Bubbi Morthens

Bubbi Morthens

Bubbi Morthens.
Background information
Birth name Ásbjörn Kristinsson Morthens
Born June 6, 1956
Origin Reykjavík, Iceland
Genres Rock, blues, reggae
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Years active 1979–present
Labels

Iðunnn (1980)
Steinar (1980-83) (1990-92)
Safarí (1984)
Gramm (1985-88)
Mistlur (1986-88)
Geisli (1989)
Skífan (1993-96) (1997-2004)
Mál Og Menning (1996)
Sena (2006-present)

Blindsker (2006-present)
Associated acts GCD
MX-21
Das Kapital
Utangarðsmenn
Egó
Website Bubbi.is

Bubbi Morthens (born June 6, 1956 in Reykjavík, Iceland[1]), is an Icelandic singer and songwriter. His given name is Ásbjörn Kristinsson Morthens,[1] called Bubbi as it is a common affectionate form of Ásbjörn. Besides a lengthy solo career, he has been a member of numerous Icelandic bands, notably Utangarðsmenn, Egó, Das Kapital, MX-21, and G.C.D. He is one of the bestselling Icelandic musicians of all time, but he has received little attention outside of the country.

History

Bubbi Morthens recorded his first solo album in 1979,[1] a blend of rock, blues and reggae, and published it the following year with the title of Ísbjarnarblús which led him to popularity in Iceland due to influences of Iggy Pop and other artists, the changes of music styles during the recording sessions, but particularly due to the lyrics as their content was embedded in the social struggle, especially of the lower classes from the fishing industry to migrant workers.

In Utangarðsmenn

His first important band was Utangarðsmenn (The Outsiders),[1] a punk band that led the new wave movement in Iceland and was formed by guitarists Michael D. Pollock (Mickey Dean) and Daniel Pollock (Dirty Dan), drummer Magnús Stefánsson (mad Dog Magoo), and finally bassist Rúnar Erlingsson (Rooney the Ripper).

Utangarðsmenn gained renown in Iceland by means of extensive press coverage and several gigs, including three at Laugardalshöll, Iceland’s biggest sports arena, where one of the gigs they performed was as supporting band for The Clash. Bubbi left the band right after the fourth album, Í Upphafi Skyldi Endinn Skoða in 1981, and the other band members continued playing, but under the name of Bodies, which was a tribute to one of Utangarðsmenn’s songs.

In Egó

At that time, Bubbi and his brother, Bergþór, were joined by bassist Þorleifur Guðjónsson and formed the band Egó, a name that some claimed was a reference to Bubbi’s great ego. The original group was extended when Jóhann Ridar (aka “Motorhead”) entered as the drummer, next to guitarist Ragnar Sigurðsson.

The band had their first tour in Reykjavík, but when they started to record, Jóhann and Ragnar had left the band and were replaced by Magnús Stefánsson and Tómas Magnús Tómasson, who joined as session musician and producer respectively. After these changes, the band's music improved, and their debut album, Breyttir Tímar which was released on April 1, 1982 became one of the best-selling albums in Icelandic music history, climbing to second place on the Icelandic album chart, and staying in the top ten for 19 weeks. During the promotional tour for the album in Iceland, Þorleifur left the band and was replaced by Rúnar Erlingsson.

Egó followed up with Í Mynd the same year and it was considered better than the previous album. With this release, Egó toured Scandinavia, where Magnús Stefánsson decided to leave the band and was replaced by Jökull Úlfsson, and the band was extended once more with the addition of Gunnar Rafnsson on keyboards. After achieving success, internal conflicts undermined the relationship with the record label, and even though the band had decided to break up, they had signed a contract by which they were obliged to release another album. Egó released their final work in 1984. The band split up, Bubbi left Iceland and the musicians continued along different paths. In 2001, Egó members were reunited to release a compilation under the title of Í Upphafi Skyldi Endinn Skoða.

In Das Kapital

Later in 1984, Bubbi returned to Iceland and formed a rock and roll band called Das Kapital and released an album called Lili Marlene, but the band broke up afterwards.

Solo

In 1985, he signed with Swedish record label Mistlur and released Frelsi til Sölu (Freedom for Sale) which helped bring further commercial success, until Dögun (Dawning), was released in 1987, and became a smash success. Bubbi’s popularity was finally established in 1990 with the release of Sögur af Landi, which received good reviews.

In MX-21

Towards 1987 Bubbi joined guitarist Þorsteinn Magnússon (former member of Þeyr), Jakob Smári Magnússon (former bassist of Tappi Tíkarrass), drummer Halldór Lárusson and keyboardist Tómas Magnús Tómasson to form a new group called MX-21. The band collaborated with Megas and Sykurmolarnir (later to be known as The Sugarcubes) on Skytturnar, the soundtrack to the film directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson.

Solo

By the early 1990s, Bubbi was planning to record a Spanish or South-American style album; this work was consolidated with the release of Von (Hope), which was recorded in Cuba with the band Sierra Maestra. It was an album that marked a change in his music style; with elaborate arrangements and performances, the lyrics are about loss and regret.

In 1993, Bubbi moved towards a mellow country music style with the release of Lífið er Ljúft (Life is Good), and in 1994 experimented with rap music in the album 3 Heimar (3 Worlds).

In G.C.D.

Also in the ‘90s Bubbi joined Rúnar Júlíusson to form a rock band called G.C.D.. He also recorded a tribute album for his beloved crooner uncle, Haukur Morthens and a spoken word album of original poetry in 1996. In 1998, appeared Arfur (Heritage), an album for which he drew from traditional Icelandic rhymes and ballads.

Discography (in collaborations or in formations)

Discography with Utangarðsmenn (1980-1981)

EPs

Albums

Collaborations

Discography of Egó

Discography of Egó (1982–1984, 2001, 2009–present):

Albums

Singles

Collaborations

Featuring on film

Discography of Das Kapital

Album

Featuring

Discography of MX-21

Singles

Featuring

Discography of Bubbi & Megas

Album

Discography of G.C.D.

Albums

Featuring

Discography of Bubbi Morthens & Björn Jr. Friðbjörnsson

Singles

Featuring

Discography of Bubbi Morthens & Björgvin Halldórsson

Singles

Bubbi Morthens Solo discography

Solo albums

Solo EPs

Solo singles

Featuring and collaborations

  • 1982 - Beint Í Mark (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1982 - Á Hjólum (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1983 - Rás 4 (Steinar)
  • 1984 - Tvær í Takinu (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1984 - Í Bítið (Steinar)
  • 1985 - Með Lögum Skal Land Byggja (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1985 - Hjálpum Þeim (Hjálparstofnun Kirkjunnar)
  • 1986 - Lystisnekkjan Gloria (Gramm)
  • 1986 - Toppsætin (Skífan)
  • 1987 - Lög Jóns Múla Árnasonar við Texta Jónasar Árnasona (AB)
  • 1988 - Sweden New York 88 (Infromat)
  • 1988 - Sweden Seventeen (Infromat)
  • 1989 - Og Augun Opnast (???), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1990 - "Hitt & þetta, aðallega hitt alla leið" (Skífan)
  • 1990 - Bandalög 2 (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1991 - Aftur til Fortíðar 70-80 3. Hluti (Steinar)
  • 1991 - Bandalög 3 (Steinar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1991 - Icebreakers (Steinar)
  • 1991 - Fyrstu 15 árin (Skífan)
  • 1991 - Forskot á Sæluna (Steinar)
  • 1991 - "Aftur til fortíðar 70-80 3. hluti" (Steinar)
  • 1992 - Aldrei Ég Gleymi (Steinar)
  • 1992 - Fyrstu 15 árin 2 (Steinar)
  • 1992 - Hornsteinar (???)
  • 1992 - Þrír Blóðdropar (Skífan), album by Megas.
  • 1993 - Bíólögin (???)
  • 1993 - Heyrðu (Steinar)
  • 1993 - Heyrðu Aftur '93 (Skífan)
  • 1994 - Bíódagar (Skífan)
  • 1994 - Guðmundur Ingólfsson (???)
  • 1995 - Ein Stór Fjölskylda (???)
  • 1995 - Heyrðu Aftur '94 (???), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1997 - Ferming 97 (???), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1997 - Strákarnir Okkar 1970-1994 (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1998 - Carmen Negra (???)
  • 1998 - Nælur (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 1998 - Ó Borg Mín Borg : 18 Reykjavíkurlög (Skífan)
  • 1998 - Söknuður - Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson (Skífan)
  • 1999 - Íslandslög 4 (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2000 - 2 fyrir 2000 (Skífan)
  • 2000 - Dans Stöðumælanna - Ljóðbrot (Hrynjandi)
  • 2000 - Icelandic Pop Favourites (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2000 - Íslandslög 5 - Í Kirkjum Landsins (Skífan), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2001 - Óskalögin 5 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2001 - Pottþétt Gospel (Pottþétt), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2001 - Svona er Sumarið 2001 (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2002 - Megamúsík - Séð og Heyrt (Skífan/Séð og heyrt), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2002 - Óskalögin 6 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2002 - Stóra Barnaplatan 3 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2002 - Toyota Stuðarinn (Skífan / Toyota), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2003 - Íslandslög 6 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2003 - Ómar Lands og Þjóðar (???)
  • 2003 - Óskalögin 7 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2003 - Skonrokk (Pottþétt / Sena)
  • 2003 - Svona er Sumarið 2003 (Sena), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2003 - Verndum Hálendið (Hálendið), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2004 - Óskalögin 8 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2005 - Acoustic Iceland (Steinsnar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2004 - Svona er Sumarið 2004 (Sena), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2005 - Sköpum Og Fögnum Velgengni (Glitnir), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2006 - Óskalögin 10 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2007 - Óskalög Sjómanna (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2007 - 100 Íslensk 80's lög (Sena), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2008 - Pottþétt 46 (Sena)
  • 2008 - 100 Bestu Lög Lýðveldisins (Sena), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2008 - Svona var 1980 (Íslenskir Tónar), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2008 - Pottþétt 47 (Sena)
  • 2008 - Kærleikur (Kærleikssjóðurinn)
  • 2008 - Minningartónleikar Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson (Sena), Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson tribute concert.
  • 2009 - 100 Íslenskar Ballöður (Sena), Icelandic compilation.
  • 2009 - 100 Íslensk Í Ferðalagið (Sena), Icelandic compilation

Related bibliography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.bubbi.is/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=581&Itemid=28

External links