Metal School - Killer Dwarfs

[@MSzwaja83]

Saw Killer Dwarfs at Lava in Champaign, IL in 2003. It was a Monday night. I kid you not, 14 people showed up. To this day, it stands as one of the most memorable shows I’ve ever seen. They played as if there were 14,000 people there. Two hours, balls to the wall rock and roll. After the show, Russ said anyone who wants to stick around and have a beer, he’d join in. Sure enough, he jumped off the front of the stage and made the rounds for those of us who chose to stick around. I asked him how he gets up for a show like that, 14 people and all. Response: “Honestly, these are the shows I remember. Tomorrow, I’m going to wake up, walk into that gas station across the street and buy a postcard with corn on the front, and I’ll write to my wife, ‘Honey, we played in the middle of nowhere, Illinois, last night, and there are 14 f’n people out here who know who we are!’ That’s pretty great, isn’t it?” He signed a poster for me, and I went home. Incredible night.

[@MetalSchoolChannel]

That’s awesome :)

[@johnrobles1572]

14 in the comments as well.....Killer Band

[@nickfuller20]

Motley Crue had less fans than that in the mid-90s at their shows with Corabi.

[@s1d9m9f8]

I saw a band called Artemis Pyledriver (awesome name) under similar circumstances, maybe 20 people tops. And it was awesome. Haven't had a chance to see KD though.

[@MyManyHobbies]

@@s1d9m9f8 Great band from my hometown (Atlanta). I honestly thought those guys would have/should have been bigger.

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

I was gonna go to bed, but I refuse to pass up on Killer Dwarfs. It could be 3AM and I could be dead asleep; I will attend to Metal School and Killer Dwarfs. 🤘

[@twoinchdave]

Hilarious I just pulled my rig in after 14 hour day.. its 3 am and here I sit listening and reading the comments!! 🍻 cheers to 3 am

[@403patriot3]

Seriously underrated band. Dirty weapons is the high point by far

[@siggyretburns7523]

Agreed. I didnt hear any of the other albums, but I bought it used and man, definitely one of my faves. 👍

[@403patriot3]

@@siggyretburns7523 I own dirty weapons and big deal they were my favourites

[@siggyretburns7523]

@@403patriot3 How was the recording quality on Big Deal?

[@Rand_al_Thor372]

The working title was Stinky Dildo.

[@gregsretromusicchannel7000]

Agreed, Big Deal, Dirty Weapons & Method to the Madness are all great albums.

[@gingataff]

Saw them supporting Iron Maiden on the Seventh Son tour. The singer rode a kids tricycle on stage. Crazy.😂

[@AreJayCee]

😅😅 Ave just commented on that very thing Ahhh the 80s

[@gregsretromusicchannel7000]

me too, saw that tour as well. Went to see Maiden. But the Dwarfs show was so good. Been a Killer Dwarfs fan since then

[@vexelghost]

This was a fun watch. I didn't follow them after Dirty Weapons and it was a pleasant surprise to know they're still around.

[@Jaggerbush]

Yes!!! I forgot all about this band! Keep the spirit alive rocks.

[@nevadahiker6661]

Thanks to my friends and I, Killer Dwarfs was huge in Seward Alaska! We were cranking their music all through high school!

[@RockEnroll-vg1vb]

The days of watching Headbangers Ball brought us Great Music like this in the 80s ⭐💯♠️🏴‍☠️🤘😝🤘🏴‍☠️♠️💯⭐

[@wolfen1101]

This one takes me back....the Dwarfs were on steady rotation in my tape deck way back when. Thank you for this one!

[@donosborn9899]

I got to see the boys in 2018 when they played at one of the venues that I frequent. I knew of the band and some of their songs but was just blown away at how good they are. After the show, they hung around and spoke to every fan that want to visit them without charging a fee. That's a rarity these days. I love to see them again sometime.

[@MrChumpus]

I always get a good laugh at the way you breakdown all the goofy stuff that happens in cheesy 80's videos

[@robertobuatti7226]

I freaking love this band, Killer Dwarfs have a such unique sound and don't really sound like any other band, the singer is amazing and can really hit high notes very well, the music is extremely melodic and got heavier as their sound progressed through the late 80's/early 90's, I constantly listen to them for over 23 years when I first heard about them in 2000 when I was 19.

[@markusforsberg6741]

You mean fucking right this the heavy metal family here you can swear religous american man

[@AndyMetalHeadBR]

Thanks for cover this very underrated band, they deserve to be known by the new generation of metalheads. 🤘😁🤘

[@rayzylstra4304]

A great Canadian band, that put out some amazing music. I owned Big Deal, Dirty Weapons and Method To The Madness. Very underrated stuff.

[@patrickmeyer4829]

Drifting Back was such a great ballad, one of my all time favorites!

[@stevenwollman3120]

Fantastic song!

[@etiennegregoire3091]

My Dwarf story. In 1991 i was working as a meteorologist at YYZ but living near Ottawa. After my midnight shift I would drive home. One day on the 401 I came across a car stuck in the mud in the median. It was the KD on their way to a show in Ottawa. I pulled them with my 4x4. I did go to the show that night and how they got there in the median is between them and me lol. What a day

[@davebooth5608]

I’d like to see Helix be featured on a video. Loved that band another Canadian band!

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

I think Helix deserves a trip to Metal School

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

I agree

[@tbury2516]

Dirty Weapons is a great album! Have to go break it back out for a listen now.

[@knightsofdarknessband284]

So glad you made this episode! My band had the privilege to open for them in San Antonio! They're awesome!

[@L.A.Tex_Norway]

Fantastic band. A band that should have been MASSIVE, just like Kick Axe, Saga and Helix.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Helix is a band I'd be interested in seeing on this channel

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

Yes. I only heard the Dirty Weapons album and thought this band could be a best seller in albums/tickets. Then I got in my traditional ethnic music phase when I didn't actively listen to metal and no channel promoted them either, only grunge depression, so I lost the Killer Dwarfs until this reminder. Now I'm gonna check some more KD albums. They were a banger of a band.

[@jeffyoung8726]

An absolutely awesome band! Seen them at least a dozen times. Every show was KILLER! Just under the radar in my opinion, for what they could've done?

[@davidjonorato3554]

One of my faves!!!! Stand Tall & Dirty Weapons are the 2 stand out albums…👍👍👍

[@reloadnorth7722]

I have their albums, saw them in concert and met them another time. Amazing guys, what you hear on an album, they reproduce onstage. Very highly underrated.

[@shaneharper1088]

The Gate? Movie where the kid had Killer Dwarfs patch on his jean jacket!? I listened to Dirty Weapons nonstop back in the day. Great dudes.

[@TestarossaRocks]

Think about that frequently.

[@Wyl7]

Same, Dirty Weapons came out my senior year of high school and is one of a handful of albums I can still visualize playing at parties and such.

[@davidcharles34]

I was part of the San Antonio K dwarfs onslaught of the mid 80s. Got to see them on the big deal tour. They did not disappoint… Great live band!

[@Bun_Can_Do_It]

The DWaRfS are a super underrated band! I love their tunes and they really helped me through some dark times. 🤘❤

[@OriginalWhiteDevil]

I grew up in the 80's and loved this band.

[@jaimeduenas4162]

I am today years old hearing this band. Not bad, I would buy that ticket to see them. Definitely Rush vibe and lead vocals sound. I am a fan.

[@yashardavoodie]

Love this band

[@eknohekim]

I fondly remember watching the video for "Heavy Mental Breakdown" on Toronto Rocks. Glad to see other people appreciate them as much as I do.

[@cainealexander-mccord2805]

Boy, did I dig this band. When "Stand Tall" showed up on Headbanger's Ball, I got that record quick smart. I always liked them, always pulled for them. Always thought Russ was a serviceable vocalist. Glad to see them still kicking around.

[@redalrt4]

I discovered this band yesterday after hearing "Doesn't Matter" on XM Hair Nation. They're all standout tracks!...I'm a fan already. Where was I when these guys were active and touring? Yikes! Most definitely better late than never ❤

[@BloodyWelshman]

I wore my cassette of Stand Tall right the F out. ✌🤘

[@marcsingleton9430]

Loved seeing this video. Killer Dwarfs are under rated, A great band who know how to do a great show.

[@ooo_Kim_Chi_ooo]

OMG i remember Dirty Weapons!!!! I knew the band name sounded familiar.

[@brigham2250]

Back in mid-80s when Stand Tall came out, I had a job that allowed me to listen to music with headphones. I listened to the Stand Tall album quite a lot. It really helped the day go by. Super catchy riffs and solos and the vocals were fun. I also like the first album even if, a bit like Kix, they still had some maturing to do. But hey, that was to be expected, they were young and it was their first album. Try as I might, I just never thought Big Deal was a big deal. I can listen to it, and I'm not saying it isn't any good, only that it would be my least favorite album by them. Too bad they couldn't get both guitarists to join at the same time. Both those guys are really good.

[@minawalkure]

Happy to see a video about Killer Dwarfs!

[@joedevil275]

I've always loved them and always will. Just an absolutely amazing band. And still sound incredible!!!!

[@mr.logicpants2835]

I really enjoy your channel and presentations. There is always a lot of good information about the bands from the BEST decade in music!!!

[@TheChadTI]

Russ is such a great vocalist. They deserved so much more metalbros...

[@Diggerdog2nd]

I remember this band from the mid 80's. I always liked them.

[@willsiss5070]

Your play-by-plays of the music videos are the best.

[@antreynolds9775]

Thank you Metal School for giving this awesome band and shout out for saying my hometown of San Antonio TX (R. I. P Joe Anthony )

[@seeingghosts]

Always appreciated even as a kid the positive message in their music!

[@ferox965]

Us Canucks love the Killer Dwarfs. They were on MuchMusic all the time in the 80s. I still remember the songs.

[@YesMan-uy4cj]

Vancouver hockey fans?

[@jeffclark6988]

Seen them numerous times over the years in London Ont Canada...jumped up on stage and got selfie taken with Russ while he was singin...not with my phone with my camera.. Way before selfies became what they have! Awesome guys awesome shows. Keep the spirit alive guy's!!!!🍻😆👍

[@RuthlessMetalYT]

Haven't listened much to this band so I learned something today. :)

[@janzimny1977]

Keep the spirit alive was filmed here in Oshawa Ontario! Nice to see the band get some good promo!! Thanks!

[@boozed24seven]

I wish I'd got into this band before. Just checked out Dirty Weapons and it's great This is probably my favourite KZbin channel at the moment 🤘

[@twoinfla]

Oh F*** yeah! I forgot about these guys. Nice to see them get some love on the channel.

[@volcanicwinter4417]

Great work again man! It brought me back good memories!

[@werefiveintokyo1002]

What a coincidence that you made a video about the KiLLeR DWaRfS today! I was listening to my KiLLeR DWaRfS albums today for the first time in a while.

[@dennisodle1923]

One of those bands with proper management an record label belief would have been a really big band they are much respected in the metal community an should be

[@Someonelser1]

Keep That Spirit Alive is a killer tune I still have in rotation. Nice Job teacher!

[@Hispandinavian]

Canada had a lot of great bands. Unlike the US with a lot of cookie cutter bands, Canadian groups sounded more distinguished from eachother. I highly recommend the book Metal On Ice: Tales From Canada's Hardrock and Heavy Metal Heros. It sparked a renewed interest in bands I pretty much forgot about.

[@gregsimmons694]

Thanks for sharing! I like some of this bands songs.First tape i bought was dirty weapons! God bless you. I enjoy your work! Love to see a Whitecross video on your show!

[@jayviveiros5745]

Lots of people still like them down here in San Antonio, TX!

[@mfsuperstar]

I discovered them as a high school kid here in the states. My Dad had an old school satellite dish and I would see them on Much Music's Pepsi Power Hour (Weekdays @ 4pm....lol)

[@briankoncyk3379]

Great job covering one of my favs! Killer band to see live! Really enjoy their albums.

[@stevemaass3074]

Thanks KZbin for randomly recommending this video. I was a big fan of the Dirty Weapons era Dwarfs, and it was fun reminiscing about the things I loved about the band. Loved the busy guitar work that seemed to full every nook and cranny; loved Russ’s vocal style and delivery.

[@thedanrobergeexperience7881]

Don’t know the band, and I’m from Canada! I think the best part with this channel, other than discovering bands I’ve never heard of, is the literal description o f music videos!

[@gregsretromusicchannel7000]

We Stand Alone is one of my fav songs of-all-time. Loved this band since 1988

[@amongshadows]

SUPERB band! Love these guys...and such an unsung Guitar Hero. Wonderful tasty solos Everywhere! Love...Love...Love!

[@musicmamma]

God, hearing these guys brings me back....To a better, simpler time.

[@johnchedsey1306]

No one breaks down heavy metal videos better than you! Keep these videos coming!

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

Whoa. Another band from my home country. Their first record is my favorite.

[@miguelnavarro2475]

Love the Killer Dwarfs. Never got to see them live though…

[@tobyschaden6961]

Very underrated band. A friend of mine had me listen to Big Deal when it came out and was hooked. Thanks Metal School for this episode.

[@andy57167]

discovered this band on headbangers ball,, I wore Dirty weapons out ,,great band for sure

[@Chetallica]

I saw the Stand Tall vid on Headbangers Ball, early '87 I think, and went right out and bought the album and was not disappointed. What a gem and still one of my all time fave albums! Thanks for going deep on the band selections 👍

[@petebarbarino2590]

I was 16 when I heard Keep the Spirit Alive, bought Big Deal n 88', played the hell out of it. Joined the Marine Corp in 88' and Big Deal will forever hold major memories for me...

[@Road_Rash]

They definitely should've been bigger...no pun intended...Lol! I remember seeing them on Headbanger's Ball back in the day... great sounding band...

[@PaulLoughrin]

Great documentary, thanks! I was a teenager in the 80's and always heard of this band, but never checked them out. I will now!

[@MrChopemup]

Love this band, saw them in 89 . still have the autographed photo. Keep the spirit alive.

[@RyanSeek]

Another great retrospective on an "off the beaten path" 80s band that most people have never heard of or simply don't remember. I don't know how I ended up with the first album but I had it on cassette back in 1983 when it first came out. If I had to guess it was a recommendation from Hit Parader or Circus magazine that steered me onto them. I spun that first album quite a bit back in those days, I love the 70s vibe of the riffs and production and the over the top, balls-clenching vocals reminiscent of early Geddy Lee. I also had Stand Tall when it came out and enjoyed that record quite a bit as well, although the direction the band went was less Canadian and more LA Glam, a genre I never quite got into. Once they signed with CBS I was done with them, although to be honest I never gave those records a chance because of my own bull-headed disdain of CBS/Epic Records which had already ruined some of my favorite bands in previous years by turning them into pop bubble gum machines. Reviewing those Epic releases now as a 50-something adult they were decent albums that I never gave a fair shake back in the day. But for me Killer Dwarfs always seemed to fall just a tiny bit short of the mark on the songwriting. Like they were always teetering on the brink of greatness but never quite broke out of the 4-stars category which is where I'd place most of their albums. Still, in the sea of mediocracy that eventually became the metal scene before grunge killed it off, having a string of solid 4 star albums to your credit is nothing to sneeze at. Killer Dwarfs have a solid place in metal music history and are well deserving of accolades such as this video. I was completely unaware of the last album released in 2013, so I'll be checking that one out more in the future. Thanks again for another awesome feature of a band that brings back a lot of fond memories for me!

[@2012Darkknightrises]

I freaking love me some Killer Dwarfs! Great episode!

[@KyrosTheWolf]

I love how for the 'We Stand Alone' video they actually cut Russ' thumb for real, no special effects. Just shows how dedicated they were XD

[@joeflorez143]

I hope Russ got paid extra for using his thumb as the prop. 😂

[@loufolse7170]

LOVE what you do, so incredible! Future suggestions... Raven, Black N' Blue, Accept, Rammstein, AC/DC, DIO,Jackyl, Triumph, Heaven and Hell, Malice, Gun's and Roses, Lillian Axe, Rough Cutt, Lynch Mob!

[@NWOTHMFullAlbums]

Thanks for highlighting lesser known bands. Curiously, I had listened to the debut and “Big Deal”, but not the killer “Stand Tall”, which went immediately to my wantlist.

[@MetalSchoolChannel]

Right? Stand Tall is great! And apparently it’s not on Spotify

[@Ulgarth]

I always loved that band. Never got to see them live. I would be at the other end of the country whenever they were playing.

[@Frostytution]

We opened up for killer dwarfs a few times, we even played a few of their songs, I enjoyed watching and listening to them, I was happy the day they opened for malmsteen and aerosmith, I was at that show in toronto

[@sherrimaggio5473]

Saw them in 1989 in a tiny club in Worcester Mass…….SICK!!!!

[@Modighen]

They were funny, talented and down to earth. I'd rather have seen one of their shows back in the day than any of the big acts at the time. Russ driving a tricycle onstage, and running into people outside the small venues they played in the middle of the gig. Stand Tall is my favourite, their debut is a close second, but all their stuff is seriously worth owning if you're going for late 80's rock.

[@natt.helland]

Best Channel about 80s metal and hard rock! Good job dude!

[@MetalSchoolChannel]

Thanks! 🤘🏻

[@s1d9m9f8]

OMG! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you SO much for posting this video! I am a huge fan of this band, been since the debut album. Just good, catchy, fun rock and roll music, from a talented and entertaining bunch of guys. I did my best back in the day, and still do actually, introducing people to this very overlooked band. Hopefully this video will get more people to check them out. Love the channel keep up the good work.

[@greiglogie6855]

Watched this whilst wrapping presents this morning..made the job a little less painful! Thanks for the therapy 👍😂

[@camerondodge2070]

What great timing, I just got introduced to these guys a few days ago.

[@timenchanter4095]

They never left my Walkman or turntable growing up, always in the background the sounds of my youth

[@HalJalikakik]

This wasn’t a band I recall listening to in my youth but I do have a couple tracks on my Spotify Playlist; Dirty Weapons & Lonely Road.

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

Been a Fan since Stand Tall

[@paranormaldrummer69]

I remember back in the 80s listening to these guys on vinyl records, lol, and i played the albums so much they were warped n shit.. lol.. love killer dwarfs.. 🤘🤘

[@lutfimakarim8258]

Great documentary as always. I remember buying Method to the Madness as a blind buy back in the day and loving the song Hard Luck Town and Driftin' Back. For some reason, Big Deal made me remember another under rated Canadian hard rock band, Slik Toxik which had a song called Big F*ckin' Deal. Coincidence?

[@JJBolli1]

Great video, as always. I'm going to have to add more Killer Dwarfs to my collection. The only album I own is Dirty Weapons, but I liked every song you showcased in the video. Cool band.

[@dragonqueen6589]

Yep. 2024 will be great. Especially if the Scandinavian countries are visited again. And also, doing a mini series on the big of Canada’s thrash scene. And of course Axewitch and Mindless Sinner😂

[@tomsawyer5736]

I always loved Dirty Weapons.The tune & the album.All That We Dream is another fav

[@nonphenomenon4862]

Hell yeah! I've never listened to KD much. Pretty sick stuff. Another great video! Thanks so much!

[@onekoolmedic]

I love the song we stand alone!

[@toddp4383]

Thanks for doing this. I had no idea they had this much out there I'll be checking it out

[@sashad3142]

Comin' Through on Dirty Weapons is a personal favorite. Such a kiLLeR song!

[@Takato]

So, first time hearing about this band, and I gotta say: maybe one of the things that contributed to them flying under the radar is the name. When I saw the video on my sub box, I really thought this was going to be a speed metal, or some early power metal band, probably from Europe, or something like that. Turns out they're the hairest hair metal I've heard in a while. It's likely that a lot of people thought the same too, back in the day. They sound amazing, tho, they have such a "80's road trip soundtrack" vibe that I can't help but love. Already doing my homework here with Dirty Weapons.