drummer Adam Rapps of [Pivit](/source/Pivit). Agent 51 remained inactive until June 2005.

### Reunion and recent activity

On June 5, 2005 Agent 51 played a reunion show at [SOMA](/source/Soma_San_Diego), an all-ages music venue in San Diego. This performance featured the most recent lineup of the band including Armes, Davis, and Scura, with drummer Adam Rapps replacing Levinson. The band once again wore matching black suits and made reference to "The Agency" and other aspects of their secret agent mythos. The band remained mostly inactive after this reunion show. Davis resumed playing with 51 Guns, who renamed themselves Arm the Angels in 2006. Scura moved to [Utah](/source/Utah) but eventually returned to San Diego. Levinson left 51 Guns, reuniting with Schneider to form [The Megas](/source/The_Megas), a video-game rock band based in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). Armes, meanwhile, announced his involvement with [The Rattlesnake Aces](/source/The_Rattlesnake_Aces). Agent 51 played a "comeback" show with [Pivit](/source/Pivit) and Arm the Angels in February 2008 with the lineup of Armes, Davis, Scura, and Levinson, with Greg Schneider also performing on several songs. The band reunited again in July 2008, performing with Pivit and Arm the Angels. To coincide with this concert, the band and Alphabet Records re-released *Red Alert* through iTunes and other digital retailers. Another reunion show was performed in Jan 2012 with the classic lineup coinciding with a brand new 2 song E.P. released digitally to iTunes entitled 'Operation Panther.' The band played more reunion shows in 2018, 2019, and 2022. In early 2021, Chris released his first solo Album Ocotillo Rose. The first single 'Lord Let Me Run' debuted on Yucca Thunder Records with plans to digitally release the remaining singles from the album throughout 2021. Agent 51 returned to the studio in 2023, releasing their first new music in over a decade with the singles Tear it All Down, Let Me Go, Mystifying, and Going for the Vault. They returned to the stage in 2024 for a show with Unwritten Law at the Observatory in North Park, and decided to begin work on a new album. After crowdfunding the recording budget, they released their new album "Age of Validation" on June 6th, 2025.

## Band members

Agent 51 lineups (only official members listed) (1995-1997) as Area 51 Chris Armes - guitar, vocals Jered Herndon - bass, vocals Eric Davis - drums (1997–1999) Demos and More Red Alert Chris Armes - guitar, vocals Eric Davis - guitar, vocals Greg Schneider - bass Rob Hunter - drums (2000) Just Keep Runnin' Chris Armes - guitar, vocals Eric Davis - guitar, vocals Greg Schneider - bass Mikey Levinson - drums (2001–2003) The Red & the Black Chris Armes - guitar, vocals Eric Davis - guitar, vocals Sean Scura - bass Mikey Levinson - drums (2005) reunion show Chris Armes - guitar, vocals Eric Davis - guitar, vocals Sean Scura - bass Adam Rapps - drums (2008 and 2012) reunion shows Chris Armes - guitar, vocals Eric Davis - guitar, vocals Sean Scura - bass Greg Schneider - bass Mikey Levinson - drums

### Current members

- Chris "Broken" Armes - [guitar](/source/Guitar), lead vocals
- Eric "Airwick / E-Rock" Davis - [guitar](/source/Guitar), vocals
- Greg Schneider - [bass](/source/Bass_guitar), vocals
- Mike "Mikey Hell" Levinson - [drums](/source/Drum_kit)

### Past members

- Jered Herndon - bass (1995-1997)
- Rob Hunter - drums (1997–1999)
- Sean Scura - bass (2001–2008)
- Adam Rapps - drums (2005 reunion show)

## Discography

The [discography](/source/Discography) of Agent 51 consists of four [studio albums](/source/Studio_album), one [EP](/source/Extended_play), one [demo](/source/Demo_(music)), and one [music video](/source/Music_video).

### Studio albums

Year Album details 1998 Red Alert[1] Released: 1998 Label: Alphabet Format: CD 2000 Just Keep Runnin'[2] Released: 2000 Label: Suburban Hooligans / Adeline Records Format: CD 2003 The Red & the Black[3] Released: April 22, 2003 Label: Surfdog Format: CD 2025 Age of Validation Released: 2025 Label: Suburban Hooligans Format: Vinyl/Digital

**I** *Just Keep Runnin'* was re-released in 2001 by [Adeline Records](/source/Adeline_Records).

### Extended plays

Year Album details 2003 Agent 51 Released: 2003 Label: Surfdog Format: CD

**I** *Agent 51* is a pre-release teaser with four songs from *The Red & the Black*.

### Extended plays

Year Album details 2012 Operation Panther E.P. Released: 2012 Label: Suburban Hooligans Format: download

### Singles

Year Album details 2023 Tear It All Down Released: 2023 Label: Suburban Hooligans Format: download and streaming

### Singles

Year Album details 2023 Let Me Go Released: November 2023 Label: Suburban Hooligans Format: download and streaming

### Demos

Year Album details 1998 Demos and More Released: 1998 Label: MP3.com Format: CD, music download

**I** *Demos and More* consists of [demos](/source/Demo_(music)) and finished tracks for *Red Alert*.

### Music videos

Year Song Director Album 1998 "Red Alert" Red Alert

Year 2000 Song Radiation Nation Director Flax Glor Album Warped Tour 2000 - Compilation 1999 "Radiation Nation" Radiation Nation

### Other appearances

The following Agent 51 songs were released on compilation albums and as [music downloads](/source/Music_download). This is not an exhaustive list; songs that were first released on the band's albums are not included.

Year Release details Track 1998 Pete's Comp: Kids in America Released: 1998 Label: Alphabet Format: CD "Fight for Your Right" (originally performed by the Beastie Boys) 1999 Released: 1999 Label: none Format: download "Hardcore Hooligan" 2001 Warped Tour 2001 Tour Compilation[4] Released: June 19, 2001 Label: SideOneDummy Format: CD "Radiation Nation" 2002 Every Dog Will Have Its Day[5] Released: June 25, 2002 Label: Adeline Format: CD "Wrecking Ball" 2005 91X Loudspeaker Released: 2005 Label: Budweiser True Music Format: CD "Sandra Dee" 2006 Released: 2006 Label: none Format: download "Automatic Addicts" (demo)

**I** "Radiation Nation" was originally recorded as the theme song for a local San Diego punk rock television show.

**II** This is an early version of "Wrecking Ball"; the song was re-recorded for *The Red & the Black*.

## References

1. "*Red Alert*". [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Retrieved 2010-01-12.

1. Mason, Stewart. "*Just Keep Runnin'*". [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Retrieved 2010-01-12.

1. "*The Red & the Black*". [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Retrieved 2010-01-12.

1. Griffith, JT. "*Warped Tour: 2001 Compilation*". [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Retrieved 2010-01-12.

1. "*Every Dog Will Have It's (sic) Day, Vol. 2*". [Allmusic](/source/Allmusic). Retrieved 2010-01-12.

## External links

- [Official Website of Agent 51](http://www.agent51.net)
- [Official Website of Chris Armes Solo Work](http://www.chrisarmes.com) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201217174349/http://www.chrisarmes.com/) December 17, 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- [Official Rattlesnake Aces Facebook Page](http://www.facebook.com/TheRattlesnakeAces)
- [Agent 51 Official Facebook Page](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Agent-51-Official/174726769204907)
- [*Just Keep Runnin'*-era official site](https://web.archive.org/web/20070930141308/http://www.veerob.com/agent51.com/)
- [51 Guns official Myspace profile](http://www.myspace.com/51guns)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Agent 51](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_51) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_51?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.