Jóhannes Helgason
Encyclopedia
Jóhannes Helgason was a guitar player known by his work in the band Þeyr
and currently works as a pilot for Icelandair
.
, and bassist Birgir Ottóson to form a school band called Fatima. By 1974 Eiríkur Hauksson
had replaced Guðmundur as a vocalist and guitarist Sigurgeir Sigmundsson had joined the group. Fatima disbanded in 1975, and it was followed by another band called Piccolo, which broke-up two years later but Eiríkur later achieved success with the Norwegian
band Artch
. Jóhannes joined singer Magnús Guðmundsson, bassist Hilmar Örn Agnarsson and Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (in drums and synthesizer) who had been playing in a band called Fellibylur. Two new members joined the band: vocalist Elín Reynisdóttir, and drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson
. They formed a band called Frostrósir (Window frost) and played in Reykjavík and surroundings. Frostrósir led the way for a more ambitious project.
and Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson collaborated with some lyrics and managed the band with Guðni Rúnar Agnarsson. The same year they contacted Svavar Gestsson from label SG-Hljómplötur and showed him two tracks. After getting a record deal they started to record their debut album in January 1980 until February when they took a break during which the band was influenced by the New Wave
and started to experiment with their music. The recording sessions were resumed in September, with new material which brought about certain concern within the label.
The album was named Þagað í Hel
(Silenced to Death) and was released in December 1980. Þeyr had some promotional gigs and were joined by guitarist Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson
. By early 1981 Jóhannes decided to leave the band so that he could continue with his aeronautical studies and Elín left the band soon after. Magnús became the leading singer and guitarist Þorsteinn Magnússon joined the band.
In 1998, record label Spor released a compilation CD titled Nælur, which contained three songs by Þeyr, including “En”, from Þagað í Hel, which became into the only song reissued because the remaining tracks of this album were lost in a fire at the Tóntækni studios a few years after the debut album was released.
He has been flying for the company Icelandair
, since February 1983.
Jóhannes Helgason is married to Unnur Einarsdóttir and has two sons: Helgi (1982), and Atli Jóhannesson (1988).
Piccolo
Frostrósir
Featuring:
NOTE: this article contains Icelandic characters. For more information, see Icelandic language
.
Þeyr
Þeyr was a renowned Icelandic New Wave band from the early 1980s. Shrouded under a veil of mystery, their three-year existence was characterized by a deep interest in ancient wisdom...
and currently works as a pilot for Icelandair
Icelandair
Icelandair ehf is the flag carrier airline of Iceland, based on the grounds of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík. It is part of the Icelandair Group and currently operates scheduled services to 31 cities in 13 countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean out of its hub at Keflavík International Airport...
.
Early bands
In the winter of 1972 Jóhannes joined vocalist Guðmundur Eyjólfsson, drummer Hilmar Örn HilmarssonHilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson , also known as HÖH , is a musician, an art director, and allsherjargoði of Ásatrúarfélagið ....
, and bassist Birgir Ottóson to form a school band called Fatima. By 1974 Eiríkur Hauksson
Eiríkur Hauksson
Eiríkur Hauksson is an Icelandic heavy metal vocalist who is educated as a teacher.Eiríkur is considered to be a talented vocalist, able to adopt various styles...
had replaced Guðmundur as a vocalist and guitarist Sigurgeir Sigmundsson had joined the group. Fatima disbanded in 1975, and it was followed by another band called Piccolo, which broke-up two years later but Eiríkur later achieved success with the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
band Artch
Artch
Artch is a heavy metal band from Sarpsborg in Norway. Initially formed in 1983 by guitarist Cato André Olsen and bass player Bernt Jansen, in 1984 guitarist Geir Nilssen, drummer Jørn Jamissen and vocalist Lars Fladeby all joined the band but they had formerly been with a local rock group called...
. Jóhannes joined singer Magnús Guðmundsson, bassist Hilmar Örn Agnarsson and Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (in drums and synthesizer) who had been playing in a band called Fellibylur. Two new members joined the band: vocalist Elín Reynisdóttir, and drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson
Sigtryggur Baldursson
Sigtryggur Baldursson is an Icelandic drummer and singer.Sigtryggur was born in Norway to Icelandic parents. He was a founding member of the Sugarcubes and has been a longtime fixture on the Icelandic punk and alternative music scene. Other bands he has played in have included Þeyr, KUKL,...
. They formed a band called Frostrósir (Window frost) and played in Reykjavík and surroundings. Frostrósir led the way for a more ambitious project.
Þeyr
In 1979 Frostrósir changed its name to ÞeyrÞeyr
Þeyr was a renowned Icelandic New Wave band from the early 1980s. Shrouded under a veil of mystery, their three-year existence was characterized by a deep interest in ancient wisdom...
and Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson collaborated with some lyrics and managed the band with Guðni Rúnar Agnarsson. The same year they contacted Svavar Gestsson from label SG-Hljómplötur and showed him two tracks. After getting a record deal they started to record their debut album in January 1980 until February when they took a break during which the band was influenced by the New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and started to experiment with their music. The recording sessions were resumed in September, with new material which brought about certain concern within the label.
The album was named Þagað í Hel
Þagað í Hel
Þagað í Hel, was the first album released by Icelandic band Þeyr in December 1980 through label SG-hljómplötur.By late 1979 Þeyr members contacted Svavar Gestsson, the owner of SG-Hljómplötur, and introduced him a few songs of disco music...
(Silenced to Death) and was released in December 1980. Þeyr had some promotional gigs and were joined by guitarist Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson
Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson
Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson , guitar player and engineer. He is a mathematician, an inventor, a practising polytechnic engineer, lecturer and the author of several scientific papers....
. By early 1981 Jóhannes decided to leave the band so that he could continue with his aeronautical studies and Elín left the band soon after. Magnús became the leading singer and guitarist Þorsteinn Magnússon joined the band.
In 1998, record label Spor released a compilation CD titled Nælur, which contained three songs by Þeyr, including “En”, from Þagað í Hel, which became into the only song reissued because the remaining tracks of this album were lost in a fire at the Tóntækni studios a few years after the debut album was released.
Aeronautical studies
In February 1978, after finishing high school at Menntaskólinn við Sund, Jóhannes started to take flight lessons at Flugtak. In December 1980 he withdrew from Þeyr to focus on his studies and obtained the commercial flying license and the flight instructor license. He started to work at Flugtak for two years, and later as a flight instructor for Hnit Consulting Engineers.He has been flying for the company Icelandair
Icelandair
Icelandair ehf is the flag carrier airline of Iceland, based on the grounds of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík. It is part of the Icelandair Group and currently operates scheduled services to 31 cities in 13 countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean out of its hub at Keflavík International Airport...
, since February 1983.
Jóhannes Helgason is married to Unnur Einarsdóttir and has two sons: Helgi (1982), and Atli Jóhannesson (1988).
Early bands
Fatima- No official releases.
Piccolo
- No official releases.
Frostrósir
- No official releases. This band evolved into Þeyr.
Discography with Þeyr
Album:- 1980 - Þagað í HelÞagað í HelÞagað í Hel, was the first album released by Icelandic band Þeyr in December 1980 through label SG-hljómplötur.By late 1979 Þeyr members contacted Svavar Gestsson, the owner of SG-Hljómplötur, and introduced him a few songs of disco music...
(SG-Hljómplötur)
Featuring:
- 1998 - Nælur (Spor), Icelandic compilation.
External links
- Page about Þeyr
- Website about Þeyr and other related bands
- Page about Þeyr at Tónlist.is (in Icelandic)
- Intravenous.de - page about Icelandic music. It includes a section for Þeyr
- Icelandair
NOTE: this article contains Icelandic characters. For more information, see Icelandic language
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
.