Brendon Small

Brendon Small (born February 15, 1975) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, writer, director, producer, and musician who is known for co-creating the animated series Home Movies (1999–2004, with Loren Bouchard) and Metalocalypse (2006–2013, with Tommy Blacha).

He also writes the music, and is the main performer for the virtual melodic death metal band Dethklok, which began as the subject of Metalocalypse but has taken on a life of its own, with four albums and an occasional live touring band, headed by Small.

Small has also released two albums under his own name, in a similar musical style to Dethklok.

Small was born in Illinois in 1975.

He moved to California as a child.

Small started learning guitar at the age of 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 would be another ten years before he was comfortable performing in public.

He graduated from Palma High School in Salinas, California.

He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1997.

During his music studies, he 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 stand-up comedy.

Small was performing stand up 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.

Small and Bouchard co-created Home Movies, an animated series that initially aired on the UPN television network which moved to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block.

The series ran for four seasons from 1999 to 2004.

Small was one of the show's writers, while Bouchard served as the director.

In the series, he voiced the show's protagonist, eight-year-old aspiring filmmaker Brendon Small, as well as a number of other characters.

Small composed the show's theme music, as well as writing and performing numerous other songs for the show's soundtrack.

Small lent his voice to a number of other animated shows.

He co-starred as Chad in the BET animated sitcom, 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 had cameo roles in Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies, Reno 911! and Frisky Dingo.

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 not aired, was said to be produced by Small and Worldwide Pants Incorporated.

Small has said that there are no plans to air 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.

Small served as co-producer, co-writer and composer for the Adult Swim animated series Metalocalypse, which ran for four seasons from 2006 to 2012, along with a 2013 special, Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem.

The series focused on a fictional melodic death metal band named Dethklok, and each episode features a song performed by the band.

In addition to writing, directing and executive producing the series, he also provided voice talent for the characters Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Pickles, and Nathan Explosion, three of the five members of Dethklok.

Small has stated that while animation is his dream job, he does not really like watching animation that much.

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 2007 and 2009, Small hosted the annual Guitar Superstar competition; in 2008, he was one of the judges.

Small's virtual band Dethklok appeared, via video, at the 2009 Golden Gods Awards.

The band received the award for Best International Band.

In 2010, Small directed Soundgarden's music video for "Black Rain", and The Damned Things' music video for "We've Got a Situation Here".

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 Trivium's set.

He was nominated for best guitarist at the 2013 Golden Gods Awards but did not win.

In May 2014, Small wrote a column for Premier Guitar regarding his guitar techniques.