S5: E1 - Russ Dwarf (Killer Dwarfs) - The Pride of the Canadian Side

Russ Dwarf Master

Tue, Jul 04, 2023 10:41AM • 1:11:09

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

band, days, love, album, music, record, dwarf, people, song, guess, work, rock, backstage pass, fan, play, point, toronto, rod stewart, money, years, Killer Dwarfs, Russ Dwarf, Russ Dawrf Band, Toronto, Ontario, Cypress Texas, Crystal Vision Studio, Randy Hulsey, Randy Hulsey Music, Randy Hulsey Podcast, Backstage Pass Radio, Backstage Pass Radio Podcast, Interview, Best Music Podcast, Podcast

SPEAKERS

Randy Hulsey, Adam Gordon, Russ Dwarf

Randy Hulsey  00:00

I have a special guest on the show today that hails from Toronto, Ontario. Hey you guys, it's Randy here with backstage pass radio. My guest today has been rocking with his band from the great white north for the better part of 40 years now. The band has toured the world been nominated for Juno Awards and was a staple on MTBS headbangers ball. Don't go anywhere, we will chat with rust dwarf from the band killer dwarfs when we return.

Adam Gordon  00:28

This is backstage pass radio, the podcast that's designed for the music junkie with a thirst for musical knowledge. Hi, this is Adam Gordon. And I want to thank you all for joining us today. Make sure you like subscribe and turn the alerts on for this and all upcoming podcasts. And now here's your host of backstage pass radio. Randy Halsey.

Randy Hulsey  00:57

Ross, welcome to the show, man. It's great to see you. And I'm glad you're with me this evening.

Russ Dwarf  01:03

Thanks for having me, Randy. This might go all the way down on my favorite state in the union.

Randy Hulsey  01:09

Yeah. Just just Yep. That's right. That's right. And the Houston are actually in Cyprus, which is a little northwest of Houston. So we just call it North Houston for the for the better part of conversation, I guess.

Russ Dwarf  01:23

Actually. The doors are first US state was in San Antonio, Texas with sacks and in 1918.

Randy Hulsey  01:37

T, just just a couple of days ago then Right.

Russ Dwarf  01:41

Yeah, the wheel was current events.

Randy Hulsey  01:44

Yeah. Yeah. Well, so you're calling in from? I guess you're you're north of Toronto. Is that correct?

Russ Dwarf  01:53

Yeah. I'm north of Toronto, and I'm in a little town called a really? Yeah. Okay. Where? Actually, Gordon Lightfoot was born. Oh, yeah. And just died. Yeah, he's like, yeah, that was I live like three minutes from where he grew up. And they have a huge event here every year called Mirror pose. It's like I guess it started when the in the hippie generation before my time, I was alive. But I was I wasn't here. But I was a couple years ago, I ended up over at Mira Palooza with some good friends of mine, Tom Cochran, with Jerry dwarf, and we actually ran into Gordon, like, almost literally, like ran into him. It was it was really weird, because you're still starstruck surely. You're a fan? Like I'm a fan of music, right? Yes. Obviously, I'm in the show business, but I couldn't believe it. He was walking right towards me. I was just stunned. I couldn't even say anything. I was just like, I am an idiot.

Randy Hulsey  03:09

You're like the giddy giddy schoolgirl then right?

Russ Dwarf  03:14

The couple of people, you know, that happens to me. Not a lot. Not a lot anymore. But but there's a few that I'm just that I meet all the time that I'm and I'm kind of still stunned when I'm meeting them.

Randy Hulsey  03:29

No, I get it. Man. I know where you're coming from. I was in Vegas last week doing some interviews. And I was over at the Wynn and I got to notice in this guy sitting out by the pool, and I'm like, Damn, that looks like Rod Stewart. And you never you never know in Vegas. Like is it rod? Is it is it one of these tribute guys or whatever. And about that time a couple of ladies a little bit older than I am. I walked up to him and started talking to him. And as they left they passed right by where I was standing. And I said, Is that who I think it is? She's like, Yeah, it's Rod Stewart. So you know, and that's like, I was telling somebody the other day probably top five of all time for me Rod Stewart faces. I mean, you can't go wrong.

Russ Dwarf  04:14

What am I one of my favorites? Do I drive my wife nuts with all the old Rod Stewart?

Randy Hulsey  04:20

Oh, sure. It never gets old. It's like the Lightfoot stuff, you know, their stuff that just never gets old. And that's to them right there.

Russ Dwarf  04:27

Well, acid classic. We're lucky to be you know, just on the cusp of that I read 60s and 70s I think the music is just so timeless and it's never gonna go away now. I think it because it did speaks to you as a as a human. Sure.

Randy Hulsey  04:47

I agree. I agree with you

Russ Dwarf  04:49

directly and everything. It was just like there's so much change going on now in everything and you know, I'm 62 years old. So those damn kids I was a kid, then and, you know, I still can put it on and it just still does, you know, always makes me feel excited.

Randy Hulsey  05:10

Yeah. And you know, I started a vinyl collection about a year and a half ago and there's nothing better than putting a Rod Stewart and faces record on and hear it on vital and just never gets old to me.

Russ Dwarf  05:20

You know some cool stuff. I don't know if you have Apple Music

Randy Hulsey  05:24

I do. I have Spotify but not Apple. But yeah, same Apple. They

Russ Dwarf  05:28

have like these weird records. There's some weird there's a weird Rod Stewart album. Here. We're promoting Rod Stewart now. Yeah. All right. Let me find let me just see if I can find it quickly. Sure. It's it's a weird album with dislike outtakes and shit. I don't know really defined here.

Randy Hulsey  05:48

From rod himself.

Russ Dwarf  05:50

Yeah, yeah, it's called Rare easy, was released in 2000 in 2013, and it has all these different version. And stuff like Maggie Mae, like him building the song and the lyrics. And he's making up all these lyrics. And it's funny.

Randy Hulsey  06:05

Wow, I have to check that out. I don't have Apple Music, but I'll stumble across it somewhere. I'm sure. Well, rarities.

Russ Dwarf  06:11

It's very politically incorrect. Yeah. Yes. Going off at the bands playing a major.

Randy Hulsey  06:19

I liked that kind of stuff. Thanks for pointing that out. But you're not. I think your band members are from the Toronto. They're kind of city boys. But you're kind of not in the city. So you're more of the the country boy of the band. Is that? Is that a fair?

Russ Dwarf  06:35

I don't like the city. I'm not a big city person. But you know, obviously we work in them and everything. And there's people there. Sure. But yeah, the all the guys live in Toronto, they love it. And it's just not my cup of tea. I'm just the more of a laid back. I don't know if you've ever seen the doors. But this part of me is very laid back. Moving a little slower in my old age on stage two. But in back in the olden days. I don't know. I think I was crack before there was. I look at some of the old videos and stuff. And I'm like, holy boy,

Randy Hulsey  07:15

exactly. Well, you know, I think it might have a little something to I mean, your mindset is not far off. I think the older I get, I think the less tolerable I am of being around a ton of people to you know what I mean, at the end? I don't know if that. I'd like to say it's an age thing. Maybe it's not I don't know, but I find myself not wanting to be you know, what did they call it elbows to assholes with with the human race? Speak.

Russ Dwarf  07:44

Martin, you know, what did he say?

Randy Hulsey  07:48

Sorry, we're closed. Yes, exactly. Right.

Russ Dwarf  07:51

I love the fans. And I love going out with the guys because we have a lot of fun. And we have history together. And you know, I've been with Daryl for over 40 years. So it's like, longer than any marriages that have dissolved and just, it's it's your family, right? So we have and as a band at this point, you know, it's just gravy for us because we're, we're just seeing the people that do come and see us, they know us and they know what to expect. And we're not trying to prove anything. We're not trying to get on Billboard and we don't have a bazillion dollar record deal. And all this pressure not that that really mattered to the time even because we just want to play play music. Now's it because you know, that's why we got into it. Exactly. I'm excited to see the guys tomorrow.

Randy Hulsey  08:40

For sure. Well, that's exciting. And we'll talk a little bit more about what you have coming up there. What is the music scene? Or maybe even lack there of like up in the Toronto area these days? Is there a good scene not so good a scene like what what's your take on it?

Russ Dwarf  08:59

Not really in the loop but like I'm not on? I'm not on the social media and everything I'm you know, I look at Twitter. I'm just a bit of a voyeur. I look at Golden Retrievers, but I guess it's a big city and everything. So there's big concerts that come through and everything but I don't know if there's much of a middle ground. I've been out of that situation for so long. There is a there is a rock couple of rock clubs, like the rock pile which we play, which is the place where you know, like, obviously you've heard of gasworks through him. Sure. Myers movies and everything. And it was an iconic place in the El Mocambo. It's back up and running too but it's more of a I think it's more of a different selection of you know, stars that come through in everything. It's not like hey, come see this new band kind of thing. Right? I got you a lot. There's a lot like when we do play in Toronto, we you know, we don't play a lot here because See, you know, you just can't play a billion times in your own hometown. Oh, I get it. We get, you know, when we do play, there's like, we have a bunch of acts that play with us. And there's young people that are just they're rockin a lot of rock and roll. It's out there. But I don't know, you know, these days? God, I wouldn't know where to start. Right? It must be hard. Hard. It was. I'm not saying it was easy. But we started it was hard as hell, right? Because, you know, the old adage was, oh, well, you guys don't have a history. So we can give you a gig. And we think you're a punk rock band because of your name. And you might cause violence. Today, it's, you know, the internet. You don't even have to play a gig. You could be you know, get a kazillion Sure.

Randy Hulsey  10:47

You can be an internet superstar. Right?

Russ Dwarf  10:49

Yeah. And here's your $38 Check. And I don't know, I'm glad we came up when, in the time we did. I agree. I must be tough. It must be really, really tough. I see these kids. You know, they're, they're trying hard. So

Randy Hulsey  11:06

well, you know, yeah. It's interesting that you say that, because I had a wonderful guest on my show, a couple of seasons back, a guy by the name of Tony Carey, who played with rainbow and Tony and I got off on that conversation. He said, You know, now now, it's like, a lot of the musicians are, you know, what's different about it these days versus back in the 70s and whatnot, is now you're kind of a glorified t shirt salesman. I mean, that's where the bands are having to make their money these days is on merch. I mean, because you're not getting paid anything for digital, digital music, not like back in the day where you signed a big record deal. And, you know,

Russ Dwarf  11:49

even then, you know, somebody else is making the money is never the band, right? Um, deal you make or whatever, you know what I mean it, there's two words and showbusiness. Right, cold business. always reminds me of that Hunter S. Thompson quote, I don't know what verbatim but you know, the music business is a long haul of slimy sleaze balls. And I'm not saying it right. Cop throw people in jail, steal your money. And then there's a bad side. Yeah.

Randy Hulsey  12:22

That was the good side, right?

Russ Dwarf  12:24

Really have to be passionate about what you're doing. You know, or just, it's just blind faith. Because, you know, it's, I think it's human nature for people to go. It's like the Spinal Tap thing. And oh, hi, how you doing? You know, and then you leave the room aside, he's got so much fucking talent. People don't like to see other people succeed, or they think you're doing better than them or something. And the internet really amplifies this illusion that does think right, because, you know, I think it gets lost in what what we're doing here is like we're playing, we're playing rock and roll. We're not reading the wheel. And there's three cork boards. I know both of them. It's like, I think you would lose perspective on why you're doing it. Because I don't know, you know, obviously, the internet's the greatest thing. And it's, it's the shittiest thing. It is yeah, reads a lot of narcissism. And then you have to have a bit of an ego, obviously, to be to want to go and torture yourself with this profession. I think the content gets watered down to the point where that's a secondary. The secondary reason you're doing it right and and the reason we do it is because we love, we love each other. But we all we love playing music, rock and roll, and it's just replaying paying like homage to rock and roll. We haven't invented anything. This is just our interpretation of it, and we get off on

Randy Hulsey  14:04

Yeah, it's interesting that you say that because I made the comment not too long ago, as I thumb through Instagram. And I'm not I know everybody has to be marketable, but it seems like some of the artists have almost let the whole glamour shots and the constant picture taking supersede the talent, right? It's like, Are you a model or are you a musician? Like I'm confused like, they've almost made the wrong one the priority like I want to hear your music. You say you're a musician, a singer songwriter, but yet, all I see is glamour shots on your page. Where's the music? Where can I find the music? That's what I want to do.

Russ Dwarf  14:52

Music does the talk and I guess I don't know. It's a conundrum. But I I think You're right in a lot of ways, and it's spending a lot of time on vanity. Doubt. Thank you. We weren't that good looking.

Randy Hulsey  15:10

Thank God we had faces for radio. Right? The band formed I think, Russ, correct me anywhere that I'm off base. But I think the band sounded back somewhere around 81. And I'm pretty sure it was you and Darrell that formed the band back in 81. Or am I pretty spot on there was

Russ Dwarf  15:30

spot on, we met in about the spring of 81. We were both in different bands at the time. And back in those days, you would do like six or seven nights at the same venue and this venue we were playing in Quebec City called this electric circle Cirque actually, if you're from Quebec, and we were finishing up our six nights, and they came in at night early, and they had nowhere to stay. So they stayed with stayed with that we let them stay with us. And then they came to the show and then we partied and dunk and I partied all night and and we were you know, both, you know, young and eager, and I don't know we hit it off really well. And we were both unhappy with our situations. You know, so we decided, okay, let's make a band. Let's all take ang from my band at the time AWS, which was like we did all sorts of from Zeppelin to Pat Benatar to an Alice Cooper showed. And then donk add his own band Sphinx. And he took brace. So we combined we both finished art the tours that we are on because back in those days, you did like 300 shows a year, you know, and a matinee on Saturday. And so once we finished around like the fall of 81, we got together and disbanded the bands, and God got the band together. We rehearsed the punch in his basement, and we did our first show on New Year's Eve in his hometown. Our show was at a place called the gin OSH long, long gone. And that just started it off. You know what I mean? So we had nothing like we his dad was a real estate agent. And I think we moved from his basement apartment because that wasn't going well. We're saying to is dad was a real estate agent, we he gave us some empty building that he eventually kicked us out of. But I can remember, like freezing to death in the winter. Before we got any gigs and Daryl and I in a phone booth calling up agencies like yeah, we need a gag. You know what I mean? Maybe like you guys are too ugly to play Toronto. It just started and we just I just, I think we just had such a passion for it. And we just wanted something I don't know if we even had a definite thing we wanted. Obviously, we wanted some kind of fame or sure we wanted to make music together. And you know, that's a long time we've been together, like, you know, 40 to 43 years. Yeah. It's just hard to put your head around. Well, that's a testament

Randy Hulsey  18:19

to that there's a brotherhood there. You know, we're all the times gold, maybe not. But you know, it's like with any marriage, any relationship, whether it's a band, or a marriage, or a boyfriend, girlfriend, there's, there's bumps in the roads. I mean, you look at the Aerosmith of the world, you know, what is Steven call him and Joe the Toxic Twins or whatever, right. But they they were magic together. So you have that.

Russ Dwarf  18:47

Darrell and I like I don't know if we even really ever had I think any flights in in for all these years. They'd be a couple of disagreements. People are tired or something. Sure. But all in all, we both been on the same path. Well,

Randy Hulsey  19:06

you're, you're way ahead of the curve, then that that's all you've had over 40 the course of 42 years. That's that's that's pretty good. Ross, you know,

Russ Dwarf  19:15

actually, at this point, like, this lineup that we have, like Jerry called the guitar player, he's been with us since 1991. So that's, you know, he used to be the new guy. And Gianni the bass player. He's been with us for 10 years. But the thing about this unit, we all get along, sorry, hang out together and we have a lot of laughs That's also probably more fun offstage and then on stage, although we never write on stage two and I think it translates to the audience. Yeah, that is genuine.

Randy Hulsey  19:58

It's all for naught. I would think if you're, you know, if it's not a brotherhood and you're not having fun doing what you're doing, then it's called work. And that's what everybody bitches about is having to get up and go to work. I mean, you, if you love what you do you never bitched about getting up and doing what you love to do.

Russ Dwarf  20:20

I do it so I can pitch about That's right. You're right, you're right. You're, you know, like, I am grateful. Like, like die in my sleep tonight. I've done what I've wanted to do with my life.

Randy Hulsey  20:36

Not many people who can say that. Yeah.

Russ Dwarf  20:38

It's it's been a it's been an adventure, and it's not over.

Randy Hulsey  20:42

Well, let's hope not. And let's hope that there's many more years ahead, for sure. So I guess, you know, you talked about forming with Daryl and picking up a few guys here. And there. They I guess you knew him from the local seen the Toronto area, right? I mean, is that a fair assumption as well? Yeah.

Russ Dwarf  20:59

Like, well, the you know, and she was the original bass player. And Bryce was the original guitar player, Darrell and played with Bryce, since they were like six years old. And I had played with ang for quite a few years at that point, too. So we were all young and, and all, you know, doing the same circuit. These are, those were years when you like I said, we literally played 250 300 shows a year and just moved from town to town. And in those days, you play you did six nights, in one place, and everything right, so what was your learning your craft, you're making no money. And you know, but I think it was irrelevant. At that point. Everybody was, everybody, everybody else that you knew that were in bands are broke, but we were all trying to make it and it was a different a different situation like, I don't know, these days, you know, when I see these gigs, like, in those days, you know, we would be driving around with a five ton with all the gear and setting it up ourselves. And you know, it'd be like, I mean, you must remember the old lighting systems and everything. And when we would tie into the power ourselves, we learn electricians, we weren't certified to do this, you you would never get away with this shit.

Randy Hulsey  22:21

Now what the unions and all that kind of stuff going

Russ Dwarf  22:24

on, I'm not a fucking electrician, you're not going to tie this to 20. And but you learned it on your own and you learn from the ground up, you know, it wasn't just like, hey, man, I'm the singer. You have to have some kind of drive because no one's gonna do it for you. You know, and I mean, everybody talks a good game. That's

Randy Hulsey  22:45

exactly, we'll share with the listeners real quick how you guys came up with the name of the band, where's the name derived from?

Russ Dwarf  22:53

The truth or a lie? I don't know.

Randy Hulsey  22:54

Either. Or either.

Russ Dwarf  22:56

That that story. It's like we originally when we started with, like, the new unit, we use donks old name of the band for a while, which was Sphinx and, but we were looking for a new name and we got with these, this Agent Manager that we had. And his name was Bob Connolly and Dave Kirby, Dave Kirby II turned out to be a massive agent in the US. He owned TKO I don't know if you know that he's, you know, anyways, look him up. He's super well for himself and he was the greatest guy and unfortunately, he's passed on now. But these two the lineup like I'm five foot four and the other two guys are short tunes and the bass player and guitar player donkus like six four. And the I don't know they came they they came up with this name, killer dwarfs. And we when they first presented it to us, we went FOC dot happened right but we we turned it into a eventually we went with it and we just ran with it. But like back in those days, we were really theatrical and we did a bunch of crazy shit. I used to swing on a on a robe across out into the audience with a loincloth on and I was in a cage and chained up in a way before videos and all that. Yeah, exactly. Well, we did it just stuck, you know on it. I don't know. It just seems natural now and if I stand back from it and think of the name of things God That's a fucking goofy name, but

Randy Hulsey  24:44

pullets work? Yeah, for sure.

Russ Dwarf  24:46

We're known as the dwarfs. Yeah. And it's it's like Texas. It's a state of mind. Exactly.

Randy Hulsey  24:52

Well, I think you guys had a what the solo record or the debut record came out around the same time. What was it? Was it 81 When the debut came out? Or was 383? Okay, and then you all have 8383. Okay, and then you had an album, stand tall, which came out, I think 86 Does that sound correct? And I know that even though you know, the band received, I think you received a Juno Award nomination for the debut record. The record stand tall is kind of labeled, I guess, is this iconic or highly sought after? piece of work? What was the big difference in the first record versus that of the second? Because I think there was a label change in between the two corrector when

Russ Dwarf  25:47

they did exactly. The first album. You know, it was our first album, we knew we didn't know anything. We were both idiots. I think we did. Three. I think we did a demo prior to doing the first album and a good friend of mine, who was still a good friend of mine. And he was the vice president of a company called attic records that attic records you might remember had, that one of their big names was trial. And actually, Al Mayer, who was the president of attic records, he was Gordon Lightfoot 's manager here. I'm telling you all this minutia. But Tom Williams was the vice president. And he was like the a&r dude and everything. So he was the guy that went out and everything. And we had someone booked a show. On February 14, it was called the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. And so it was at a Hungarian Hall. Okay. So this is 1983. And so it's like 18 months after 13 or 13 months or so after we got we had been working right. And the show was not, and we were starting to get a following that point. But we still weren't accepted in the scene in Toronto or anything. And someone had brought Tom Williams to this gig. And it was like the Spinal Tap, he came backstage and he and you know, probably all hyped up after the show. And he said, I'm gonna do a record with you guys. And I said, Fuck you. And Monday morning, we were in the office, and we were, you know, signed a deal. And then he said, you know, we couldn't get any of these agencies to work with us. And he would just get on the phone and go, Hey, I got to spend the color doors, you know, and these people all turned us down for. I mean, they're like, Oh, we love those guys. Yeah, we're gonna take those guys anyway. So we ended up doing the first album. And and I don't know, we could spend hours analyzing that. It was our first album. And sounds like our first time I think the demo sound better that I think the record has been passed around to a couple of different companies. Now. I think it's with the unit desk I just saw on Amazon on gold vinyl for $73. And I was just, I want some of that money. Yeah, this sounds probably gonna gold like three times. But they added I think three of the actual download songs that we did with Chris sang Arenys I don't know if you know that name. He's very look him up. He's a famous rock, metal, English metal producer. We did a demo with him in like a day or two at a studio to show attic that we could play and blah, blah, blah. But the demo sound better than the album to me. But they got our foot in the door. And this is when videos started coming out too. So this is a brand new thing. Yeah. So you know, we've toured that album and the record company, they changed in our guys and like record companies doing and if you're not you need support from everybody. And in a situation it's politics. It's like everything I'm also going to talk about politics and I still not but then they wanted to kind of us to do like songs we didn't want to do they wanted to hit single like they wanted us to do hot child into Sydney or something and we totally like when

Randy Hulsey  29:16

box no old Nick we older. Yeah.

Russ Dwarf  29:19

And that's great for Nick and everything. But it just wasn't what we were what we thought of ourselves as and everything. I don't even think we recorded a thing I think we did. We did some bad finger. We didn't

29:31

No matter what

Russ Dwarf  29:33

you want. I think we did. But this new a&r guy came to us to the studio and he acted like he was our friend. So we started kind of shitting on the record company. And he went back and told his record company and they were like, Okay, fuck you and they dropped us. Wow. So we got dropped on our first record, which was probably a blessing in disguise because this forced us to wait could not get a record deal. So we did our we got the money together, I borrowed 10 grand off my mother. And we went and did stand tall over like six months at nighttime, like 20 sessions tops right with the guy, Andrew St. George. And I think we just, we were in, I don't want to say incense, but we were just invigorated to, we're gonna fucking show you motherfuckers we weren't finished, right? But in our mind, we're like, oh, no, we're finished. You know what I mean? You're young and you don't see me correctly. And so we just made that album, we put all our heart into it. And lo and behold, like I said, Texas was our first was our first big thing because by then we had laughed. You know, we were fired from attic. And Joe Anthony. Kiss FM in San Antonio, Texas, like he's a legend. He brought a million bands there. I don't know if you know of him either. But look up Joe Anthony people. He was called The Godfather. And he broke a lot of Canadian bands down there. And he loved music and everything. And I don't know how he got my number. And he called my house. And he said, you know, a joint in San Antonio, Texas, you have a number one out there. And I'm like, again, book you

Randy Hulsey  31:22

another friend,

Russ Dwarf  31:24

we have no clue because there's not going to be right somebody a letter. In those days, I don't know how the guy got my phone number. And the record wasn't about to tell us that the record was number one there. And we are in this meantime, we were still recording stand tall. And we ended up going to down to the states to San Antonio. And we ended up doing a bunch of shows down there. And we stayed an extra two weeks. And we sold out a bunch of stuff on our own. It was with a promoter named Jack Orban from Stone City and other famous independent guide for Live Nation and all this crap, all that came along. And by the time stand tall came out, then here comes MTV. And so we made independent videos with all our own money. And the album was done with all their own money, we just have licensing a licensing deal in the States and Canada, I got a ship. And the record ended up selling 100,000 units, which was bizarre in 1986. On your own first we got ripped off for every penny of that. And MTV picked up on those videos, keep the spirit alive and stand tall. And then they think that really helped helped us a lot along with Jack and Joe. It's in San Antonio. And from then, this got us more shows in the States, which got us up to New York, which got a bunch of a&r people come out from New York City to see us. And lo and behold, we got the epic deal. Okay. In America, right. So it's kind of a shame, because stand tall should have, I think epic should have just maybe repackaged and re released and talk that they wanted us to go in and make a brand new record and everything.

Randy Hulsey  33:17

Is there a reason why stand tall? Like, if you look it up in a Spotify catalog? Why it doesn't show up there? Is there some kind of litigation over that? Because the in here's the reason I asked. I had another band on my show. And their stuff is not out on Spotify. And it's because they're tied up in litigation with it. So I didn't know if there was a reason why. Other killer dwarf stuff is there. But stand tall isn't? Yeah.

Russ Dwarf  33:44

There is a bunch of legal crap going on. But we do own stand tall. So

Randy Hulsey  33:48

okay, yeah, we don't have to go into it. I was just curious I, at first, I said, Am I overlooking this? Am I overlooking it? I can't find that anywhere. I

Russ Dwarf  33:55

always legal stuff and everything you'll be hearing from it. Like, well, I'm worried we're working on something with my publisher about it. Because people keep wanting it and everything and it's anniversaries coming up. So we'll see. It was reissued in the early 2000s for about 10 minutes, but that went sideways to me. That's a great record. Yeah, people. It's raw and it's unencumbered with the business side of it. So it was just a, you know, group effort shirt. Instruction. Yeah. Well, it helped us immensely.

Randy Hulsey  34:34

Oh, I'm sure yeah. Well, you knew it you had mentioned

Russ Dwarf  34:37

right with MTV? Yes. It was at one point it was it was the most independent requested video of all time. Yeah, you know, rap like this. But people remember us like that. And we were it was a different kind of vibe. But we I think we were one of the first bands that made these comedy videos, you know, because I don't know it was just it's just our nature we, we love that we take music seriously and everything. And it's a serious message but we like to have fun with it. It's called entertainment people.

Randy Hulsey  35:10

There's a couple of groups that come to mind. You mentioned the comedy behind you guys and the lightheartedness. There there was there's a couple that come to mind. Tim Mitchell, right. Oh, yeah, a little comedy and you know, go for a soda. And then

Russ Dwarf  35:26

before that was it was Max Webster, right? Sure. That's the van Kim was in. Are you familiar with Max Webster or not? Now, there's another band you should check out. Thanks, Kim. And before KIM Okay, so we grew up on that Darrell and I and the guys because he used to play high schools and obviously they're big Toronto band, they opened up a rush everywhere Lesperance with Russian so it was a big thing. And we saw them lots and they were they were like a you know, Frank Zappa ish of Canada, because it's super talented. piden was a lyricist, and it's very heavy shit. But they and they looked odd to they didn't look like you know, fuck, then the Hollywood stars. Like weird dudes and shit, right? Yeah. So they did have a funny aspect. But it was a smart ass sarcasm thing. Like what we do, it's kind of like the inside the inside Joker, of course.

Randy Hulsey  36:24

You mentioned briefly just a second ago about kind of the some of the success that came from the whole MTV thing. But how do you feel like MTV enhanced the band's career at the time? Did you just see? Did the career soar at that time? Or was it? You know, it helped a little like, can you speak a little bit about really what kind of success you felt like you guys saw from the headbangers ball stuff?

Russ Dwarf  36:53

Yeah, I don't, you know, it's hard to say that you you see it from where your position is, but we would hear about it from you know, our management and the records, and everything. Because we're our work and, and everything. But obviously, people connected with that. And people still know us because of that. I think that definitely propelled the band. There's no doubt about it. It was an amazing advertising tool. You know, because you didn't have the internet that was basically like the original Internet thing. Correct. So and you can still see those videos today. And yeah, it definitely helped. It was a bonus for us for sure. There's no doubt about it, but then it gets then it gets convoluted. Well, we did it on our own. It was thought Bonnier and everything or you can't I think the big deal album, they kind of got contrived and because too many people get involved and then it's like, you know, sometimes less is more. Yeah,

Randy Hulsey  37:51

I agree with that.

Russ Dwarf  37:52

Any weapons video is awesome, because it was well done by the Hollywood dude. I think it was Wayne Isham and someone like that. Someone I forgot. It could have been beams, Cagney's, or all right, but they're definitely a bonus. Like, you know, definitely now I guess you can do a video but like does doesn't matter for geezers like us to do videos and put them on YouTube or whatever. It's just gonna cost you money. For sure. I'm gonna show him by shirt.

Randy Hulsey  38:23

Exactly. Or a CD. You know, we talked a little bit about the headbangers ball and I believe that you might have even hosted with with Rob Hallford. From from priest. How was that experience for you? Are you a priest fan at the time, not a priest fan? Like talk to the listeners a little bit about the experience.

Russ Dwarf  38:46

Fan? You kidding us? Yeah, we were huge grease fans was awesome. And he was so nice. And down to earth. And so it's nice because sometimes, you know, you meet people that you think, oh, man, I want to meet you. And then you're a jackass. Yeah. Rob was super, super cool. He came to our show, and couldn't have been a nicer guy. And we love Judas Priest. The how, who doesn't love priests from our era?

Randy Hulsey  39:14

Right? Of course.

Russ Dwarf  39:16

It's fabulous.

Randy Hulsey  39:17

Is there still any contact with with Rob at all from the days or not really not so much?

Russ Dwarf  39:23

No, no. I've got I've got a few shows. And I've seen them recently. And I think, you know, he's still fucking amazing. And Richie Faulkner is like one of the best I think young gunslingers. Like, he's an amazing showman. Like the guys who's captivating to watch. He's, he's somebody I like, you know? Well,

Randy Hulsey  39:50

I think around 88 You guys signed the big contract with Epic

Russ Dwarf  39:55

Meal the big deal. How do you feel like

Randy Hulsey  39:59

that? At signing with epic changed the path for the band, or did it really change the path for the band? Was gave

Russ Dwarf  40:07

us more money. Okay. You know, and, and creatively, I guess we got to do what we wanted to do a little more big deal was produced by Simon Hanhart. I think that I can't remember if it took two or three months to do but it was a, it was a different step I end by that album. That's our that was our third album. So I still think we were in total control. We were in control of the writing the songs and everything, but not the production really. So I mean, did a great job. I think that album sounds amazing. And he is just a nicest guy. You know, I love to work with him again, we still talk to him from time to time. But you know, I don't know, I can overanalyze. Everybody will have their own opinion of every record. I think there's some great songs on that. And, and it just, but we were still learning, you know, and I mean, we were only 2627 I think there's still still learning, but that one did great for us, too. We ended up you know, with Maiden and going to Europe with them. And, and there's some great tunes on that we still play a bunch of stuff of that record. But yes, it was the big deal. So it was like, here we go. It's the Black Rock in New York. It's, you know, 52nd Street 50 1000s. You know, I don't know, you know, the black rocks made of granite and CBS Belding and, yes, we're on Epic. So it was like that was really cool. Like, because it like I said, I'm a rock fan. So it was like course pediatric one of my all time favorite bands, you know, cheap trip was on the on the label and Michael Jackson at the time. Lots of famous people, but you know, you go to these places, they could basically be selling toilet paper. Really, like, nobody can make a decision and everybody's scared, they're gonna lose their jobs if they make the wrong choice. There's a few people that you said, do believe and you're truly in it for the right thing. And that I remember and everything but you know, it's an eye opener. I'm, I'm a hillbilly from Richmond Hill. And here we are with this $10 million record deal. And we're in New York City mixing oil and oh, boy, it's like, this is the best street meatloaf I've ever had.

Randy Hulsey  42:30

Russell is a fish out of water one.

Russ Dwarf  42:33

Day, buddy. It's a human observation is like if you know any of the songs that we write that are that we have, and you read the lyrics, you can see it's, we don't read about chicks and drugs and rock and roll. You know, it's all on the back. It's all in our brain when that's happening. But it's a human observation of everything. And it was just, I just loved the minutiae. I just love to see all how this works. And in what is really everything in it. It's a machine. Yeah, the machine. Yeah, it's an eye opener. But like I said, you know, it's corporate, it's corporate rock. So, you know, they could be selling toilet paper, and it was changing at that time, right at that time was when Sony bought CBS and there's a lot of changes going on. You really need people that are going to back your career, of course, put their ass on the line. And, you know, I get it like you don't want to lose your fucking job because you made a mistake. Of course. Everybody makes mistakes. Right? On that album. Big deal. Arthur told me please should have been the single but you know, who the hell am I?

Randy Hulsey  43:44

Well, Simon produced I think for some pretty big name artists. Right. I think he had Marillion and who else may be signs of stuff? Yes. Well, I think he has Saxon too. And I had nibs card or the bass player for sex and on my show, not too long ago. Nibs is a wonderful guy. And it's funny because we talked about recording now. You know, the last record he said that they recorded the the Carpe Diem record, it was all just files sent back and forth, you know, because five people are in five different places, you know, all over the world. And nobody went to a studio because of the pandemic and all of that. So it's different times for sure.

Russ Dwarf  44:25

Yeah. I like being in the room with people. We actually did a tour of Texas was Saxon. But yeah, we love Simon and he did a great job he actually did. He remastered a bunch of Elvis Presley which I'm the biggest, biggest Elvis fan that ever looks at me. So Simon is the king while Elvis is decaying. But Simon help

Randy Hulsey  44:51

from your chair like from the artists perspective, how do you feel the production changed? Or the producing change for better or worse you from say the work you did with maize records to going to Epic what could you just see? What was it like years ahead? Was there a big difference in the production all the money in

Russ Dwarf  45:12

the world to spend? Right You know, so my mind set was like, Okay, well we'll spend as much money as possible to make it right to decide to do it right. Like I wasn't thinking about wow, I better save some money here. It's not like we come to your house with 500 grand here they go do what you want here. I'll get it here's my four track you know, like dirty what I think I think big deal cost about $150,000 or something all in but the video and I bought weapons was like, a half a million dollars. And we spent six months on it with Andy John in LA you know what I mean? But we did it right. Like, yes, of course. Right. We wanted this. We were we've come into our own at this point. Yeah. You know, we can tell by that record, we were there. That was it? Yes. You know what I mean? And having Andy as a producer, you know, it's not as much of a thing of him telling you what to do. It's him giving you the confidence to be able to deliver what you felt, you know, when we had the ability and he you know, it was an education money can buy Are you sure to pay for? Yes. And and he was one of the greatest guys ever. He him and I headed off and famously beyond the music, business gag and everything and Andy is this like, to me? I don't know of a lot of look up Andy Jones, because he, you he is see who his brother is and everything but the Andia still lot of Zeppelin and stone, okay. Classic stuff that we love and stuff like that. But Andrew Andy's unfortunately been gone for 10 years now too, but he really helped us give us a lot of confidence. I think it wasn't it wasn't a lot of he wasn't forcing us to do anything. He was teaching us teaching him you know what I mean? So we learned a lot of stuff. He did two albums with him. Yeah.

Randy Hulsey  47:15

Well, you had mentioned earlier that you guys had gone out with Maidan. Were there other bands that you toured with to support the big deal record or was it just made? And I don't mean just made like is just just Iron Maiden? Yeah, but I didn't know. Yeah.

Russ Dwarf  47:32

We only played Wembley with made. Yeah, I think we were we weren't McAuley Schenker, we were out with them. And that's a long time ago, I forget. Yeah. Yeah. Tons of shows on our own. And stuff. But main, probably the big one. are great, great people and still friends. They're just one of the best bands. And one of the nicest sponsor guys, Steve is like one of the greatest cats ever, of course.

Randy Hulsey  48:00

And 91 You guys were nominated for the second Juno Award as Best Hard rock group, but you wound up losing to the pride of Canada, right? And I was gonna say if I guess if you have to lose to somebody rush would be a good one to lose to hear they

Russ Dwarf  48:19

needed it more than we was actually the first year they put the heavy metal category I think and everybody was like, yeah, man, you're a shoo in. And you know, they those fuckers from rush

Randy Hulsey  48:36

a little man.

Russ Dwarf  48:38

Yeah. My best friend is actually get his tech and but that's another story. But, you know, awards. What in the hell are they? Like, we're not all the same. It's great to be accepted and everything. We've never really been the accepting kind of like underdogs, but I always thought that stuff was kind of funny, because we're not we don't write the same song. It's not like, oh, did the best version of this. But I you know, you got to understand the politics of it. They're doing they're putting this category in for the first time. So of course, they're gonna get rushed. It's like fucking rush. Like, you know, yeah, of course. Like rush, you know, you go to jail here.

Randy Hulsey  49:26

Like not like in hockey or ag gotta like both of those.

Russ Dwarf  49:31

You're done. So but you know, Rush What can you say? Like, what a career what, uh, you know,

Randy Hulsey  49:36

amazing, amazing. Well, and I think if you ask 10 people, you'll get 10 different answers about the accolades, right. I think some people like um, some people need to feel like they're justifying something by receiving them, but I was gonna ask you to I think I kind of got your answer, but you know, what would a Juno Award have meant to you had you guys won the Juno Award like, it would I guess it would have been cool for a while. And then it's like, on to the next thing kinda right or not. So I mean, because if you think about it, because a lot of people in America don't know, maybe what a Juno Award is, but that's the equivalent, you know what a Grammy Award is? Right? That's the equivalent in Canada.

Russ Dwarf  50:20

So well, we've been nominated a couple of times and everything and I guess it would have been a great thing and all the all that but I really don't put a lot of weight into any of that stuff. It's just not my gag. But you know, I guess it would have been cool. But you know, at least we were nominated least we were like recognized course. Like, I have friends that have Juno's and they use them as like doorstops

Randy Hulsey  50:46

boat anchors.

Russ Dwarf  50:48

Maybe one day we'll get those guys they're almost good. No leftover from somebody's basic exotics. I guess it helps some people. It's it's like the music business patting itself on the back. Look, how great were you Dad, we never wrote any of these songs. Here's

Randy Hulsey  51:10

self validation,

Russ Dwarf  51:12

it makes the world go round.

Randy Hulsey  51:14

Well, and if we fast forward to 292, you guys dropped an album called method to the madness. And this record had some great songs on it. One of them, I guess, was the power ballad drifting back. And, you know, this is also, you know, as a song when the power ballads were really a big thing late, late 80s, early 90s kind of thing. But what inspired drifting back the lyrics behind the song,

Russ Dwarf  51:45

I have no idea. And I talked about this in the show sometimes, because I really, we really, I love playing that song. And a lot of people like it. And I wrote that song in 1984. So when if you listen to those lyrics, it sounds like some old dude or something. Now, it's like, every night when you sing the lyric said, when I say my own lyrics, it means a different thing looks like it's up for interpretation to everybody. Absolutely. But, you know, being the length, we've been around and everything and those lyrics, they, they mean something completely irrelevant to, you know, what we do now? And I think a lot of people like that song. Yeah.

Randy Hulsey  52:30

For the listeners that, you know, let's say they're tuning into the show, and they're not familiar with your stuff, right? Are you the main songwriter? In the group? Do you share those responsibilities talk about the songwriting that goes on in the band, and how that's kind of, you know, divided out, or is it divided out

Russ Dwarf  52:52

as what line up like right now? Jerry God night, that's one person. We write, you know, the songs in the structure of it. And Darrell helps with arrangements and it like, he's such an important part of the door sound like if you don't have him playing the song. It's not a door song. It's the element of all of us together. It makes sense. It is, you know, I mean, it's not like I'm the one writing a song. Somebody came up with a great idea. That's great. But you know, I've always been involved in it with every every guitar player we've had, but Jerry and I have a good we have a good connection with that. Darrell knows how to bring it together. He does something about the way he plays. It makes it into a door song.

Randy Hulsey  53:51

Okay. Do you remember wanting to be or were you a songwriter at an early age or did that come later on for you?

Russ Dwarf  53:58

Hmm, I probably started around 16 or something. Crappy songs are so good. They're not that they're not all crappy now. No, yeah. You always want to want to write your own songs and stuff. We've been writing a lot we've got a lot of stuff right now. It's just a point of like, getting in there and we're in the studio that we're working at right now is being rebuilt into like this retro back to analog world. It's really gonna be really cool but we have been recording there last year. So we do have new material and we are going to release some new material. We're not sure if we're going to do a full album right off the bat but we will be releasing some singles. And we will maybe on Saturday night we'll be playing one of the new ones because we have been playing one new one in the in the set in last year. Nice. Nice. Give us a up time Yeah, well who coming up

Randy Hulsey  55:02

like in your formula? Boy music years, you know, say junior high school up to high school who who was inspiring you? Who were you into as a? Who did you love?

Russ Dwarf  55:15

Rock and Rock Band?

55:16

Those guys?

Russ Dwarf  55:18

Raj Sablan Cooper definitely huge, huge Cooper fan. Aerosmith. You know, the standard stuff for people my age, but Cooper was a massive influence on me. Rick Derringer, you know, in the late 70s, obviously loved Van Halen course, like, fog hat. She's one of my all time favorite bands to Cago you know, the list goes on and on sparks I'm a huge sparks fan. Okay. You never got me in the documentary. Talking faster. But, you know, lots and lots of tough love kiss. Yeah.

Randy Hulsey  55:58

Who do you feel like inspires you these days? Are you are you much inspired by new stuff? Anything out striking your fancy?

Russ Dwarf  56:09

We're young bands. I like I love the rival sons and I love them. Those guys for a couple years avenged sevenfold? I think they're kind of amazing band. I don't know, I haven't been listening to a lot of new stuff. lately. I just been listening to I've been writing a lot of stuff myself. So I'm not listening. I'm really on a huge Beatles kick right now

Randy Hulsey  56:30

are you You know I've always respected the Beatles but I it was just a never it was never a band that I ran out and bought the records for for whatever reason, and I felt kind of the same about the stones. However in my later in my now years, I really grown a liking and really enjoy the stones whereas I didn't give a rat's ass about them. 30 years ago, right, so I don't maybe the palate changes a little over time. Right?

Russ Dwarf  56:59

I think it does. I think it does. Yeah, stones for sure. You know, they definitely are the greatest rock band. Yeah, but yeah, all the same stuff from the 70s You know what I mean? In bad finger and Thin Lizzy is one of my all time favorites are gone. Now will be up in the night. They can Oh, I forgot to say

Randy Hulsey  57:21

he left somebody out. Right.

Russ Dwarf  57:23

I grew up. Like I grew up. My dad was a big big band guy. So I grew up with a lot of Frank Sinatra. I love Tony Benn. Okay. So love that stuff. Glenn Miller. And Elvis Presley is like, my probably my all time favorite. And I love love. Love the Beach Boys. April wine. Oh, yeah. Huge, huge influence as a kid. Definitely. Yeah.

Randy Hulsey  57:48

It was a big April wine fan too. Well, one of the past performances for you guys was on this Monsters of Rock cruise. And you know, back in the back in the 70s and 80s, you'll you'll remember this, I think you remember how forbidden like video and photography was at concerts back in the day like I can, I can remember buying a ticket to a show whether it was Van Halen or whoever. And on every ticket that said no recording devices are no cameras, no blah, blah, blah, right. And then we fast forward. You know, I guess back then, you know, in the 70s and 80s, it seems like the bands were untouchable, they were unapproachable. It was kind of a US and then thing and now we fast forward 40 years later. And all of a sudden, these artists are getting on the same damn boat together and making themselves available to every person on the boat for the most part.

Russ Dwarf  58:50

Like, you know,

Randy Hulsey  58:51

what's your thoughts around that? Like you've seen it change from you know what I'm talking about to? To what it is now? And which of those do you favor? Like, what is your preference?

Russ Dwarf  59:03

I can remember that like around 2008 I think the video phone thing started happening and I can remember being at a show because like sometimes they'll stop and let them take a picture of me I got taken a hell of a long time for a fucking virtual team with the Monsters of Rock cruise and stuff, which is a fabulous fan because you have all these bands and all these people are there for the right reasons and they do such a great job like the production of the thing is just I talk to are all the people you work with. They're amazing. And you're there for that reason to meet the fans. Like don't go on the Monsters of Rock cruise as a band and not expect to encounter people, your fans because that's the whole point of the situation. Right? And everyone's there and they're all it's not like there's no negative vibe. It's just like the Peace law. have enrolled hockey and nobody's I have never seen any aggression or in, you know, some bands hide and stuff, which you know that I guess that's your prerogative but you really, you know, should be grateful and and we love it

Randy Hulsey  1:00:16

well and I think that that's the way it should have been 40 years ago, you know, and I made kind of the tongue in cheek comment of the several times on my show that, you know, remembering back to the days of, you know, the mid 70s, the late 70s, where you hear songs like, oh, gosh, who, I mean, we said it earlier, Nick Gilder right. I thought that was a girl that sang that song, right? Because I had never saw a picture of Nick Gilder right because it wasn't in our face. There were there's not the prominence of the internet and where everything is right at your fingertips. So there was like this mystery back then of Who are these people? What do they even look like right

Russ Dwarf  1:01:01

now to buy circus magazine or so? Exactly. Yeah. I kind of liked that. I kind of like it was a mistake. Yeah. There is like the veil has been lifted. Definitely. And then God, God help me if you said the wrong thing. Of course. I'm so scared. And every time I don't care at this point, like I can't sell me. I'm canceled. Yeah. Well cancel my visa bill. Yes. But you're right. Yeah, it was a definitely. It was like untouchable. Yeah. Just Irwin and go out and see them up there and think that they were like, wow, they are the gold gods. No, are actually just humans. Yeah, exactly. We lived through that. And that was that was cool. I like that. Well times

Randy Hulsey  1:01:44

change. People change. And you know, the killer doors have sold in excess of 2 million records over the years and not many bands can say that they were ever that successful. So congrats to to you and the boys for the success that you have had over the over the years. What's coming up that you guys can share? You know, you mentioned a little bit earlier about maybe some new material. Is there anything that you can elaborate on or we just leave it at there's some new material coming out is there a timeline or anything like that that

Russ Dwarf  1:02:21

we're not on your any schedule anything but we're just waiting for this room to get finished. And continue on like we we have stuff that we are working on that is already we've already tracked and everything, but the whole studio is being redone. So hopefully, mid summer, hopefully by the fall, we'll have something out. I want to get something out. I want people to hear some new music and see if they like Yeah, absolutely. I plan on playing, playing shows and as long as we can as long as everybody's healthy and and getting out and seeing everybody Absolutely,

Randy Hulsey  1:02:56

absolutely. Talk to the listeners a little bit about are there solo efforts for you as well outside of killer dwarves? Can you speak to that?

Russ Dwarf  1:03:07

I have a band called The rust dwarf band. Oh my god, what a wacky, original name. Yeah, and I have tunes to that. There, they will be calm and I have a whole album of stuff that's probably going to come out. And that's, that's better. There's, there's I've got a ton of songs and I got a great little band that I work with, which is fun. So between that and the doors, there's lots of there's lots of music coming from us. books coming out and and there's probably on a patio right now somewhere.

Randy Hulsey  1:03:48

Who's playing with you in the solo? In the solo band, who are the musicians in your band.

Russ Dwarf  1:03:54

Pack ran was on the drums had a great drummer from up here and Oshawa, Ontario, or anything. Where does he live? No Campbellford or something? Pack Rando. Bobby Lee Frenette on guitar, who's an excellent guitar player. And Rob Zacks, who you've had encounters with, I think this week, he's He's a dwarf manager, and he's also the bass player in my solo band. And he seems like a bird.

Randy Hulsey  1:04:25

Nice. Well, a shout out to rob for helping get this set up for sure. Will he be up in Detroit?

Russ Dwarf  1:04:34

He told me he said it's Rob Zed. Rob said, Rob Z. Yeah. On that already. There'll be this weekend because he like he manages the band and eat. Sometimes he comes out and road managers. So he's going to be with us all weekend.

Randy Hulsey  1:04:49

Awesome. Well, I hope that I'm able to say Say hello to you guys. When I'm up there this weekend. Where can the listeners find you And the projects on social media I know you said that you're you're not the social media guy but if somebody wants to look up tour dates or merch or whatever the case may be where would they find you guys?

Russ Dwarf  1:05:13

Probably the Facebook gag I think there's a I know there's a killer dwarfs and rust dwarf and I think there's stuff on Twitter Darrell if you go to Darryl dwarf on Facebook and Twitter and everything Derral Eve's the post, he's the social media guy from outer space. And I think we're on all the platforms like you were saying Spotify. I haven't. I've never even used Spotify. I don't even know what the hell it is. My sister in law tells me about it. Like I have Apple tunes, or iTunes or whatever.

Randy Hulsey  1:05:47

It's all the same shit, right? Just digital music at the end of the day, right?

Russ Dwarf  1:05:52

So you can find you can find worse on all that all that stuff and definitely, I'm pretty sure it's on the face. Face plant there.

Randy Hulsey  1:06:02

Yeah, the face. Well, I think there's a domain called killer dwarfs. band.com, too. I think you guys can be found on that. Yeah, so you don't even have to pay me for knowing your information for either a C C I'm a good guy like that. Real quick before we part is there something about you that maybe your fans don't know that that they might find interesting about you?

Russ Dwarf  1:06:32

I do nothing best.

Randy Hulsey  1:06:35

Or you could plead the fifth to

Russ Dwarf  1:06:39

plead the fifth Let's stop talking about politics or legal matters. No.

Randy Hulsey  1:06:45

that'll that'll open up a whole new can of worms right. And I'm trying to I know we kind of have a little longer than an hour but that could we could go until tomorrow sometime and I know you have better things to do.

Russ Dwarf  1:06:58

We can lose my audience. I don't know I love to read and and just hang around. I'm a homebody I like to be at home. And you know like I said Canada has two months. Two seasons construction in winter. So apparently it's a construction season now. So you'll catch me sitting outside reading a book There you go. Right and and I smoke too much and that's the last advice I have. I don't drink and party anymore. I'm just an old dud

Randy Hulsey  1:07:30

there. Do you feel like your voice and you just made me think of one question and I've asked vocalist this and I've asked some pretty prominent vocalist this and I wanted to hear what you have to say about it but do you feel like your voice is as powerful now as it was 40 years ago talk to me about the voice and the the range have you lost range have you not lost range talk about that?

Russ Dwarf  1:07:57

Well probably I must have lost me I lost a lot of hearing. That's like Darrell thinks I still sound great. So I'll go with his his analogy of it. I don't I usually find my voice gets a little stronger. The more shows we do in a row and everything that makes sense. A different thing. It's a muscle right? You know, like I've been we haven't done a dig since December. So like I sing at home and like I don't think doors things, obviously and I sing my sing songs that I'm writing but I don't sing them out like I'm gonna be performing so when I were at home I just put on like you know, old Cheap Trick or old APR wine or Russia or something and I and I sing that so I don't know tomorrow night will be the tail to see if I'm any good. I might suck

Randy Hulsey  1:08:51

or the refunds on the show and St Charles I just want to know that if you suck can I get my money back?

Russ Dwarf  1:08:58

No sucking refunds no sucking

Randy Hulsey  1:08:59

refund?

Russ Dwarf  1:09:02

I don't know I still seem to have a voice all cross my fingers. You know,

Randy Hulsey  1:09:08

I'm lucky. Yeah. Yeah, for sure you are because I know several people that that was their tool. And they don't have that tool anymore. And it's like it's devastating when that you rely on you know, the voice to be your source of income and then the voice gives out and what do you turn to right and it's it's very disheartening, it's sad, but luckily you still have it. Luckily you have your health and you're able to get out on the road and and do what you guys do. Well, you know, it was great to track it down through Rob. I wish you guys continued success with the endeavors you have in the works and I look forward to seeing you hopefully Saturday in Chicago and look forward to the new stuff coming out. So for the listeners, you guys go out and follow Ross on on social media, and then be sure to like, share and subscribe. Also, make sure to check out the band at killer dwarfs band.com. I ask the listeners to like, share and subscribe to the podcast on Facebook at backstage pass radio podcast on Instagram at backstage pass radio, on Twitter at backstage pass PC and on the website at backstage pass. radio.com You guys make sure to take care of yourselves and each other and we'll be right back here on the next episode of backstage pass radio.

Adam Gordon  1:10:33

Thanks so much for joining us. We hope you enjoyed today's episode of backstage pass radio. Make sure to follow Randy on Facebook and Instagram at Randy Halsey music and on Twitter at our Halsey music. Also, make sure to like, subscribe and turn on alerts for upcoming podcasts. If you enjoyed the podcast, make sure to share the link with a friend and tell them backstage pass radio is the best show on the web for everything music. We'll see you next time right here on backstage pass radio