NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Crash Test Dummies

Crash Test Dummies are a Canadian folk-rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba, popular in the early 1990s. Crash test dummies have saved many thousands of lives. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Dan Roberts Dan Roberts (born on May 22, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the bassist for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Ellen Reid Ellen Reid (born on July 14, 1966 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) does vocals, piano, keyboards, and accordion for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Brad Roberts Brad Roberts (born Bradley Kenneth Roberts, January 10, 1964, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian rockers, Crash Test Dummies. ... Mitch Dorge Mitch Dorge (born on September 15, 1960 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a drummer/composer/producer and coffee boy. ... Benjamin Darvill Benjamin Darvill (born on January 4, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) plays harmonica, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, and more for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Motto: Template:Unhide = Unum Cum Virtute Multorum (One With the Strength of Many) Location City Information Established: 1738 (Fort Rouge), 1873 (City of Winnipeg) Area: 465. ... Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Latin: Glorious and free) BC AB SK MB ON QC NB PE NS NL YT NT NU Capital Winnipeg Largest city Winnipeg Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard - Premier Gary Doer (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Alternative music redirects here. ... Folk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... BMG (Bertelsmann Music Group) is one of the six divisions of Bertelsmann. ... Arista Records is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG, and operates under the RCA Records Group // After being fired from CBS Records, Columbia Pictures hired Clive Davis to be a consultant for the companyâ€™s record and music operations. ... ViK. Recordings is a Canadian record label that is wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG. It began shortly after 1998, when Lisa Zbitnew became president of its owner, BMG Canada. ... Brad Roberts Brad Roberts (born Bradley Kenneth Roberts, January 10, 1964, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian rockers, Crash Test Dummies. ... Ellen Reid Ellen Reid (born on July 14, 1966 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) does vocals, piano, keyboards, and accordion for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Dan Roberts Dan Roberts (born on May 22, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the bassist for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Mitch Dorge Mitch Dorge (born on September 15, 1960 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a drummer/composer/producer and coffee boy. ... Benjamin Darvill Benjamin Darvill (born on January 4, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) plays harmonica, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, and more for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Folk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... Motto: Template:Unhide = Unum Cum Virtute Multorum (One With the Strength of Many) Location City Information Established: 1738 (Fort Rouge), 1873 (City of Winnipeg) Area: 465. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

History^[1]

The beginnings

In many ways, the origin of Crash Test Dummies is tied to the history of two Winnipeg nightspots, the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Cafe, owned by Curtis Riddell. For other uses, see Winnipeg (disambiguation). ...

In the mid-1980s, Riddell joined with Brad Roberts to form the decidedly less-than-serious bar band, Bad Brad Roberts and the St. James Rhythm Pigs. Over time, the band evolved into the Crash Test Dummies. Ellen Reid and Benjamin Darvill became permanent additions. George West, the original bass player, quit and was replaced by Dan Roberts, Brad's brother. Riddell was replaced by Vince Lambert, who later left, and was replaced by Mitch Dorge around the time that The Ghosts that Haunt Me was released. Brad Roberts Brad Roberts (born Bradley Kenneth Roberts, January 10, 1964, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian rockers, Crash Test Dummies. ... Ellen Reid Ellen Reid (born on July 14, 1966 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) does vocals, piano, keyboards, and accordion for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Benjamin Darvill Benjamin Darvill (born on January 4, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) plays harmonica, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, and more for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Dan Roberts Dan Roberts (born on May 22, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the bassist for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Mitch Dorge Mitch Dorge (born on September 15, 1960 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a drummer/composer/producer and coffee boy. ... The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. ...

Mainstream success

Crash Test Dummies first began to achieve commercial success in Canada with the release of The Ghosts that Haunt Me in 1991. The album eventually reached quadruple platinum sales (400,000) in Canada, largely due to the overwhelming popularity of the smash hit single "Superman's Song," which earned the Dummies the 1991 Juno Award for Group of the Year. The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Supermans Song was the first single of the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies and came from their 1991 debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me. ... The Juno Awards are awards of achievement presented to Canadian musical artists and bands. ...

However, the Dummies did not receive much international recognition until the 1993 release of their second album, God Shuffled His Feet. Particularly instrumental in increasing CTD's exposure in the U.S. market was the appearance of a new type of radio format: adult album-oriented alternative rock (AAA). These stations put the single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" in high rotation. The result was that by mid-1994, the album had passed the platinum sales mark in the U.S. (one million), and had also earned the Dummies three Grammy nominations and three more Juno nominations. To date, GSHF has sold more than five and a half million copies worldwide. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... God Shuffled His Feet is a 1993 record album by the Crash Test Dummies. ... Adult Album Alternative (also Triple-A, AAA, or adult alternative) is a radio format broadcast mostly on FM. A spin off of the Album-oriented rock format, its roots may have been established sometime during the 60s from what was called underground music and later progressive. ... Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm is a single by the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies, featured on their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... The Juno Awards are awards of achievement presented to Canadian musical artists and bands; they could be considered the transnational counterpart to the United States Grammy Awards. ... God Shuffled His Feet is a 1993 record album by the Crash Test Dummies. ...

In 1994, the band released "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead", a cover of the UK-alternative band XTC 1992 track of the same name, as a single and on the soundtrack of the Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels comedy Dumb and Dumber. The single, credited to The Crash Test Dummies and Ellen Reid, charted at No. 30 in the UK singles chart and scored the band a Canadian No. #1 hit.[1] XTC are an influential new wave band from Swindon, England. ... James Eugene Carrey (born January 17, 1962) is a two-time Golden Globe Award-winning Canadian-American A-list film actor and comedian. ... For other persons of this name, see Jeff Daniels (disambiguation). ... Dumb and Dumber is a comedy film starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, released in 1994. ...

In 1996, the Dummies' third album, A Worm's Life, was released to mixed critical and moderate commercial success. The guitar-heavy singles were warmly received in some markets, but nothing matched the runaway success of either "Superman's Song" or "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". Still, the album went platinum in Canada in less than one month. Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... A Worms Life is a 1996 album by Crash Test Dummies. ...

Give Yourself A Hand, the Dummies' fourth album, was released March 23, 1999. The album showcased a new sound for the Dummies, as it featured Ellen Reid singing lead vocals on three tracks, and Brad Roberts singing in a falsetto on several others. The whole sound of the album was much more electronic than the previous recordings. Give Yourself a Hand is a 1999 album by Crash Test Dummies. ... Ellen Reid Ellen Reid (born on July 14, 1966 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) does vocals, piano, keyboards, and accordion for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ...

During a hiatus between albums, Benjamin Darvill became the first Dummy to release solo material. Under the name Son Of Dave, Darvill first brought out the album 01, followed with B. Darvill's Wild West Show. Released on Benjamin's own label, Husky Records, the eclectic CDs received widespread critical acclaim. Benjamin Darvill Benjamin Darvill (born on January 4, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) plays harmonica, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, and more for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Benjamin Darvill Benjamin Darvill (born on January 4, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) plays harmonica, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, and more for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... 01 is the second album by Son of Dave. ... B. Darvills Wild West Show is the 1999 debut album by Son of Dave. ...

Post-mainstream career

The Crash Test Dummies parted ways with their record label, BMG, after the end of the GYAH tour. Free from major-label restrictions, the Dummies surprised fans in 2001 by putting their solo projects on hold for a fifth studio album and tour. After suffering a near-fatal car accident in the fall of 2000, Brad found himself recuperating in the town of Argyle, Nova Scotia. It was there that he met some local "lobster fishermen" who happened to be quite musically inclined - Kent Greene, Dave Morton, and Danny MacKenzie. Together, they recorded the bulk of I Don't Care That You Don't Mind, which was to be Brad's first solo album. Later on, Ellen was brought in to record backing vocals for a few tunes, and Dan agreed to tour with Brad. When Ellen and Mitch agreed to tour as well, the Crash Test Dummies name was put on the record. This album saw the Dummies returning to their acoustic roots. Brad compared this album to the Dummies' first, The Ghosts That Haunt Me, though he calls it more atmospheric and polished. BMG (Bertelsmann Music Group) is one of the six divisions of Bertelsmann. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Jesus Christ is a Municipal District in western Nova Scotia, Canada on the Gulf of Tits. ... I Dont Care That You Dont Mind is a 2001 studio album by Crash Test Dummies. ... The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. ...

Near the end of 2001, some new Dummies solo albums were released. First, Ellen Reid launched her debut solo effort, Cinderellen. Ellen Reid Ellen Reid (born on July 14, 1966 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) does vocals, piano, keyboards, and accordion for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Cinderellen is the 2001 debut solo album by Ellen Reid. ...

Soon after, Brad Roberts' long-awaited double-live CD and rockumentary entitled Crash Test Dude were made available through MapleMusic. MapleMusic Recordings is a Toronto based record label, whose innovative web based marketing strategy has made them a major player in the Canadian music industry. ...

2002 opened with the surprise of Mitch Dorge's debut album, As Trees Walking. On the CD, Mitch played almost all of the instruments, took some of the photos for the liner notes, and won a Prairie Music Award for Best Instrumental Recording. Also see: 2002 (number). ... Mitch Dorge Mitch Dorge (born on September 15, 1960 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a drummer/composer/producer and coffee boy. ... As Trees Walking is the 2002 debut solo album by Mitch Dorge. ...

Brad, Dan, and Ellen returned as Crash Test Dummies at the end of 2002 with Jingle All The Way, a long-rumoured Christmas album. Jingle All The Way is a 2002 Christmas album by Crash Test Dummies. ...

In 2003, Puss 'n' Boots was released. Much like I Don't Care, the album began life as a Brad Roberts solo project. Co-written by Stuart Cameron, 13 songs were selected from a pool of 30. Ellen sang backing vocals and Dan played bass, though much of the music - funky grooves that would not have seemed out of place on Give Yourself A Hand - was performed by other musicians. Puss N Boots is a 2003 studio album by Crash Test Dummies. ... Stuart Cameron is Senior Lecturer at School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, Newcastle University. ...

Songs of the Unforgiven, the eighth studio album under the Crash Test Dummies name, was recorded not long after Puss 'n' Boots. Songs of the Unforgiven is a 2004 album recorded by the Crash Test Dummies. ...

The Dummies today

On August 6, 2006, a message was posted by Brad Roberts on the band's website stating that the band was more or less done with touring and that he was currently working on an album, with Stewart Lerman, using the optigan and omnichord. Brad also stated that the new recordings will be released for download online, for a modest fee, instead of being sold in retail stores. is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Optigan (a portmanteau of Optical Organ) was an early electronic keyboard instrument designed for the consumer market. ... An Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument manufactured by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation. ...

On May 10, 2007, the song "It's a Small Town," written for a charity event in Englishtown, Cape Breton, was released for download off the band's website. is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Cape Breton County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island. ...

On September, 2007 an official podcast was launched for the band and it was announced that Sony BMG will be releasing a "best of" compilation for the band. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... A podcast is a digital media file, or a series of such files, that is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and personal computers. ... Bertelsmann is a transnational media corporation founded in 1835, based in G tersloh, Germany. ...

Members

(Note: Even though they haven't officially left the band, it's unlikely that Benjamin Darvill or Mitch Dorge will perform with the band again, because both have solo projects and live far away from Brad Roberts' home in New York City.[2]) Brad Roberts Brad Roberts (born Bradley Kenneth Roberts, January 10, 1964, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian rockers, Crash Test Dummies. ... Ellen Reid Ellen Reid (born on July 14, 1966 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) does vocals, piano, keyboards, and accordion for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Dan Roberts Dan Roberts (born on May 22, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the bassist for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Benjamin Darvill Benjamin Darvill (born on January 4, 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) plays harmonica, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, and more for Canadian rockers Crash Test Dummies. ... Mitch Dorge Mitch Dorge (born on September 15, 1960 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a drummer/composer/producer and coffee boy. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

Discography

Studio albums

The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. ... God Shuffled His Feet is a 1993 record album by the Crash Test Dummies. ... A Worms Life is a 1996 album by Crash Test Dummies. ... Give Yourself a Hand is a 1999 album by Crash Test Dummies. ... I Dont Care That You Dont Mind is a 2001 studio album by Crash Test Dummies. ... Jingle All The Way is a 2002 Christmas album by Crash Test Dummies. ... Puss N Boots is a 2003 studio album by Crash Test Dummies. ... Songs of the Unforgiven is a 2004 album recorded by the Crash Test Dummies. ...

Compilations

The Best of Crash Test Dummies is a 2007 compilation album by the Crash Test Dummies. ...

Singles

â€œHot 100â€ redirects here. ... The Modern Rock Tracks chart is a music chart that has appeared in Billboard magazine since the early 1980s. ... The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ... â€œBritish Hit Singlesâ€ redirects here. ... Supermans Song was the first single of the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies and came from their 1991 debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me. ... Androgynous is a song by The Replacements featured on their album Let It Be. ... The Ghosts That Haunt Me is a song by Crash Test Dummies and was the third and final single from their 1991 debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me. ... The First Noël (sometimes The First Nowell) is a traditional English Christmas carol, most likely from the 16th or 17th century, but possibly dating from as early as the 13th century. ... A Lump of Coal is a compilation album of Christmas music produced in 1991. ... Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm is a single by the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies, featured on their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet. ... Swimming In Your Ocean is a song by Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies and was the second single from their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet. ... Afternoons & Coffeespoons was a song of the Canadian pop band Crash Test Dummies and came from their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet. ... God Shuffled His Feet is a song by Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies and was the forth and final single from their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet. ... The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead is a single by XTC from their 1992 album Nonsuch. ... Dumb and Dumber is a comedy film starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, released in 1994. ... He Liked To Feel It is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the first single from their 1996 album A Worms Life. ... My Own Sunrise is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the second and last single from their 1996 album A Worms Life. ... Keep A Lid On Things is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the first single from their 1999 album Give Yourself a Hand. ... Get You In The Morning is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the second and final single from their 1999 album Give Yourself a Hand. ... Every Morning is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the first single from their 2001 album I Dont Care That You Dont Mind. ... The Day We Never Met is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the second and last single from their 2001 album I Dont Care That You Dont Mind. ...

Contents

History^[1]

The beginnings

Mainstream success

Post-mainstream career

The Dummies today

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

Singles

See also

External links

References

Contents

History[1] GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

The beginnings

Mainstream success

Post-mainstream career

The Dummies today

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

Singles

See also

External links

References

History^[1]