KUKL (band)
| Kukl | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Genres | Punk, post-punk, no wave, experimental, avant-garde, noise rock |
| Years active | 1983–1986 |
| Labels | Gramm, Crass Records, V.I.S.A., One Little Indian |
| Associated acts | Björk, Exodus, Tappi Tíkarrass, Purrkur Pillnikk, Medúsa, Spilafífl, Þeyr, Megas, The Elgar Sisters, The Sugarcubes, Exem |
| Past members |
|
Kukl was an Icelandic post-punk group in the 1980s, most notable for being one of Björk's first bands.
The band formed in August 1983 when Ásmundur Jónsson from Gramm Records wanted to create an avant-garde supergroup to perform on the final episode of a radio show called Áfangar. He assembled vocalist Björk Guðmundsdóttir of Exodus and Tappi Tíkarrass, trumpeter and vocalist Einar Örn Benediktsson (a.k.a. Einar Ørn) of Purrkur Pillnikk, keyboardist Einar Arnaldur Melax from the surrealistic group Medúsa, and bassist Birgir Mogensen from Spilafífl, as well as drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson (a.k.a. Trix) and guitarist Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson (a.k.a. God Krist) from the band Þeyr.
After two weeks of writing and rehearsals, the band played the radio session. Their ensuing enthusiasm for the experience led to a decision to make the group permanent.
Kukl's first live show was on September 20, 1983, opening for Crass in Reykjavík, followed shortly after by their first release, the 7" single "Söngull" (Gramm).
Einar Ørn had studied media at the Polytechnic of Central London, which enabled him to come in contact with UK anarcho-punk groups such as Flux of Pink Indians and Crass. This led to the 1984 release of Kukl's first album, The Eye (produced by Crass member Penny Rimbaud) on the Crass Records label. The title The Eye came from Björk’s favorite book, Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille (1928), whose plot involved the sexual adventures of a young French couple within a violent context. The album cover was illustrated by Dada Nana. The Eye contained an English-language version of “Söngull”, retitled “Dismembered”. A video clip was shot for the song “Anna”, directed by Óskar Jónasson.
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