The Sugarcubes

Einar Örn Benediktsson was a driving force in the band's irreverent style and wild public persona. Some fans and critics felt that his vocals and his deliberately difficult, sometimes-combative personality held the Sugarcubes back from the big time. In defending Benediktsson, journalist Andrew Mueller also summarized the stance of the critics: "Einar has been made the little hero of this piece partly because he's the band's most immediately willful personality (which, in The Sugarcubes' case, is saying something), but mostly because it's Einar that gives the band their skewiff energy, their jagged edge. Like Flavor Flav in Public Enemy, he's both provocateur and counterpoint, almost (on record and in concert), but never quite, as aggravating as he is essential. Einar's role needs defending. Without him, The Sugarcubes would just be a brilliant pop group fronted by one of the greatest singers alive. With him, they're treasure." (Melody Maker, February 1, 1992)

The band's first album, Life's Too Good, was an unexpected hit in 1988. It cemented the Sugarcubes as the Iceland's biggest international breakout musical act. The song "Birthday" was particularly successful around the world. Their second album, Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!, was a considered a letdown by fans and critics. Their third effort, Stick Around for Joy, was much better received, producing their highest-selling single with "Hit." This earned them a slot playing before 700,000 people when they opened for U2 during the United States portion of the Zoo TV tour.

The Sugarcubes' famous irreverence and silliness drew lots of attention but also stood in the way of them being a viable long-term band. Derek Birkett, head of the band's record label One Little Indian, explained that they were "f--king impossible to deal with. I love what they are doing, but they are the only band I've ever worked with for whom the band isn't the priority. That's why they all went off and got jobs."