Sugarcubes Are Back!

Twenty years ago, a new band created a brand new record label, they called it Bad Taste. The company's first release was the band's debut single, Birthday. The band went on to become Iceland's first international superstars. They call themselves The Sugarcubes - and they're back for one night only.

The band responsible for giving the world Björk hasn't played together in 14 years - and may never do so again.

The original idea, according to concert organiser, Steini Stephensen of Mr. Destiny, was to have a big concert starring the many artists signed to Bad Taste over the years. The Sugarcubes thought they might come together and play two or three songs at the gig, but no more. "But they realised they would have to get together and practice anyway" he explains, "So they figured, why not do a whole show?"

There has been much speculation about a possible reunion for a very long time, "but no-one thought it would really happen," Steini says.

Bad Taste is a non-profit label, existing to promote Icelandic music to anyone willing to listen. Therefore, all the profits from the reunion are to pour straight back into the company; helping them to carry on the good work.

With literally hundreds of bands and artists on the label from Sigur Rós and Emiliana Torrini to GusGus and Eberg, it is hard to overestimate the importance of Bad Taste on the Icelandic music scene.

The Sugarcubes are to be supported on the evening by Múm, the label's next big release and a prominent name in music for several years: they are reported to be very excited.

Of course they are! The crowd will probably number 5,500 and over a thousand of them will be foreigners in Iceland especially to see The Sugarcubes recreate their unique take on the alternative 80s punk sound. It's gonna be big!

Tickets are nearly all gone, but at the time of writing there are still some available on www.midi.is. The concert will be on the 17th November at Laugardalshöll.

Text by Alex Elliott