Small started learning guitar at age 14 after a kid in his neighborhood began teaching him about guitar and music. At his first public performance his hands shook so wildly that he had trouble controlling the guitar. It was another ten years before he was comfortable performing in public. He graduated from Palma High School in Salinas, California. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1997. During his music studies he concurrently took several writing and comedy classes at Emerson College. After graduating, he felt that the rock music genre was fading in popularity so decided to try his hand at comedy.
He was performing at The Comedy Studio in Harvard Square when he was spotted by Loren Bouchard, who at the time was casting for the central character for a UPN pilot produced by Tom Snyder Productions which eventually evolved into Home Movies.
Brendon Small was the co-creator, writer, voice actor, composer and musician for Home Movies, a cartoon initially aired on the UPN television network and then moved to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. The final episode of Home Movies aired on April 4, 2004, after running four seasons, although the show is periodically rerun on Adult Swim. In the series, he voiced the show's protagonist, 8-year-old aspiring filmmaker Brendon Small, as well as a number of other characters.
Small lent his voice to a number of other animated shows. He co-starred as Chad in the BET animated sit-com, Hey Monie!, and has voiced many supporting characters in The Venture Bros., including that show's shell shocked and drug-addicted version of Jonny Quest. Small has also had cameo roles in Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies, Reno 911!, and Frisky Dingo. Small along with Scott Adsit appeared as lead characters of the Adult Swim pilot Let's Fish; the show's pilot premiered on May 13, 2007, but the series was not picked up.
In April 2005, the Sci Fi Channel announced an upcoming debut of a half-hour animated ensemble comedy show created by Small titled Barbarian Chronicles. The show, which has yet to be seen, was said to be produced by Small and Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Small has said that there are currently no plans to produce the show but that anything can happen in the future.
Small posed for a pictorial that appeared in the April 2006 issue of Playgirl magazine, as part of a humor-themed issue. Small posed naked holding a medieval flail and a strategically placed metal shield that hid his genitals. Along with comedians Ron Lynch and Craig Anton, Small has hosted the "Tomorrow Show", a weekly live comedy show at the Steve Allen Theater in Los Angeles.
Small's latest television project is as co-producer, co-writer, composer, and voice actor for the Adult Swim series Metalocalypse, which premiered on August 6, 2006. The series focuses on a fictional melodic death metal band named Dethklok, and each episode features a song "performed" by the band. In addition to all of the behind-the-scenes work he does for the series, he also provides voice talent for the characters Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Pickles, and Nathan Explosion, three of the five members of Dethklok. Small has stated that while this is his dream job, he does not really like watching animation that much.
In 2007 and 2009, Small hosted the Guitar Superstar competition and in September 2008 he was one of the judges. In 2010 Small directed Soundgarden's music video for "Black Rain", and The Damned Things music video for "We've Got A Situation Here".
Small's virtual band Dethklok appeared, via video, at the 2009 Golden Gods Awards. The band received the award for Best International Band. At the 2010 Golden Gods Awards, Small attended and performed with Brian Posehn's band and introduced Fear Factory's set. At the 2011 Golden Gods Awards, Small attended and introduced DevilDriver's set. Small attended the 2012 Golden Gods Awards and introduced Triviums's set.
Small recently finished work on the fourth season of Metalocalypse, which began airing on April 29, 2012.
Small performed guest vocals as Nathan Explosion on the Zimmers Hole song "The Vowel Song". Small also contributed guitar work to the songs "Devils Teeth" from Exodus's album Exhibit B: The Human Condition, as well as "More Metal Than You" from comedian Brian Posehn's album Fart and Wiener Jokes. Small created the "Murder Mix" of the song "Liar" by Emilie Autumn from the Liar/Dead Is the New Alive EP. Small performed the solo for the song "Get It Up" (Van Halen cover) on Sylencers' debut album A Lethal Dose of Truth. Small performs a guitar solo on the song "Let's Make Out" on the Sex Slaves album 'Call of the Wild'.
In early 2011, Small introduced the Dethklok "Thunderhorse" Explorer from Gibson, a guitar made to his own specifications, and modeled after Skwisgaar's Gibson Explorer. A limited edition Epiphone "Thunderhorse" Explorer, based on the Gibson "Thunderhorse" Explorer, was introduced in early 2013. In May 2012, Small introduced the prototype for the Gibson Flying V "Snow Falcon", built to his own specifications, and modeled after Toki Wartooth's Gibson Flying V. The final version of the guitar was released on December 13, 2013.
In April 2012, Small released his debut solo album, Brendon Small's Galaktikon. The album featured Dethklok members Beller on bass and Hoglan on drums. Small described the album as a "high-stakes, intergalactic, extreme rock album" and described it as being similar to Dethklok but with more melodic vocals and rock elements. Small performed songs from Brendon Small's Galaktikon for the first time at "WesFest 8" on March 3, 2013, in West Hollywood, California.
On April 29, 2012, Small started a weekly guitar lesson video series on the Adult Swim YouTube channel, entitled "Shreducation", which consisted of 12 installments.
Small, Beller and Hoglan got together to work on the third Dethklok album, Dethalbum III, which was released on October 16, 2012. Small released a fourth Dethklok album, entitled The Doomstar Requiem, on October 29, 2013, which is a soundtrack album to the Metalocalypse special of the same name. The album featured Hoglan on drums, Beller performing guest bass on a track, and Mike Keneally performing guest vocals.
Small released a follow-up record to his debut album, entitled Galaktikon II: Become the Storm, in 2017.
Nightmare
Brendon Small Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I have a tale to tell
Born from a wicked spell
Mephistopheles isn't me
But they see what they want to see
Blinded by everything
I remember lying in my bed
Never ever wanted this to be
I am half of what I used to be
I do not want to let it go
This has been all but foreseen
Star will shine bright in the sky tonight
Magnetized planets sing
This cold heart keeps on beating
I′m the darkness you're feeling
My cold heart keeps on bleeding
I'm the darkness you′re feeling
I remember lying on my bed
I remember dirt above my head
Never ever wanted this to be
I am half of what I used to be
I still wait
Time will tell
Falcon flies
Magnetize
The lyrics to Brendon Small's song "Nightmare" paint a cryptic picture of a dark character's struggles with their identity and circumstances. The song opens with a declaration of how the character feels misunderstood, even while they have a "tale to tell" that suggests a complex background. The reference to being "born from a wicked spell" implies that there is something supernatural or otherworldly about them. The character is not "Mephistopheles," a demon from German folklore, but others only see what they want to see and are "blinded by everything."
The second stanza mentions the character lying in bed with dirt above their head, indicating that they may have been buried or entombed at some point. They lament that they never wanted this to be and that they are "half of what [they] used to be," hinting at some kind of transformation or deterioration since the character's past self. However, against this backdrop of darkness and loss, there is a sense of purpose in waiting for something or someone, as the character insists that "time will tell" and a "falcon flies" while planets "sing."
The chorus repeats the character's claim of being the embodiment of the darkness others feel, highlighting a sense of isolation and possibly even malevolence. Despite the darkness, however, the character's cold heart keeps on beating and bleeding, suggesting a tenuous connection to humanity or some kind of emotional vulnerability. In the end, the song offers more questions than answers, leaving the listener to wonder who this enigmatic character is and what their story might be.
Line by Line Meaning
I don’t think you know who I am
I believe you do not recognize or acknowledge my true identity
But I have a tale to tell
However, I possess a story that I am compelled to share
Born from a wicked spell
My existence originated from an evil charm or curse
Mephistopheles isn't me
Despite appearances, I am not the demon Mephistopheles
But they see what they want to see
Nonetheless, people perceive me as they desire or choose to
Blinded by everything
Their senses and judgment are clouded by all that surrounds them
I remember lying in my bed
I recall a time when I was confined to a bed
I remember dirt above my head
I distinctly remember being buried under soil
Never ever wanted this to be
I never desired or asked for this situation to come into existence
I am half of what I used to be
My current state is only half of what I once was
I do not want to let it go
I am not willing to relinquish what I currently have or am
This has been all but foreseen
This situation was predicted or anticipated
Star will shine bright in the sky tonight
There will be a prominent, radiant celestial body visible in the evening sky
Magnetized planets sing
The gravitating planets produce a celestial harmony or melody
This cold heart keeps on beating
Despite my numbness, my heart continues to pump blood
I’m the darkness you're feeling
The gloomy and fearful emotions that you experience are caused by me
My cold heart keeps on bleeding
Even though I am unfeeling, my heart continues to bleed or suffer
I'm the darkness you’re feeling
The negative and harmful sensations that you sense are generated by me
I remember lying on my bed
Once again, I have a memory of being placed on a bed or similar resting place
I remember dirt above my head
I can still recall the sensation of having earth covering me
Never ever wanted this to be
I am absolutely certain that I did not desire or prefer this scenario to happen
I am half of what I used to be
I have only retained half of my previous self or identity
I still wait
I am still anticipating or looking forward to something
Time will tell
The future will clarify or reveal everything
Falcon flies
A particular bird of prey takes flight
Magnetize
There is an attraction or pull between things
Writer(s): Not Documented
Contributed by Lillian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.