Cirencester, Gloucestershire Hard Rock band band DEALER was rooted in the 1978 formed AXE VICTIMS, this antecedent outfit featuring vocalist Trev Short, bassist Pete Gentil and drummer Malcolm Hanselman. Suffering membership changes, the band evolved into LONE WOLF. However, due to the formation of a London based act of the same title, fronted by the high profile figure of ex-IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Dianno, the further revised title of DEALER was struck upon. Shortly afterwards, Hanselman was replaced by Andy Powell. DEALER scored national media by appearing on the HTV television programme 'Best Band West' and scored valuable supports to GARY MOORE and MOTÖRHEAD.

Singer Trev Short, guitarists Steve Tarrant and Andy Jones with bassist Pete Gentil performed on the 1983 single 'Better Things To Do' issued on the Windrush label. A three song demo was recorded the following year containing 'The Final Conflict', 'Money Is Your Password' and 'Looking For A Reason'. Guitarist Andy Dunne was enrolled but soon vacated his position, being substituted by a then 17 year old Ashley Jon Limer.

DEALER's solitary album emerged on Hull's Ebony Records in 1987, after which frontman Trev Short was replaced by female vocalist Julie Gove. DEALER folded in 1988. Subsequently, Trev Short, bassist Pete Gentil, guitarist Ashley Jon Limer and drummer Andy Powell went on to form the more melodic VAN DAMNE and in 1996 Limer appeared as a guest musician on the CHAIN debut album and later turned up on the SACK TRICK spoof albums.

Interest in DEALER has resulted in the private CD pressings 'Boogie, Booze & Birds', a collection of 1982 recordings, 'Dealer Live', recorded in concert at Level 3 in Swindon, 'For Old Times Sake', a set of 1988 studio cuts, 'One More Time', also compiling tracks laid down in 1988, and 'Bootlegged: Studio Demos', from the band's 1984/85 era.