Sigurjón's Friends
| Sjonni's Friends | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Iceland |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Members | Gunnar Ólason Vignir Snær Vigfússon Pálmi Sigurhjartarson Matthías Matthíasson Hreimur Örn Heimisson Benedikt Brynleifsson |
Sjonni's Friends (Icelandic: Vinir Sjonna) are an Icelandic tribute band also known at times as Sigurjón's Friends. The band formed in early 2011 when the Icelandic singer Sjonni Brink (real name Sigurjón Brink) died just days before he was to perform his entry "Aftur heim" at Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins, the Icelandic national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.
On 12 February 2011, the group won the Icelandic national selection; Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2011 with the song "Aftur heim". The original artist was meant to be Sigurjón Brink himself, however on 17 January 2011 before he was set to compete in the third semi-final, Sigurjón unexpectedly died, due to natural causes, at his home in Garðabær. Sigurjón's family decided, on reflection that they would like for the song to remain in the competition, and that it should be performed by a tribute band, formed after his death, consisting of Sigurjón's real life musician friends.
The group made it past the first semi-final into the final, where the group won the right to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Band member Gunnar Ólason had previously represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 as part of the band Two Tricky.
The actual Eurovision competition was held in Düsseldorf, Germany in May 2011 where the formation Sjonni's Friends sang "Coming Home", an English version of "Aftur heim".
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