Canadian alternative folk-rockers, CRASH TEST DUMMIES, make their long-awaited return to Australia for the First Time since 1992 as part of their God Shuffled His Feet 30^th Anniversary World Tour. Lead single “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm“ reached #1 on the ARIA Charts and the Album holds a special place in the hearts of many. They’ll play the album alongside other fan favourites like “Superman’s Song” and “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead”

The original lineup of Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge reunited in 2017 and have been touring together since. Produced by Jerry “Talking Head” Harrison their 1993 sophomore album God Shuffled His Feet was Certified Platinum in Australia. The album has stood the test of time and as well as “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm“ which stayed at #1 for 3 weeks, it also included the singles “Afternoons & Coffeespoons”, “Swimming in Your Ocean” and the title track “God Shuffled his Feet”

CRASH TEST DUMMIES are still beloved in a way that transcends nostalgia. Join them on their God Shuffled His Feet 30th Anniversary World Tour.

Bio

The band “Crash Test Dummies” is a Canadian rock group known for their distinctive eclectic sound, which combines deep baritone vocals with folk and rock instrumentation, and often whimsical, introspective and often humorous lyrics. Their songs often explore themes of absurdity, human nature, and philosophical musings.

Crash Test Dummies’ origins date back to 1986 when guitarist / vocalist Brad Roberts joined forces with drummer Curtis Riddell to form the bar band, Bad Brad Roberts and The St. James Rhythm Pigs. Roberts became known for his deep baritone voice. In 1988 the band changed its name to Crash Test Dummies. The name was a joke reference to the diagnostic mannequin which had become known to the public at this time due to a series of public service announcements in magazines and on television promoting the use of seat belts in cars. Alongside Roberts, the original line-up included Ellen Reid (vocals, keyboards) and Benjamin Darvill (harmonica, mandolin, guitar). The original bassist, George West quit and was replaced by Brad’s brother, Dan Roberts. Riddell eventually left the band and was replaced by Vince Lambert. Before gaining mainstream success, the band performed in local venues, namely the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Café (which was owned by Riddell) and gradually built a following with their unique blend of rock, folk, and alternative music.

Crash Test Dummies signed to BGM Records in 1991, that same year the band would release their debut album, The Ghosts that Haunt Me. The album included the hit “Superman’s Song” which reached number four in Canada, number 56 in the United States and number 87 in Australia on each countries’ respective singles charts. The popularity of the song landed it on the soundtrack of an episode of the TV series “Due South” and was largely responsible for the Crash Test Dummies winning the 1992 Juno Award for Group of the Year. Vince Lambert left the band shortly before the album was released and was replaced by Mitch Dorge.

In 1993 Crash Test Dummies released their second record, God Shuffled His Feet. Produced by Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison, God Shuffled His Feet catapulted Crash Test Dummies to international stardom. God Shuffled His Feet is Crash Test Dummies most successful album commercially. The record reached number-one in Austria and New Zealand and the top 5 of several countries including Australia, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. It reached number two in the UK and number nine in the United States. In the band’s native Canada it reached number 11 on the national charts. God Shuffled His Feet has gone on to sell over eight million copies worldwide. The album earned three Grammy nominations and three Juno nominations.

The success of God Shuffled His Feet was driven by the release of four singles. Lead single “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Number 1 on the charts of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a “shimmering acoustic/rock jewel”, while British music critic, James Masterton joked, “The unusual song probably holds the record for the longest song title not to include a vowel in the title.” The song was parodied by “Weird Al” Yankovic in his song “Headline News” in 1994. “Swimming in Your Ocean” was the next single released which topped the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks. This was followed with “Afternoons & Coffeespoons” which reached number two in Iceland and number seven in Canada. It is a major fan favourite song. The title and lyrics reference the 1915 T. S. Eliot poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”. The fourth and final single from God Shuffled His Feet was the title track, which reached number 1 on Canada’s Adult Contemporary charts and features a synthesized guitar solo from King Crimson frontman, Adrian Belew.

In 1995, Crash Test Dummies released a cover of the XTC song, “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead”, as a single. It was featured in the Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels classic comedy Dumb and Dumber. The single was credited to The Crash Test Dummies and Ellen Reid. It reached number 30 on the UK Singles chart and was a hit in Canada where it reached number 4.

Following the success of God Shuffled His Feet, the band released their third album, A Worm’s Life in 1996, which featured a more experimental and darker sound. The album was self-produced by the band. A Worm’s Life received a mixed critical response and was a mild commercial success eventually achieving platinum success in Canada. The album’s lead single “He Liked to Feel It” reached number 2 in Canada making it the band’s highest charting single in their homeland. The music video for the song was directed by Ken Fox and produced by David Moskowitz became controversial for depicting a boy who pulls out his own teeth. As a result of the graphic footage, the music video was banned from airing in Canada and all close-ups of the boy’s gums had to be removed before the video could be shown on MTV in America.

Crash Test Dummies’ next album, Give Yourself a Hand was released in 1999. The record saw a significant shift in style, incorporating more electronic elements and featuring Ellen Reid singing lead vocals for three songs and Brad Roberts experimenting with falsetto vocals. The album would be their final studio album for BMG. After the success of God Shuffled His Feet, the band was given a lot of freedom for A Worm’s Life. After A Worm’s Life failed to meet sales targets, BMG reigned the band in and pressured them to write a follow up record. The Band wrote 35 demos which were all rejected by the label. These would eventually be released on a compilation album, Demo-litions in 2011. In 1998 Brad Roberts moved to Harlem and began working on music influenced by soul and hip-hop beats. Give Yourself a Hand’s lead single, “Keep a Lid on Things,” was moderately successful, reaching number 5 on the RPM Canadian Singles Chart and number 6 on the US Adult Alternative Songs Billboard charts. The album’s second single “Get You in the Morning” featured Ellen Reid on lead vocals and reached 45 on the Canadian Singles Chart. The Times called the album “the best music of their career” but despite positive reviews, the album stalled commercially and saw a decline in the band’s mainstream popularity.

Crash Test Dummies entered the 2000s with a more independent approach. Brad Roberts formed his own independent record label, Cha-Ching Records, which was later renamed to Deep Fried Records. In 2001, Crash Test Dummies released I Don’t Care That You Don’t Mind, a project born out of a near fatal car accident that left Brad Roberts in a hospital bed for weeks. This album was initially intended to be Brad Roberts’ first solo album and was recorded with a group of Nova Scotian musicians and featured a more acoustic, roots-oriented sound. After Ellen Reid came in to record backing vocals, Brad decided to tour the album featuring the Crash Test Dummies band members, when all band members (except Benjamin Darvill) agreed to the tour, the decision was made to put the album out under the Crash Test Dummies name. Though it did not achieve the commercial success of their earlier work, it was a critical step in redefining the band’s direction.

The next few years saw Crash Test Dummies band members exploring solo careers. Ellen Reid released her solo album, Cinderellen in 2001. Brad Roberts released a double live album and documentary called Crash Test Dude. Mitch Dorge released As Trees Walking in 2002. Dorge played most instruments on the album and took the photographs for the album booklet. The record went on to win a Prairie Music Award for Best Instrumental Recording.

In 2002, Crash Test Dummies released Jingle All the Way, a Christmas album featuring both traditional carols and original compositions. The album showcased the band’s versatility and willingness to explore different musical territories.

Crash Test Dummies released Puss ‘n’ Boots in 2003, which leaned into funk and pop-rock sensibilities while maintaining their signature quirky lyricism. The album was largely a solo effort by Roberts, with other band members contributing minimally. Roberts wrote the lyrics while most of the music was written by Stuart Cameron. Following the release of Puss ‘n Boots, Crash Test Dummies immediately began recording the follow up album, Songs of the Unforgiven. This album featured a raw and acoustic sound. The album was recorded at Sacred Heart Studios in Minnesota – a church, complete with a 1493 pipe Felgemaker pipe-organ. The album featured apocalyptic themes and the utilisation of unconventional instruments such as harps and kettle drums. The album was a critical success with Darryl Sterdan of the Winnipeg Sun giving the album a 4 out of 5 star review saying “over swirling pump organs, slowly strummed guitars and molasses-slow grooves, the baritone Roberts sombrely intones psalms of death, darkness and delivery, coming off like a cross between Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Elmer Gantry. And the brooding neo-classical folk hymns of Songs of the Unforgiven come off as his most sincere, spiritual thoughts to date.”

Following the release of Songs of the Unforgiven, the band took a hiatus. Brad Roberts turned to working as a song writing teacher in New York City and started doing yoga, chanting and meditation. In 2007, Sony BMG released The Best of The Crash Test Dummies. The album featured twelve tracks spanning the band’s entire career. It would be re-released the following year as Best of Crash Test Dummies – Collections, with two additional previously unreleased tracks, “Laid Back” and “You Said You’d Meet Me (In California)”

Crash Test Dummies returned with Ooh La La! in 2010. Brad Roberts had been workshopping the material for the album since 2006. The album marked a creative resurgence for the band, featuring a blend of vintage instruments and a mix of quirky and reflective lyrics. The album received positive reviews, with critics appreciating the band’s continued evolution and willingness to experiment with new sounds. This period also saw the band embracing the digital age, connecting with fans through social media and digital exclusive releases. The tour for Ooh La La! Featured Brad Roberts and Ellen Reid accompanied by either Stuart Cameron or Murray Pulver and performed as an acoustic trio. On October 9, 2010 Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge joined Brad Roberts and Ellen Reid in the band’s hometown of Winnipeg for the first performance by the classic line-up in a decade.

Following the completion of touring for Oooh La La, Crash Test Dummies went on an indefinite hiatus. Ellen Reid retired from performing live and Brad Roberts began to develop back problems. However, the hiatus came to an end when Brad Roberts decided to go on a solo tour in 2015. Roberts would tour with Stuart Cameron and release solo records for the next several years.

In 2017, Crash Test Dummies reformed with the classic line up to perform one show in Winnipeg. Benjamin Darvil did not participate as he had found solo success under the moniker Son of Dave. In 2018 Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge toured Canada and the United States for the first time in two decades to commemorate the 25th anniversary of God Shuffled His Feet. The band then toured in 2022 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Ghosts That Haunt Me. In early 2023 the band released the song “Sacred Alphabet”, their first original song with the full band in over ten years.

Crash Test Dummies are often remembered as a quintessential 1990s band, known for their distinctive sound and the global success of “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm.” Their music has been praised for its originality and the unique voice of Brad Roberts, and they continue to be a reference point for fans of 90s alternative rock. The band has left a lasting impact on the music scene through their resilience and the diversity of their discography. Their legacy endures, particularly through their early 90s hits, which continue to resonate with fans around the world.