10 Interesting Facts About the Crash Test Dummies

1. The Crash Test Dummies are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg.

2. The band is best known for the identifiable voice of Brad Roberts (vocals, guitar) and his distinctive bass-baritone voice.

3. “If a bullfrog could sing appealingly, it would probably sound like Brad Roberts” – encyclopedia.com

4. Brad Roberts graduated with an honours in English Literature from the University of Winnipeg. When the band took off, he nixed his plans to pursue a master’s degree and jumped into the music industry.

5. People magazine contributor Craig Tomashoff described the quintet as “neo-folkie, pseudo-hippies, sort of Celtic, dryly humorous, exceptionally literate pop band.”

6. The band members have fluctuated over the years, but its best-known line-up consisted of Roberts, Ellen Reid (co-vocals, keyboards), Brad’s brother Dan Roberts (bass guitar, backing vocals), Benjamin Darvill (harmonica, mandolin), and Mitch Dorge (drums, percussion).

7. The band is best known internationally for their 1993 single “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” and best known in Canada for the 1991 single “Superman’s Song”.

8. The origin of the Crash Test Dummies is tied to the history of two Winnipeg nightspots, the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Café, owned by Curtis Riddell.

9. 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, a name suggested by a friend of the band.

10. Music by the Crash test Dummies has been featured in The Spy Who Dumped Me soundtrack and Black Bird soundtrack. “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” (featuring Ellen Reid) was featured on the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack. How I Met Your Mother – twice, New Girl, and Smallville.