The Sugarcubes

Alt-rock maestros The Sugarcubes were famously the incubator for one of modern music's most innovative artists: Björk Guðmundsdóttir, who served as the group's lead singer and keyboard player. The band were formed in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavík by Einar Örn Benediktsson (vocals, trumpet), Braggi Olaffson (bass), Thor Eldon (guitar), Siggi Balduresson (drums) and Einar Mellax then Magga Ornolfsdottir (keyboards) and notably became the first Icelandic to break into the global charts, reaching number 14 in the UK and number 54 in the US. Their scrappy, post-punk debut Life's Too Good was released by One Little Indian (UK) and Elektra Records (US) in April 1988 and was catapulted onto an international stage largely thanks to its lead single "Birthday," which was performed, along with "Motorcrash," on Saturday Night Live that October. Another two albums followed: 1989's Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week! which also enjoyed chart success in the UK and US, where it reached number 15 and number 70, respectively, with third album Stick Around for Joy following in 1992. The group disbanded following the release of Stick Around for Joy, with Björk setting sail on her solo adventure the following year. A greatest hits album of the Sugarcubes emerged six years later, titled The Great Crossover Potential, and they reunited briefly in 2006, staging a one-off concert at the Laugardalshöll sports arena in Reykjavík, with all profits going to the Icelandic non-profit Smekkleysa SM.