Editing The Sugarcubes (section)

==History==

=== 1977–1986: Formation and early years ===
The members of the Sugarcubes had formerly been in a variety of Icelandic bands. [[Björk Guðmundsdóttir]] had the longest career out of any of the members; she had [[Björk (album)|recorded an album when she was 11]]. In her late teens, she joined the Icelandic [[post-punk]] band [[Tappi Tíkarrass]], who released two albums before splitting in 1983. Drummer [[Sigtryggur Baldursson|Sigtryggur "Siggi" Baldursson]] was a member of [[Þeyr]], while [[Einar Örn Benediktsson]], [[Bragi Ólafsson]] and [[Friðrik Erlingsson]] formed a punk band called Purrkur Pillnikk. By 1984, Björk, Einar Örn and Siggi had formed the group [[Kukl (band)|Kukl]] with keyboardist Einar Melax, and released two albums on the independent British record label [[Crass Records]].

The Sugarcubes formed on 8 June 1986 with Björk on vocals, Einar Örn on vocals, Björk's then-husband Þór <small>(Thor)</small> Eldon on guitar, Friðrik Erlingsson on guitar and Bragi Ólafsson on bass. On the same day, Björk gave birth to her and Þór Eldon's son, Sindri Eldon.<ref>{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-sugarcubes-mn0000919525/biography |title=The Sugarcubes &#124; Biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=2014-08-21}}</ref> The band first performed in July 1988 under the name "Þukl" at the N'Art Festival held at the Nordic Culture Centre in Reykjavik, Iceland. In August of that same year, the band first performed as Sykurmolarnir (Icelandic for Sugarcubes) at the Roxzý nightclub in Reykjavik, Iceland. Some have assumed that the band's name referred to [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]] use,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cdnx.co.uk/artist/the-sugarcubes|title=CDNX : The Sugarcubes|access-date=2017-03-15|language=en}}</ref> but it is more likely in keeping with their intention to form a "cute" pop band, which was in stark contrast to the band members' previous music endeavours.

=== 1987–1988: ''Life's Too Good'' ===
In late 1987, the band signed to [[One Little Indian]] in the UK and to [[Elektra Records]] in the US. They released their debut album, ''[[Life's Too Good]]'', in 1988 to critical acclaim in both the UK and the US. They first came to notice in the UK when [[BBC Radio|BBC radio]] [[Disc jockey|DJ]] [[John Peel]] played "[[Birthday (The Sugarcubes song)|Birthday]]", which was later voted by his listeners as #1 in the 1987 [[Festive Fifty]], and #23 in the All Time Chart.<ref>{{cite web | author= | year= 2008| title= Festive 50s| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/festive50s/1980s/1987/| access-date=2008-10-25}}</ref> Their music has been described as [[avant-pop]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bj%C3%B6rk-mn0000769444/biography|title=Björk &#124; Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_xiUEAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_xiUEAAAAMBAJ/page/n16 100]|quote=sugarcubes avant-pop.|title=Vibe|date=January 28, 2002|publisher=Vibe Media Group|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> and was characterized by a psychedelic [[post-punk]] sound sometimes reminiscent of [[the B-52's]] and [[Talking Heads]], whimsical yet heartfelt lyrics, and the imploring, girlish voice of Björk, accompanied by Einar Örn's erratic vocal performances. In the last quarter of 1988, The Sugarcubes toured North America to positive reception.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.grapevine.is/Author/ReadArticle/the-sugarcubes|title=Dr. Gunni's History Of Icelandic Rock / Part 27 |date=2011-02-11|work=The Reykjavik Grapevine|access-date=2017-03-15|language=en-US|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305222351/http://www.grapevine.is/Author/ReadArticle/the-sugarcubes|archive-date=2014-03-05}}</ref> In September, the band played at [[The Ritz (rock club)|The Ritz]] in [[New York City|New York]], a concert attended by [[David Bowie]] and [[Iggy Pop]].<ref name=":0" /> On 15 October the band appeared on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' with a performance of their songs "Birthday" and "Motorcrash".<ref>{{Citation|last1=Broderick|first1=Matthew|title=Matthew Broderick/The Sugarcubes|date=1988-10-15|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0694536/|last2=Brown|last3=Carvey|last4=Dunn|first2=A. Whitney|first3=Dana|first4=Nora|access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref>

=== 1989–1990: ''Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!'' ===
''[[Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!]]'', the band's second album, was released in September 1989. The greater vocal contribution by Einar Örn on the record was criticized in many of the record's reviews, which were noticeably weaker than those for ''Life's Too Good''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://thomasr.nvg.org/bjork/mainpage/rc.html|title=The secret history of Björk|website=thomasr.nvg.org|access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Not all critics agreed that it was worse than their debut album, though. [[Robert Christgau]] rated it a B+, higher than the B− he gave ''Life's Too Good''. The singles "Regina" and "Planet" topped the [[UK Independent Singles and Albums Charts|UK indie charts]] but fared poorly in the mainstream charts outside of Iceland. After the release of ''Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!'', the band embarked on a lengthy international tour. At the end of the tour, they started to ponder splitting up and went on a hiatus.

=== 1990–1992: ''Stick Around for Joy'' and breakup ===
At the conclusion of the tour in late 1990, the band members pursued their own interests.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> ''[[Stick Around for Joy]]'', their third and final album, was released in February 1992. It featured guest guitarist [[John McGeoch]] (formerly of [[Magazine (band)|Magazine]] and [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]]) on the opening track, "Gold". The album received noticeably better reviews than ''Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!'', and spawned the band's first big hit single, the aptly titled "[[Hit (The Sugarcubes song)|Hit]]". Further singles "Walkabout" and "Vitamin" failed to make any chart impact. The Sugarcubes opened for [[U2]] during the US leg of their [[Zoo TV Tour]] in October and November 1992, playing to a total of 700,000 people.<ref name=":0" />

A [[remix album]], ''[[It's-It (album)|It's-It]]'', was released in October 1992 along with a re-release of "Birthday" which was backed by numerous remixes of the song. One single that was released from the compilation, the Tony Humphries remix of "[[Leash Called Love]]", reached number one on [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard''<nowiki/>'s]] [[Hot Dance Club Songs]] Chart in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/419227/sugarcubes/chart?f=359|title=The Sugarcubes – Chart history {{!}} Billboard|website=www.billboard.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref>

The Sugarcubes disbanded in late December 1992. The members remain involved in the management of record label [[Smekkleysa]] (Bad Taste Ltd). Björk embarked on a solo career, coming to prominence with albums such as ''[[Debut (Björk album)|Debut]]'' (1993), ''[[Post (Björk album)|Post]]'' (1995), and ''[[Homogenic]]'' (1997).

=== 2006: Reunion ===
On 17 November 2006 the band had a one-off reunion concert at [[Laugardalshöll]] sport arena in [[Reykjavík]], [[Iceland]], to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut single, "Birthday", with all profits going to the non-profit [[Bad Taste (record label)|Smekkleysa SM]] to promote Icelandic music.<ref>{{cite web| author= | year= 2006| title= The Sugarcubes bounce back into concert!| url= http://bjork.com/news/?id=591;year=2006| access-date= 2006-10-02| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070207014426/http://bjork.com/news/?id=591;year=2006| archive-date= 2007-02-07}}</ref> They were supported by fellow Icelandic groups [[múm]] and [[Rass (band)|Rass]]. Despite this reunion, the group has expressed that it has no intention to play future shows or record new material.