Stuðmenn

 

 

 Stuðmenn were founded in school, at "Menntaskólinn Hamrahlið" in Reykjavik. Their debut album "Sumar á Sýrlandi" in ´75 became an instant success on the market and critics cheered the band frenetically as the milestone of Icelandic pop music. Their music combined high-flyingly merry and higgledy-piggledy varied songs, all with a twist, reflecting icelandic characteristics and changing society by collected tunes and true icelandic lyrics.

 

After their second album "Tivoli", which set new records in sales, the band went on to shoot a feature film. The musical-comedy "Með allt á hreinu - On Top" is still the most successful film in the history of Icelandic cinema and is by now quoted more in daily life than the world-renowned saga-books.

 

Stuðmenn then released a book with their graphical artwork and lyrics, before they went on to do another film called " Kókóstré og Hvítir Mávar" (Cool Jazz and Coconuts), a cinematographical and musical masterpiece of PopArt. On their promotional tour for that movie the Beatle Ringo Starr joined the band on stage and is a massive follower ever since.

 

In 1986 Stuðmenn followed an invitation of the Chinese Government for touring in China as the first Western band (after Wham!, who gave up after one concert). The group was frenetically cheered by critics and audience in 12 major cities.

 

After Jakob Magnússon was appointed Cultural Attaché at the Icelandic Embassy in London, the members of the band turned to their solo projects. Egill Ólafsson stared in over 30 critically acclaimed feature films, appeared in numerous theatre playes and musicals besides releasing internationally praised solo albums.

 

Ragnhildur Gísladóttir achieved outstanding reviews in Great Britain and Germany on her albums " Ragga and the Jack Magic Orchestra" and "Ragga and the Human Body Orchestra" and also appeared in feature films, there among in " Honour of the House" (along with Egill Ólafsson), which was Iceland´s entry for the "Oscar" in 1999. In the same year Stuðmenn founded the eco-campaign "Græni Herinn", and Egill Ólafsson was chosen "best singer" of the year.

 

During the celebrations of the New Millenium Stuðmenn were choosen "The Best Dance Band of the Cecade" by media and press. In 2001 their second book " Í bláum skugga" with photos of concerts by Thórarinn Ó. Thórarinsson and lyrics of all releases to date was published. In addition their best-selling compilation " Tvöfaldar Bítið" was released, consisting of 40 hit songs.

 

In 2002 the band was invited to Scandinavia and Germany, and there among entertained 35.000 people at an Open Air Festival in Bavaria. In october the band celebrated their stage anniversary and hold a special concert at the Icelandic National Theatre, which was live recorded. This very record, Á Stóra Svidinu, hit gold shortly after its release and set an new milestone in the quality and entertainment of live music.

 

In 2003 and 2004 the band toured Germany and Russia with outstanding success, signed a record deal with a german label and released their first international CD "Six Geysirs & a Bird", which was shockwaving the international media and press. Critics cheered them as "miracle weapon in terms of music and feel good times". In December their latest movie "Í takt við tímann" premiered in Iceland.

 

And then there was March 2005....

 

There was the world´s most famous concert hall, there was a band considered Icelands most popular ever,

 

there was audience and a high level of expectancy - and everyone was watching the vikings deliver!

 

Icelands one and only pop art geezers performed a one -off special concert at the world-famous Royal Albert Hall in London as the ultimate revue of Icelands tunes of today.

 

In 2006 this very concert was released on DVD, along with their feature film "Í takt vid tímann/ Ahead of Times".

 

 

 

Studmenn currently have released two new records and will be touring the UK, Germany, Russia and Japan furthermore.

 

And the band waggon moves on...