Purrkur Pillnikk
Encyclopedia
Purrkur Pillnikk is a rock
band from late punk
era in Iceland
. The band existed for 18 months (1981–1982) and were very active as they released at least two LPs, one live-album and two EPs. The distinguishable character of the band were Einar Örn's howling and off-key singing and his lyrics that most often described very day-to-day things but with a lot of interwoven angst. Members of the band later found themselves in KUKL, or in 1986 in the Sugarcubes
.
The members were: Ásgeir R. Bragason, Bragi Ólafsson
, Einar Örn Benediktsson
and Friðrik Erlingsson. The three latter ones formed Smekkleysa/Bad Taste
publishing house in Reykjavík
with friends and were also members of The Sugarcubes.
Their records were: Tilf, a 7" EP containing 10 songs and lasting about 12 minutes in total; Ehgji en, an LP containing 17 songs; Googooplex, a double 45RPM album containing 13 songs; No Time to Think, a 7" EP containing 4 songs; and the posthumous live LP Maskínan, containing 17 songs including several not on the other records, most notably a 5-song suite entitled "Orð fyrir dauða" (Words before death) specifically written for their swansong concert at the Melarokk festival in August 1982. They also had a track on the ROIR Records compilation World Class Punk.
The band toured Britain with the Fall in 1982. Some of those dates are listed below:
Monday 3 May - Band on the Wall
Tuesday 4 May - Band on the Wall
Wednesday 5 May - Band on the Wall
Recently, popular Icelandic dance outfit GusGus
released a song entitled "If you don't jump" which samples Purrkur Pillnikk's signature song, "Augum úti".
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from late punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
era in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. The band existed for 18 months (1981–1982) and were very active as they released at least two LPs, one live-album and two EPs. The distinguishable character of the band were Einar Örn's howling and off-key singing and his lyrics that most often described very day-to-day things but with a lot of interwoven angst. Members of the band later found themselves in KUKL, or in 1986 in the Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
.
The members were: Ásgeir R. Bragason, Bragi Ólafsson
Bragi Ólafsson
Bragi Ólafsson is a musician and a writer.Internationally he is best known for his work as a bassist in The Sugarcubes, the avant-garde pop band from Iceland that brought fame to Björk, who went on to solo success with her unique brand of dance-pop.The Sugarcubes, who favored strange, offbeat...
, Einar Örn Benediktsson
Einar Örn Benediktsson
Einar Örn Benediktsson is a popular music singer and trumpet player who has worked with Björk and The Sugarcubes. Since the 2010 elections he is a member of the city council of Reykjavík....
and Friðrik Erlingsson. The three latter ones formed Smekkleysa/Bad Taste
Bad Taste (record label)
Bad Taste is one of Iceland’s most important record labels; located in Reykjavík and known worldwide for being home to The Sugarcubes, it also publishes poetry books, short films, greeting cards and Icelandic gifts...
publishing house in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
with friends and were also members of The Sugarcubes.
Their records were: Tilf, a 7" EP containing 10 songs and lasting about 12 minutes in total; Ehgji en, an LP containing 17 songs; Googooplex, a double 45RPM album containing 13 songs; No Time to Think, a 7" EP containing 4 songs; and the posthumous live LP Maskínan, containing 17 songs including several not on the other records, most notably a 5-song suite entitled "Orð fyrir dauða" (Words before death) specifically written for their swansong concert at the Melarokk festival in August 1982. They also had a track on the ROIR Records compilation World Class Punk.
The band toured Britain with the Fall in 1982. Some of those dates are listed below:
Monday 3 May - Band on the Wall
Band on the Wall
Band on the Wall is a live music venue at 25 Swan Street in the Northern Quarter area of Manchester city centre.-Early history:The building dates back to around 1862 when a local brewery, the McKenna Brothers, built it as the flagship pub of their operation. It was called the George and Dragon; the...
Tuesday 4 May - Band on the Wall
Wednesday 5 May - Band on the Wall
Recently, popular Icelandic dance outfit GusGus
GusGus
GusGus are a band from Reykjavík, Iceland. They were founded in 1995. Their discography consists of eight studio albums and one live record.- History :...
released a song entitled "If you don't jump" which samples Purrkur Pillnikk's signature song, "Augum úti".