The Dwarves are a punk band in the truest sense because they don’t give a fuck. When they first got big they were scraggly looking, dressed in ratty clothes and had unkept hair. To look at them in their prime they looked like total reprobates. If you put them next to a typical punker with a green mohawk, expensive leather jacket, expensive studded belt, expensive bondage pants from England and expensive Doc Marten’s boots it became painfully obvious who was faking and who was living the real life of a punk. Their music is primarily fast but they also do some dirges and all the lyrics deal with some taboo or offensive subject matter. But at their core they are a kickass Rock N’ Roll band. That means their history includes a lot of sex and drugs to accompany the Rock N’ Roll.

While not an original member, Vadge Moore was there for the band’s most decadent and riotous era. As the drummer he had the near impossible task of keeping it together while all this chaos broke out right in front of him. After all, the best bands play to the drummer. In a way he had the best seat in the house. He has published a book covering his years in The Dwarves and pulls no punches. Some folks, when talking about themselves, tend to rewrite parts of their history while Moore lets it all hang out. He is not afraid to reveal awful truths when necessary while at the same time celebrating he and the band’s victories against fake morality, all the while sticking together like brothers in arms. In many cases they were comrades in a war against the paying audience. That’s the way The Dwarves rolled. The reader is strapped in on a rollercoaster ride that includes lots of sex, drugs, Rock N’ Roll and crossing paths with everyone from Poison Idea and GG Allin to The Foo Fighters.

This self-published book is part of a projected trilogy. While The Dwarves’ reputation paints them as crude, Moore is well-read and already a published author having contributed articles to various publications. I spoke with Moore about this new chapter in his life and its connections with his Dwarves past.

Punk Globe: What made you decide to write a trilogy? Will there be non-Dwarves subjects in future books or will they ping-pong back and forth?

Vadge Moore: I had watched the movie on Motley Crue, The Dirt, and thought that my life in The Dwarves had been equally as decadent and strange. Thinking over my life before and after The Dwarves I realized that my entire life experience would make a pretty interesting read. I had also been reading a lot of Henry Miller and his trilogy of Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn and Black Spring was further inspiration to write down my life history. I wanted to start with my time in The Dwarves, because obviously that would be more interesting to people and if readers became interested enough in myself as a person and perhaps recognized some of their own thoughts, feelings and experiences they might want to hear the rest of the tale. I'm under no illusions that the other books will attract an equal amount of interest, but I'm encouraged by reactions from the people who have read this book that there will be those who will want to read the next two.

Punk Globe: Did you feel the sex was dealt with evenly? Did you feel a need to hold back or did you feel you went too far in a couple of instances?    

Moore: My intention was simply to write down everything that happened, truthfully and without filter. I've always had a pretty enormous libido and being in The Dwarves allowed me to express that sexuality in a myriad of ways. Looking back now, thirty years later I can say that I'm very glad I was given the opportunity to express my sexuality in that way. I want to emphasize very strongly that every situation that I was involved with sexually was always extremely consensual. Nobody was ever forced into anything. This goes to the root of my philosophy as a long-time student of the work of Aleister Crowley and a self-proclaimed Thelemite: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. This does not mean to do whatever whim or fancy takes control of your nervous system. It is an extremely disciplined system of self-knowledge and self-control. I would never desire to do anything against another person’s will and I will defend to the death my right to do my will.

Punk Globe: I noticed you refer to the band as "we" and "us" all through the book. Once a Dwarve always a Dwarve?  

Moore: Absolutely. Anyone who's spent a fair amount of time in this band will testify to that. I don't know if it's the fact that being in this band allows you to open the floodgates of your Freudian Id and therefore permanently tattoo your nervous system with this particular Mark of Cain or what it is, but if you do enough time in The Dwarves you definitely become a member of a decadent elite. Just ask Nick Oliveri.

Punk Globe: How did the self-publishing process go? Do you feel comfortable doing it again or would you prefer an outside publisher next time?   

Moore: Self-publishing has been awesome and Amazon has a great system arranged for just that endeavor.  Iris Berry and her crew did an amazing job laying out the book, but once it was done and sent off Amazon has done an incredible job of putting the physical book together and getting it to the readers. It's great not having a middle man. My publishing company is named after a particular entity that I contacted through my Thelemic practices, hence the name Babiazna Publishing. If an interested outside company contacted me with a great offer I would gladly take it into consideration, but I'll always put the Babiazna name on it.

Punk Globe: Did you keep notes or a diary on the road? Were the anecdotes from memory?

Moore: Actually, I went back and listened to every Dwarves recording I had made from the first to the last and started jotting down all the memories that came to me. Dave Dalton, a dear friend and one of the first roadies The Dwarves ever had also helped quite a bit. I seem to remember that during the first European tour with The Reverend Horton Heat and The Supersuckers there was a tour itinerary booklet that I made notes inside of, but that has since been lost. The process was really just listening back to all those Dwarves albums in order and noting down what memories came flooding in. In many ways it was like reliving all those experiences but without the pain of the next morning’s hangover.