The Sugarcubes | |
---|---|
The Sugarcubes in a promotional band photo
|
|
Background information | |
Origin | Reykjavík, Iceland |
Genres | |
Years active | 1986–1992, 2006 |
Labels | |
Associated acts | |
Past members |
Björk Guðmundsdóttir Einar Örn Benediktsson Sigtryggur Baldursson Þór Eldon Bragi Ólafsson Margrét Örnólfsdóttir Einar Arnaldur Melax |
The Sugarcubes (Sykurmolarnir in Icelandic) were an Icelandic alternative rock band from Reykjavík formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. For most of their career, the band consisted of Björk (vocals, keyboards), Einar Örn Benediktsson (vocals, trumpet), Þór Eldon (guitar), Bragi Ólafsson (bass), Margrét "Magga" Örnólfsdóttir (keyboards) and Sigtryggur Baldursson (drums). Lead singer, Björk, would later become an internationally successful solo musician and the best selling Icelandic musician of all time.
The band received critical and popular acclaim internationally. Their debut studio album, Life's Too Good, was released in April 1988 to unexpected international success. It is credited as the first Icelandic album to have a worldwide impact and is considered a definite influence on all subsequent Icelandic popular music. It spanned the band's signature hit "Birthday". Their follow-up album, Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!, was released in September 1989 to lukewarm reviews from critics and fans. However, their third and final album, Stick Around for Joy, which was released in February 1992, was more well received by both fans and critics and had two successful singles: "Hit" and "Leash Called Love." The Sugarcubes are regarded as "the biggest rock band to emerge from Iceland."
The members of The Sugarcubes had formerly been in a variety of Icelandic bands. Björk had the longest career out of any of the members; she had recorded an album as early as 11 years old. In her late teens, she joined the Icelandic post-punk band Tappi Tíkarrass, who released two albums before splitting in 1983. Drummer Sigtryggur "Siggi" Baldursson was a member of Þeyr, while Einar Örn Benediktsson and Bragi Ólafsson formed a punk band called Purrkur Pillnikk. By 1984, Björk, Einar Örn and Siggi had formed the supergroup KUKL with keyboardist Einar Melax, and released two albums on the independent British record label Crass Records.