Killer Dwarfs
The Killer Dwarfs was formed in 1981 by the brothers Russ “Dwarf” Graham and Darrell “Dwarf” Millar, and rounded out by Bryce Trewin and Ange Fodero. The band quickly gained international success, first in Canada with the Juno nominated self-titled debut album in 1983 with Attic Records. Their break-through in the U.S. came when a San Antonio based radio station started spinning their album on a regular basis, which planted the seeds for what would result in the band receiving a lot of attention south of Canada's border. Bryce and Ange leaving the band replaced in 1984 by Mike Hall and Bad Ronbo Mayer. The band soon cut the iconic and now highly sought after album "Stand Tall" in 1986 on Maze/A&M Records in Canada, and Grudge Records U.S., and the band toured relentlessly in support of it.
Much Music’s new Pepsi Power Hour provided substantial airplay for the their hits "Stand Tall " and “Keep The Spirit Alive” in Canada, while MTV provided great American exposure for the band. 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 during that time. (It has now surpassed the 100,000 units sold). By the spring of 1987, the video became the most requested video on MTV, setting a record that would take years to overcome. It still holds the record for MTV's most-requested independent video of all time. A second video Stand Tall was greeted with similar accolades. This exposure led to Russ hosting the MTV "Head banger’s Ball" with Rob Halford of Judas Priest in 1987. With the addition of national tours of the United States and Canada, the band caught the attention of Sony/Epic Records, offering a multimillion dollar worldwide recording contract. That year they went on tour to support Iron Maiden across Europe on a sold out tour and appearing at several outdoor rock festivals here and overseas. The next year the band moved operations from Toronto to Los Angeles to record "Dirty Weapons" with award-winning and much sought after producer Andy Johns (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Bon Jovi and Cinderella). Released in 1990, the resulting album sported 'Doesn't Matter' – The Killer Dwarfs first radio hit in the USA. The song went to #1 in thirteen cities, including two major stations in Los Angeles. The title track, 'Dirty Weapons,' also became a smash hit and a standard on MTV's Headbanger's Ball program.
In 1991 the band was nominated for a Juno award for Best Hard Rock Group bought lost out to Rush. In 1992 the band released the album Method to the Madness also with Andy Johns in the producer’s chair. Mike Hall was replaced by Gerry Finn to take over the guitar duties. After a few years of touring in support of Method to the Madness, the band parted ways with Sony/Epic.
The Killer Dwarfs have played some of the largest venues around the world including Wembley Arena, Hammersmith Odeon, as well as Toronto's historic CNE Grandstand, Ricoh Coliseum. They have performed on many of the largest festival stages and amphitheaters in the US and Canada. They have also toured and shared the stage with such world renowned artists such as Iron Maiden, Ronnie James Dio, Joe Perry Project, Michael Schenker, Saxon, Yngwie Malmsteen, Queensryche, Vince Neil, Accept, Anvil, Goddo, Warrant, Y&T, Fear Factory, Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, Bullet Boys, Vixen, Slaughter, Skid Row, Pantera, Firehouse, and Nazareth. The band also appeared on “The Mike Bullard Show" and also on TSN performing "The Hockey Song" in 2003.
The band has performed hundreds of shows since their 2013 reunion through 2019 and show no signs of slowing down. They have recently performed on the 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019 Monsters of Rock Cruises as well as the M3 Festival, two appearances at Rocklahoma and 80’s in the Park Festivals and also Sturgis, SkullFest, Rock N Skull, WolfFest, and 3 appearances at the Blue Feather Music Festival.
In Jan of 2018 the Band signed a worldwide multi release deal with EMP Label Group (Dave Ellefson of Megadeth) which saw the release of a new Live CD “No Guff” It was recorded in their home town of Toronto ON as well as Ottawa ON, Vancouver BC and Whitehorse Yukon during their 2016 tour. A new studio album is also in the works of new material for 2023. The band has now sold over 2.75 million records as it enters this new and exciting chapter in their career.