Secret Agent

Secret Agent went through various iterations, mostly name wise, in their earliest years. Guitarist Tomo Vranjes and bassist Don Descoteau had been playing together in basement bands for several years. They connected in 1986-87 with guitarist Scott MacDougall, who Don knew through a mutual friend, and drummer Steve Hoel, Scott’s roommate. Making new wave-inspired music (Scott) and honing pop and classic rock favourites at a mostly abandoned mansion on St. Charles St. (long since reno'd as part of a luxury townhome development), the foursome, initially called X-Fiance, got comfortable enough to shop themselves around. They landed gigs at the old Fernwood Inn (the volume level and poor insulation in the place led management to avoid bands for a while) and Victoria's 125th Birthday celebration in Beacon Hill Park, and were a Halloween party staple at the old Shawnigan Beach Resort. Having morphed into Secret Agent with the switching up of drummers from Steve to Andrew McMillan in 1988, the band also took to the battle of the bands circuit at the unlikely spot of Gull City Wok and Grill near Saanich city hall, and the Gorge Pub. The foursome, injecting originals penned by Tomo, ... more...