Killer Dwarfs and Other Canadian Treasures

Canada has produced some rock 'n' roll treasures. Triumph and Rush come to mind, and course there's Bob and Doug McKenzie, who released an album called The Great White North in 1981 (okay, maybe they aren't a rock 'n' roll treasure, but they were pretty damn funny). Geddy Lee had a guest spot on the record, so maybe they're a rock 'n' roll treasure after all.

There are other bands I could talk about when it comes to Canadian treasures, but actually, I'm only here to talk about one an ass-kicking outfit called Killer Dwarfs. I discovered these bad asses in 1986 with the release of their album Stand Tall and a killer MTV (when MTV still meant something) video for what is still one of my favorite songs ever, Keep the Spirit Alive. I soon found out, upon listening to that album repeatedly, that these guys had more than one song in them, even if their singer did get kicked around in a box.

I quickly set out to buy all the Killer Dwarf albums I could. It wasn't long before I was able to purchase what was available. There's the 1983 self-titled album, full of the same great tunes I fell in love with on the Stand Tall album. I think I found that one at a record convention. Blistering rock 'n' roll that sounded like nothing else I'd ever heard. I love the tone of Russ's voice and the bombastic attack of Darrell's's drums. Both have been consistent since day one.

I grew to love Killer Dwarfs more and more with every fucking Dwarf album I added to my collection. I talked about them to everybody I could, spread the Dwarf gospel. Forget how big they got with the MTV exposure, I was sure I'd discovered this great new band and I wanted everybody to know about it. This was my damn band. Besides all the great traditional rock 'n' roll lyrics, these guys were intent on imparting a positive message that said you could accomplish anything you set your sights on, and because of that, I continued to pursue my own rock 'n' roll strategy.

Big Deal, Dirty Weapons, and Method to the Madness followed Stand Tall, each one as good as the last. Each of these albums is a masterpiece so I won't try and list a bunch of titles. Go out and buy them, you'll hear what I mean. You'll be addicted.

The Dwarfs disappeared for a while after Method to the Madness and a split with their label, but in 2002 the guys came back (with a slightly modified but just as awesome lineup) and gave us a brilliant live album called Reunion of Scribes. I found out about the return of Killer Dwarfs when I stumbled upon a Youtube video (you've got to watch it) of the guys in a casual rehearsal, joking, smoking, and playing the inspirational metal ballad Doesn't Matter.

Reunion of Scibes is an awesome show that shows the band never lost their edge. Recorded in an intimate club setting, listening to the album brings you right into the show. A great set list and lots of fucking energy. Absolutely amazing.

They followed the live album with a lost album called Start @ One. More great Dwarfs, and with the boys still kicking ass on the tour circuit, it looks like there's more to come. These guys are phenomenal on record, but you've got to see them live to appreciate all they have to offer.

Hopefully the future holds more Killer Dwarfs. This is a band I feared I would never hear new stuff from, and now that they're back, I hope it will be some time before they go away again.

Killer Dwarfs - Start @ One and Before . . .

Start @ One is a lost Killer Dwarfs album recorded in 1993 (with the exception of two tracks being written as bonus material) and released in 2013. If you were alive in the 80s, you have to remember Killer Dwarfs. The fantastic, uplifting song Keep the Spirit Alive from the album Stand Tall is still a personal anthem for me. The lyrics are strong, positive, and inspiring. Here's the chorus:

Keep the Spirit Alive

Keep the spirit alive.

Well, you gotta to survive.

And you'll never be the same

When the spark ignites your flame, yeah . . .

The same with a song they later did on the album Dirty Weapons, the stunning power ballad about taking chances and being the best you can be. That song was Doesn't Matter. Check out verse one:

Doesn't Matter

There comes a time in your life, oh yeah.

You've got to stand up and fight.

Get behind what you believe.

Get a grip on what you see.

There's a chance you just might get it right.

The Dwarfs have a history of spreading this positive message. They are a band that can make you feel good about yourself and who you are.

These guys are far too underrated for my taste.

Killer Dwarfs are a Canadian band formed in 1981. Their first album, entitled Killer Dwarfs (1983), included the ass-kicking Gotta Lose to Win and the blistering Heavy Metal Breakdown. Russ Dwarf's distinctive voice (love his tone and range) and the level of playing skill of all the guys in Killer Dwarfs immediately grabs you by the shirt and never lets go.

Other Killer Dwarf albums include Big Deal (1988), Method to the Madness (1992), and the much-appreciated live album Reunion of Scribes (2001).

But we're here to talk about the latest release by Killer Dwarfs, Start @ One. I can tell you this. I bought the album and started listening, and from the moment the opening guitar chords of Lonely Road kicked in, I was hooked. When Russ started singing, the deal was sealed. Killer Dwarfs were back in action. Yeah, with an album recorded some time ago, but still, Killer Dwarfs were back.

Not that I needed this album to prove they were back. To me, they have never gone away. I haven't stopped listening to them since Stand Tall, and the release of the live album was my proof that the Dwarfs had never really gone anywhere. Still, Start @ One was a pleasant treat; a new (old) studio album from Killer Dwarfs. What more could you ask for? Tracks like the opening Lonely Road, the driving force of Down in Hollywood, Adalina, and the beautifully haunting The Crowd make you wonder why this album has only just seen the light of day.

The guys in Killer Dwarfs (Russ Dwarf, Darrell Dwarf, Gerry Dwarf, and John Dwarf) are going on the road and bringing the Dwarf sound to a town near you in 2014. I know I'll be there.

Stay tuned for a blog about a CD I'm really stoked about and only recently realized existed, Wireless, from Russ Dwarf. It's one of my favorite when-the-hell-did-this-come-out-and-why-don't-I-have-it CDs (how's that for a hyphenated adjective?). I'll be doing an overview of Russ' solo stuff and really digging into Wireless with a song by song breakdown in an upcoming blog, plus I'll be doing an interview with Russ that will accompany that post. Be sure to check it out.

While you're at it, grab a copy of Wireless, Reunion of Scibes, and Start @ One here:

http://russdwarf.bandcamp.com/