Russell Graham (lead vocals)
Bryce Trewin (guitar)
Darrell Millar (drums, vocals)
Angelo "Ange" Fodero (bass)
"Bad" Ronald Mayer (bass, vocals; replaced Fodero 1985)
Mike Hall (guitar, vocals; replaced Trewin 1985)
Gerry Finn (guitar; 1992)
Conceived as a Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne tribute act, management labelled them the Killer Dwarfs in 1982 as a gimmick to capitolize on the band's general diminutive size.
With only three original tunes in their repertoire, Tom Williams of Attic Records signed the band because he liked their lighthearted attitude. The band demoed material with Chris Tsangeriadis, but after a falling out between Attic Records and the producer on an Anvil project, the Killer Dwarfs' self-titled debut was produced by relative unknown Doug Hill in 1983.
The Killer Dwarfs toured from the album's release in the Fall of 1983 until the summer of 1984. When it came time to go back in to do a follow-up, the label insisted the band record some cover tunes -- notably a remake of Nick Gilder's "Hot Child In The City". The band refused and asked to be released from their record deal. Attic obliged. But the uncertainty of the band's future led to the departure of Fodero and Trewin in early 1985.
The two musicians were replaced by Mayer (bass) and Hall (guitar) and the Killer Dwarfs decided to record their next album independently with money that lead vocalist Russell Graham had borrowed from his family. The resulting album, 'Stand Tall', was recorded at Comfort Sound in Toronto between October 1985 and April 1986 for a cost of $6000. The results were released on the Maze Records imprint in Canada.
While management shopped the album around for US distribution, the band headed to the hot-bed of the Canadian hard rock music scene - San Antonio, Texas to play some dates with Accept and Saxon. Soon, they found themselves headlining major clubs all across the US and by the time 'Stand Tall' was released on Grudge Records in the US in December 1986, they had developed a huge following.
MTV soon put the band's videos for "Keep The Spirit Alive" and "Stand Tall" on a 13 week rotation allowing the album to sell an unprecedented 80,000 copies. The exposure led to Russell hosting the MTV "Headbanger's Ball" with Rob Halford in 1987. All the attention brought Epic Records to their door and when it came time to sign their contract, management made the negotiation process one of the longest in music industry history -- over 180 changes were made to the band's contract before they agreed to sign in 1988.
1988's 'Big Deal' was produced in Toronto by Simon Hanhart (Marillion, Saxon, Waysted). The band landed a fateful opening slot with Iron Maiden after the promoters of the Monsters Of Rock left most promoters unwilling to launch any competing mid-sized tours.
The Dwarfs played 7 shows with Maiden in North America in late 1988 and then several more shows in November and December at Donnington, Wembley and other large venues in the UK.
The band spent 1989 writing and recording 'Dirty Weapons' in a bunker-styled recording facility in the US desert with mad-cap producer Andy Johns. With the album's release in early 1990, the band hit the road for another lengthy tour. In August 1990 they played to a virtual empty house of 5,000 at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto with Yngwie Malmsteen and Ronnie James Dio. Only a month later they played Jack Wade's Bandstand in Anaheim, California to a sold-out performance.
The record produced a sizeable radio hit with 'It Doesn't Matter', but Epic's promo team dropped the ball. The band tried to keep the momentum rolling by extending their tour right into the summer of 1991 and played their last show of the tour at Toronto's Opera House in August of that year.
The 1992 release of 'Method To The Madness' and the inclusion of the previously missed 'It Doesn't Matter'. With the triple bill of Pantera, Skid Row and The Killer Dwarfs, the CD was able to sell 25,000 right out of the box. The single for "It Doesn't Matter" gained massive radio play and a Juno for the band -- without benefit of a video (which the label would not finance).
Eventually, the label pulled all support for the act and Killer Dwarfs were left in massive debt and unable to sustain themselves.
In recent years Russell Graham has been fronting several classic rock acts in and around Richmond Hill, Ontario including new material for his original act, Penny Black, featuring members of Goddo and The Wannabes.
Bullseye Records Of Canada released the band's 2001 reunion shows on CD and DVD in 2002. The long sought-after 'Stand Tall' album was finally re-issued as a digitally remastered CD in 2003.
Singles
1983 Heavy Mental Breakdown (Attic)
1986 Keep The Spirit Alive (Maze)
1986 Stand Tall (Maze)
1988 We Stand Alone [12"] (Epic/CBS) 12CDN-424
1990 Dirty Weapons (Epic/Sony)
1990 Coming Through (Epic/Sony)
1992 It Doesn't Matter (Epic/Sony)
1992 Hard Luck Town (Epic/Sony)
Albums
1983 Killer Dwarfs (Attic)
1986 Stand Tall (Maze)
1988 Big Deal (Epic/CBS)
1990 Dirty Weapons (Epic/Sony)
1992 Method To The Madness (Epic/Sony)
1998 Killer Dwarfs [CD re-issue] (Attic)
2002 Reunion Of Scribes: 2001 (Bullseye)
2003 Stand Tall [re-issue] (Bullseye)
Video
1986 Keep The Spirit Alive
1986 Stand Tall
1988 We Stand Alone
1990 Dirty Weapons
1990 Coming Through (Epic/Sony)
2002 Reunion Of Scribes [DVD] (Bullseye)
Compilation Tracks
1983 "Heavy Mental Breakdown" on 'Metal For Breakfast' (Attic)
2004 "Doesn't Matter (live)" on 'When CanCon Rocked: Volume 1' (Bullseye)
Bullseye Records of Canada
Official Killer Dwarfs Website
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