Brad Roberts

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Brad Roberts
BradRobertsOct2010.jpg
Roberts following a Crash Test Dummies show in 2010
Background information
Birth nameBradley Kenneth Roberts
Born (1964-01-10) January 10, 1964 (age 60)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Singer, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1989–present
Labels Arista, ViK. Recordings, Cha-Ching, Deep Fried
Website crashtestdummies.com

Bradley Kenneth Roberts (born January 10, 1964) [1] is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian folk-rock band Crash Test Dummies and the only constant member since its inception. He sings in the bass-baritone range. [2] [3] The band is best known internationally for their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet and single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" and best known in Canada for the 1991 single "Superman's Song". [4] [5]

Contents

Career

Early beginnings

His studied English Literature and Philosophy, receiving a bachelor's degree with honours from University of Winnipeg in 1986. As a musician, he is largely self taught.

Roberts began performing with Paul James and Curtis Riddell at the Blue Note Cafe in Winnipeg. Curtis, without consulting Brad, advertised them under the moniker Bad Brad Roberts and the St. James Rhythm Pigs. The band dropped this name quickly at Brad's insistence, and after Curtis left, they evolved into The Crash Test Dummies. While studying at university and working as a bartender at The Spectrum Cabaret, Roberts began writing his own songs and introducing them to the band. After attending a songwriters' workshop with Lyle Lovett at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, he wrote "Superman's Song".

Record deal and debut album

Demos of Roberts's songs found themselves in the hands of various music company execs across Canada, and the quirky bar band that had just begun to write original material found itself with record deal options which led The Crash Test Dummies into a rushed, but nevertheless well-received debut album, The Ghosts That Haunt Me . The album introduced the band to the rest of the Canadian provinces, selling over 400,000 copies in Canada alone and also garnering a 1991 Juno Award for Group of the Year.

Second album and international success

With more time and finances, Roberts set about writing the band's second album, God Shuffled His Feet . This to date is the band's best selling and most popular album, bringing an international audience and selling over six million copies. The Crash Test Dummies were nominated for three Grammy Awards in 1994. The group was nominated for eleven other Junos from 1992 to 2000.

Third album: A Worm's Life

A Worm's Life was released in 1996, selling over one million copies and showcasing a harder-edged sound as the band continued to evolve, producing this album on their own.

Fourth album: Give Yourself a Hand

1999 introduced a mix of electronic funk and spontaneous wordplay with Give Yourself a Hand . Roberts met Greg Wells at a songwriters' workshop and invited him to co-write and assist in recording this album inspired by influences and flavours of Roberts' new home in Harlem, New York.

Car accident and independent release

On September 28, 2000, Roberts was severely injured when he crashed his car on a dirt road in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia; he was charged with drug possession when marijuana was discovered on his person by the RCMP. [6] While recuperating, he began to jam with locals (The Great Wind Jammers from Argyle, Yarmouth County), subsequently producing his next album, I Don't Care That You Don't Mind , from the sessions — the first album released by the band, independent of a major record label.

Sixth album: Puss 'n' Boots

Puss 'n' Boots was released in October 2003 with a European and additional American version.

Further releases

A Crash Test Dummies album, Oooh La La! , was released in 2010. This was followed with the solo release on an album of Mantras, entitled Rajanaka: Mantra , in 2011.

Musical influences

His influences as a musician are primarily rooted in late-'60s, '70s and '80s British music, from the albums Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones, Abbey Road by The Beatles, Diamond Dogs by David Bowie and Oranges & Lemons by XTC, which was introduced to him by his friend on his car stereo in the late '80s. [7]

At age 12 he bought his first record, Dressed to Kill by Kiss, and was inspired by guitarist Ace Frehley. He took guitar lessons for four years from that point. [8]

Personal life

He has honour degrees in English and philosophy. [9]

Discography

Crash Test Dummies

Solo

Collaborations

Live

Videos

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crash Test Dummies</span> Canadian rock band

Crash Test Dummies are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Manitoba has produced much Canadian music, especially since the early 1960s.

<i>God Shuffled His Feet</i> 1993 studio album by Crash Test Dummies

God Shuffled His Feet is the second album by Canadian band Crash Test Dummies, released in 1993. It features their most popular single, "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". The cover art superimposes the band members' faces over the figures of Titian's painting Bacchus and Ariadne. It was their most successful album commercially, as it sold over eight million copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm</span> 1993 single by Crash Test Dummies

"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" is a song by Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies, and written by its singer Brad Roberts. It was released in October 1993 by Arista and BMG as the band's lead single from their second album, God Shuffled His Feet (1993). The song received positive critical reviews upon its release, though retrospective reviews have been more negative. The song reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the national charts of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden. In the band's native Canada, it stalled at number 14 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The accompanying music video was directed by Dale Heslip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Headline News ("Weird Al" Yankovic song)</span> 1994 single by "Weird Al" Yankovic

"Headline News" is a parody song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of the Crash Test Dummies' 1993 hit "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". It was released as the lead-off single for the compilation box set Permanent Record: Al in the Box on September 27, 1994. The song was written after Yankovic's label insisted he craft a new song to promote the album; Yankovic in turn combined the music of the Crash Test Dummies' song with three news stories that were popular in late 1993 and early 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afternoons & Coffeespoons</span> 1994 single by Crash Test Dummies

"Afternoons & Coffeespoons" is a song by Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies, released by Arista in June 1994 as the third single from the band's 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet. "Afternoons & Coffeespoons" has been called the band's most popular song amongst fans. It is also one of their most successful songs commercially, peaking at number two in Iceland, number seven in Canada, number 16 in Finland, and number 66 in the United States.

<i>A Worms Life</i> 1996 studio album by Crash Test Dummies

A Worm's Life is the third album by Canadian band Crash Test Dummies, released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's triple-platinum God Shuffled His Feet. By February 1999, A Worm's Life had sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.

<i>I Dont Care That You Dont Mind</i> 2001 studio album by Crash Test Dummies

I Don't Care That You Don't Mind is the fifth studio album by Crash Test Dummies. The album began as a solo album for Brad Roberts, while he was recuperating in the town of Argyle, Nova Scotia after suffering a near-fatal car accident in September 2000. Crash Test Dummies' name was put on the album after the band agreed to tour the album.

<i>Songs of the Unforgiven</i> 2004 studio album by Crash Test Dummies

Songs of the Unforgiven is the eighth studio album recorded by Crash Test Dummies, released in 2004.

<i>Give Yourself a Hand</i> 1999 studio album by Crash Test Dummies

Give Yourself a Hand is the fourth album by Crash Test Dummies, released in 1999 through ViK. Recordings. It is their final album for BMG. The album spawned a quirky hit "Keep a Lid on Things". The Times review of the album described it as "the best music of their career...an album of rare wit and vitality."

<i>Puss n Boots</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Crash Test Dummies

Puss 'N' Boots is the seventh studio album by Crash Test Dummies, released in 2003. The album began life as a Brad Roberts solo project. While the lyrics were written by Brad Roberts, most of the music was written by Stuart Cameron. Ellen Reid sang backing vocals and Dan Roberts played bass, though much of the music was performed by other musicians.

Dan Roberts is the bassist for the Canadian rock band, Crash Test Dummies, and brother of their lead singer, Brad Roberts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen Reid</span> Canadian musician

Ellen Lorraine Reid is a Canadian musician. She provides backing vocals, piano, keyboards and accordion for the Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies.

Michel "Mitch" Dorge is a Canadian drummer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and record producer. He has been the drummer with Crash Test Dummies since 1991, and has produced albums with the band, in addition to his solo work.

The Juno Awards of 1994, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 20 March 1994 in Toronto at a ceremony in the O'Keefe Centre. Roch Voisine was the host for the ceremonies, which were taped that afternoon for broadcast that evening on CBC Television.

<i>Oooh La La!</i> (Crash Test Dummies album) 2010 studio album by Crash Test Dummies

Oooh La La! is the ninth studio album by Crash Test Dummies, released 11 May 2010 on Deep Fried Records, distributed by MRI Records. The songs on the album are inspired by the Optigan and Omnichord toy instruments.

The discography of Canadian folk rock/alternative rock band Crash Test Dummies consists of eight primary studio albums, 23 singles, one live album, a greatest hits compilation, and two video releases. This list does not include material recorded by band members individually or with other side projects.

And It's Beautiful is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the promotional single from their 2010 album Oooh La La!. Brad Roberts describes the song as the first love song he has ever written, with the song being more happy and upbeat than the band's previous material.

"Now You See Her, Now You Don't" is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the second promotional single from their 2010 album Oooh La La!. As with most songs from the album, the song is based on an Optigan melody, with this song emulating a Big band swing style.

<i>Demo-litions</i> 2011 compilation album by Crash Test Dummies

Demo-litions: Cast-off Recordings 1996–97 is a 2011 compilation album by the Crash Test Dummies. It consists of unreleased demos made during the songwriting process that eventually resulted in the album Give Yourself a Hand. The album was self-released via the band's website on April 19, 2011 as both a limited edition CD and MP3 download.

References

  1. ↑ Rose, Mike (January 10, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 10, 2023 includes celebrities Rod Stewart, Sarah Shahi". Cleveland.com . Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Where Are They Now? 1994's Biggest Pop Acts Pictures – Crash Test Dummies". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Crash Test Dummies MMM MMM MMM MMM (Official Music Video)". YouTube . Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ Larry LeBlanc (December 24, 1994). "A Breakthrough Year for Canadian Acts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 53–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  5. ↑ "Crash Test Dummies God Shuffled His Feet: Archived 2017-06-11 at the Wayback Machine . Drowned in Sound, by Colin Weston January 7th, 2001
  6. ↑ Brad Roberts charged for drug possession [usurped] CANOE - JAM!
  7. ↑ "Brad Roberts Interview". Guitarhoo.com. 2008. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Interview with singer/songwriter, Brad Roberts". Muse Muse. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  9. ↑ "CRASH TEST SMARTIES | Maclean's | MARCH 27, 1995".
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