Greg Leskiw (guitar)
Bill Wallace (bass)
Bob Brett (drums)
Steve Hegyi (guitar)
Gary Craig (drums; replaced Brett)
Following Burton Cummings' departure from The Guess Who in 1976 to pursue a solo career, fellow bandmates Bill Wallace and Greg Leskiw returned to Winnepeg where they formed Mood Jga Jga in 1977 and had moderate success with several radio singles. They were both lured over to be part of the band Crowcuss. Leskiw left in the midst of a tour in 1978. Wallace stayed on until Crowcuss finally collapsed.
Wallace hooked up once more with Greg Leskiw who had formed his own namesake act - Les-Q. They toured between Winnipeg and Ontario for more than a year and as the band evolved with contributions from Steve Hegyi (guitar) and Bob Brett (drums), they became Kilowatt. The change in sound and image landed them a deal with the newly formed Dallcorte Records (The Drivers, Tic Toc) in early 1982.
Their self-titled debut album was recorded at Toronto's Phase One Studios and was produced by another Guess Who member Domenic Troiano. They toured extensively throughout the mid-west on the heels of the first single, "Lovers On The Run", and then out east to Ontario and beyond.
Following the national tour they took time out to write the next batch of songs for the follow album in Toronto in the summer of 1983. Troiano was called again to produce the album at Sounds Interchange. The album featured a number of session players, new drummer Gary Craig and Troiano himself adding signature guitar parts to compliment Leskiw and Hegyi. The completed album was called 'Currents' and the first single was "I'm Not A Kid Anymore".
Another national tour followed but as they were promoting the album and the single "It's So Easy", Dallcorte Records collapsed in 1984, leaving the band album-less and label-less. Dedicated to their place on the road, and to their fans, they kept the group working with hopes of finding another label to help with a third release.
Eventually, the band folded and the members pursued solo and outside interests. Wallace connected with Donnie McDougall (Mother Tucker's Yellow Duck) as part of a touring act called The Best Of The Guess Who. In 2000, Wallace replaced original Guess Who bassist Jim Kale for the band's official reunion along with McDougall.
Since their demise, there have been two Kilowatt rarities collections to emerge - 1999's 'Headquarters' which were the demos for the debut album, and 'The Jam Factory Sessions' which were the demos that got them their deal with Dallcorte initially.
Singles
1982 Lovers On The Run/Don't Stop Waiting (Dallcorte/RCA) D-0101
1982 Kids Are Krazy/Step Aside (Dallcorte/RCA) DCS-0102
1982 No Return/Loneliness (Dallcorte/RCA) DCS-0104
1983 I'm Not A Kid Anymore/Change Of Heart (Dallcorte/RCA) DCS-0111
1984 It's So Easy/Voices (Dallcorte/RCA) DCS-0115
Albums
1982 Kilowatt (Dallcorte/RCA) DLP-0701
1982 Two Sides of Kilowatt - Radio Sampler
[Kids Are Krazy (single edit)/Streetwise Katie//Loneliness/Forgive Him [12"] (Dallcorte/RCA) DLP-0701
1983 Currents (Dallcorte/RCA) DLP-0706
1999 Headquarters
1999 The Jam Factory Sessions
Video
Compilation Tracks
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