was the co-founder of the Killer Dwarfs in 1981.
He and the Killer Dwarfs quickly gained international success, first in Canada with the Juno nominated self-titled Killer Dwarfs debut album in 1983 with Attic Records Using
his own money, the band cut the iconic and now highly sought after album STAND TALL in '86 on Maze/A&M Records in Canada, and Grudge Records stateside.
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. 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.
The exposure led to Russ hosting the MTV "Head banger's Ball" with Rob Halford of Judas Priest in 1987. Russ first album with Sony/Epic was BIG DEAL. 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, Russ and 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' – Russ' 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 Russ and The KiLLeR DWaRFs were
nominated for a Juno award for Best Hard Rock Group.
The following year saw the release of METHOD TO THE MADNESS also with Andy Johns in the producer's chair. This album was touted to be one of the best hard rock
albums Canada ever produced, including the title track, "Hard Luck Town" and "Cowboys and Conmen " along with the chart topping "Driftin Back" power ballad.
After a few years of touring in support of METHOD TO THE MADNESS, Russ and his band parted ways with Sony/Epic.
Russ has played some of the largest venues around the world including Wembley Arena, Hammersmith Odeon, as well as Toronto's historic CNE Grandstand, Ricoh
Coliseum. He has also performed on many of the largest festival stages and amphitheatres in the US and Canada.
He has also toured and shared the stage with such world renown artists such as Iron Maiden, Ronnie James Dio, Michael Schenker, Accept, Saxon, Yngwie Malmsteen,
Queensryche, Accept, Anvil, Goddo, Warrant, Y&T, Fear Factory, Skid Row, Pantera, Firehouse, John Corabi, and the legendary Nazareth.
Band Line-Up:
Russ Dwarf – vocals
Glenn Belcher – guitar, sitar and banjo, wood
Rob 'Zaks' Zakojc – bass and all backing vocals
Additional Musicians:
Glen Drover – guitar, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal – guitar,
Kevin Simpson – guitar, Dan Lear – guitar,
Kevin Reid – guitar, Cosimo Crupi – keyboards
Fred Duvall – bottles of anger
Tracklisting:
1. Keep The Spirit Alive
2. Stand Tall
3. I'm Alive
4. Startin' To Shine
5. Doesn't Matter
6. Comin' Through
7. Dirty Weapons
8. Look Around
9. Four Seasons
10. Driftin' Back
Band Name: Russ Dwarf
Hard Rock, Hair Metal, Melodic AOR
Produced by Fred Duvall and Glenn Belcher
Executive producer Rob Zakojc.
www.twosidemoon.com/artists/
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