The first band to emerge from Iceland and achieve worldwide recognition, the Sugarcubes released three acclaimed albums during their time together. Lead vocalist Bjork continued on to establish her own successful international solo career after the group disbanded.
Formed in 1986, most of the Sugarcubes' members had already been involved with other high-profile Icelandic acts. Bjork began her career as a solo artist when she was just eleven years old, recording a children's album and later recording with the post-punk band Tappi Tikarrass. Drummer Siggi Baldursson began as a member of Theyer, while Einar Benediktsson and Bragi Olafsson belonged to a punk band called Purrkur Pillnikk.
By 1984, the four had joined forces with keyboardist Einar Mellax and were performing under the name KUKL ("witch" in the Icelandic language). In 1986, Bjork's then-husband Thor Jonson and Bragi Olafsson joined the foursome and the group changed their name to the Sugarcubes. In late 1987, the band was signed to the One Little Indian label in the UK and Elektra in the US, and released their debut album, Life's Too Good, to critical acclaim in 1988. The single "Birthday" became a huge hit in the UK and a top single on the college radio charts in the US.
By the time the group's second album was recorded, tensions within the group were rising. Bjork and Jonson divorced and Jonson's new wife, Magga Ornolfsdottir, joined the group to replace the departing Mellax. In addition, a rift between Bjork and Benediktsson grew after much of the first album's praise was focused on Bjork alone.
Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week! was released in 1989 and was followed by a lengthy world tour. In 1990, the band members took a break and pursued individual interests before reuniting in 1992 to release their third album, Stick Around For Joy, and a compilation of remixes called It's It. Stick Around For Joy received critical praise and gave the group the chart topping single "Hit", but the group disbanded shortly after its release. Bjork launched her internationally successful solo career in 1993.
Source: http://www.elektra.com/elektra/thesugarcubes/artistbio.jhtml
