Reykjavík Grapevine - 11.09.2009, Page 18

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The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 14 — 2009
Feature | 101 Issues of Grapevine
#23 - Issue 6 - 2005 #24 - Issue 7 - 2005 #25 - Issue 8 - 2005 #26 - Issue 9 - 2005
The first issue where now-MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir acted as art cor-
respondent. Random headline: "Sunday Time Shocked That Blue
Lagoon Doesn't Cure Cancer". This issue also included an editorial
that pissed off every journalist in Iceland. Entitled "Four newspa-
pers, twelve magazines, no press," we'll be damned if it didn’t have
a lot of merit, as later events have proved. The issue also featured a
new logo and marked the beginning of the first Grapevine concert
series, the "Grapevine Bad Taste Summer Concert Series". JT/Ok
We used advertisement space to promote our newly opened
Grapevine Info kiosk. A quote from the feature: "How am I sup-
posed to remember what I meant by what I said ten years ago?"
- Former shell CEO, Gunnar Karl Guðmundsson. "He doesn't have
to remember exactly what he said: the emails are pretty conclusive."
Grapevines' staff journalist Paul F. Nikolov reports on the Icelandic
oil scandal. JT/Ok
We told you so! In this issue, Grapevine started asking questions
about the so-called "Icelandic economic wonder". Please take the
time to read the Haukur Már Helgason speech, written, but sadly
not performed, for the Icelandic President on the occasion of the
61st anniversary of Iceland’s independence. JT/Ok
Here’s a great idea: making an all-illustrated ‘comic’ issue of the
Grapevine!" Ehrm. Well the idea was good, the issue is awesome,
but it nearly killed the entire staff. Quoth Bart Cameron: “A gleeful
disaster of an issue.” Quoth chief designer Hörður Kristbjörnsson:
“Without a doubt one of the hardest issues I have ever sent to print,
while at the same time one of the most ambitious ones. A favourite.
We celebrated the release of the issue by opening a comic art ex-
hibition at the Bad Taste Gallery. To this day, it is the only exhibition
this publication has ever opened. JT/Ok
Oh good "economic boom" times. Remember when Icelanders
could import any international band? In this issue alone, we review
concerts by Duran Duran, Anthony & The Johnsons and The Foo
Fighters. JT/Ok
Grapevine 101
#27 - Issue 10 - 2005
Our most famous cover, which got on the evening news,
NPR and was even mentioned by the bishop in his ad-
dress to parliament. It was our most misunderstood
cover as well. The feature was about Icelandic women,
and we thought it would be a nice twist to not have them
blond and blue eyed. Because of this, we had problems
borrowing a national costume. A lot of people think we
set up the group that wouldn’t lend us the costumes. We
didn’t, it was Channel Two who called them and they
responded, rather unfortunately, with the words: “Ice-
land’s future isn’t black, but perhaps yellow.” A media
storm followed which we had little to do with. Full kudos
to Hörður and Hörður for a nice picture. VG
Says Hörður Kristbjörnsson: Without a doubt the cover
that put us on the map. A great idea that touched a lot
of people. However, when looked at from a strict design
angle, it perhaps isn’t as good as it could have been. A
bit clumsy and dark.” Hk
This is probably my all-time favorite, although putting it
together was a hassle. Two days before print, we were
still out of ideas. Earlier I had decided to pass on an op-
portunity to interview Björk for the issue. At the time, she
was promoting her Volta album, and had already done
a million interviews. I didn't see what we would add to
that media circus, and I didn't want to do it just for the
sake of doing it.
So, there we were, two days before print, and we had no
idea what to put on the cover. Gunni and I started to look
at some great examples of graphic design done right
for inspiration. We came across the magnificent Obey /
Andre the Giant poster, with his face illustrated with the
word "obey." We discussed how it would be cool to make
an image out of words, using an actual interview, and
only have the interview on the cover. We looked at each
other, it was as simple as that.
This was the unique twist for a Björk interview we
needed. The problem now was that Björk had already
left Iceland for her world tour, and I think she was in Bra-
zil at the time. I quickly fired off an email to her people,
explaining that we had a great idea for a Björk cover and
all we needed was for her to answer a few questions.
She agreed to a short email interview, and we got it just
in time to finish the cover design before shipping the is-
sue off to print. The interview was listed in the table of
contents as "The Hidden Björk Interview" and was only
published on the cover. Some people probably missed it.
It came out great though, and I remember it was featured
on a widely read magazine design blog - but we were
this close to not pulling this cover together. SBB
#8 - Issue 3 - 2004
#56 - Issue 5 - 2007
ISSUE 01 2003 -
"JACkBOOTS ON ICE"
Notable: The fist issue, the only issue at
the time. The only issue to be 28 pages,
ever.
Jóndi: The first publication date
was to set on June 6. Needless to say,
by June 3rd, the set deadline day for
that first issue, we really had nothing, a
few articles by me, a few from random
sources, a couple of ads sold by Hilmar
and Eymar, a layout, a couple of photos
by Aldís. Not enough to put out an
issue, too few ads to pay for print.
We made a new deadline, and set it
for June 11. The first issue should then
be out Friday the 13th of June. Yeah, our
lucky day.
By Monday the 9th, we were in
trouble. Most the articles and photos
were done, but the ad sales were still
far from covering our printing cost.
Tuesday morning, I decided that I'd try
and do something about it. The first ad I
sold was to a Whale Watching company
in Kef lavik - "Moby Dick". During the
next 48 hours, I sold enough ads to pay
for the print costs. During the nights,
I worked on the content, collected
listings information by walking around
town, wrote some articles and slept very
little.
At this point most of us were not
sleeping, and our diet consisted of
cigarettes that the nice guys at Kjötborg
store would lend us, and coffee. Also
from Kjötborg.
I lost twenty kilos that month. And
gained a nasty habit of smoking. You
win some, you lose some. I guess.
The issue went to print late
Thursday. And I went to sleep for the
first time since Tuesday. I felt pretty
bad. I also felt pretty good.
Then came a new problem to deal
with. How do you distribute 20.000
copies of a newspaper, and where do you
distribute them? I remember reaching
the conclusion that I had to borrow my
parent's white Pajero jeep and drive it
around the country to distribute to the
rest of Iceland. I'm glad we just sent it
by bus.
Some friends were called up. They
showed up. We distributed the first
issue. I was proud. By the way, you
guys: Thank a bunch for that!
Oddur Óskar
Ahh, the first issue. After spending
forty-some hours awake, we took it to
the press. After sleeping for about six
hours, we had to fix some major bugs
and a big part of the layout. But seeing
the paper rolling out the printing press
was amazing. It is fun to look back on
the days leading up to first issue—
honestly, no one in the staff knew
anything about what they were doing.
We were constantly solving problems,
and after we had finished the first issue,
our next problem emerged: How much
space do 20.000 copies of a newspaper
take?
The first issue was full of bugs, the
biggest being that our listed phone
number in the paper was wrong and,
yes, I take full responsibility for that. I
still remember changing it from right
to wrong—but the mind can play tricks
on you when you have been up way,
way, way past your bedtime and have
been on a staple diet of coffee and well...
some more coffee.
High point: Getting this thing
published.
Low point: None.
Achievement: Pissing off the whole US
Army in Iceland
Favorite quote: "Men seeking women,
women seeking men, men seeking men,
women seeking women, man seeking
small animal" Valur Gunnarsson, page
26. Classified ads.
ISSUE 02 2003 -
"THE RETURN OF THE PAGANS"
We kind of knew from start that the
second issue would be even harder
than the first one. It was kind of like
what happens on the second show after
the premiere. We were really stressed
out in regards to get a good cover.
When Aldís handed in the new cover
I was convinced that it would almost
impossible to do better than that. We
were 100% certain that we had made
the perfect cover. This would be hard
to beat we thought. Yeah. We did think
that at the time.
Notable: The cover is a “Photoshop
masterpiece”
High point: Printing colour photo-
graphs for the first time.
Low point: Receiving death threats for
the first time.
Achievement: Our first ‘solid’ issue.
Favourite quote: “Heavy Special +
French Fries & Coke: Kr. 1.095 ISK”
(who said ad copy can’t be funny?).
ISSUE 03 2003 -
"WHALES, HARPOONS AND OTHER
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION"
The whale issue. To be honest, we never
really cared that much for this cover—
it might be because the colours in the
finished product are slightly off. But the
only way to portray whaling was either
to
a) hire a boat and stay around and try
to get a epic photo of a whale, which was
not really within our budget at the time,
or
b) to get a someone to make a comic
illustration of a whale and pay him for
it—most probably in beer
High point: First illustrated cover. First
(partly) actual classified section. Soon
abandoned.
Low point: Printing a photo of boobs.
Achievement: The fist time we printed
a photo of boobs.
Favourite quote: "Lonely co-editor seeks
female company. Either individuals
or groups. Preferably financially
independent, but not a must. All
enquires will be excepted." Page 30,
Classifieds.
ISSUE 04 2003 -
"GODLIkE GENIUS, DEVILISH GRIN"
Let’s face it—this is an awesome
portrait of Megas. Everything on this
cover fits neatly, good colours and a
nice tagline. Judging by the cover one
might think that the people behind this
Issue in some way knew what they were
doing.
High point: Megas
Low point: Making fun of a large sack of
balls in print. Not mature at all.
Achievement: The first professionally
looking cover, we think.
Favourite quote: On Bubbi: "Went to
America to become world famous, was
offered the part of Thor in some z-film
on the conditions he did steroids, opted
for cocaine instead, came home and
went through in inevitable drug bender
/ rehab / mellow album about wife
cycle." Page 13.
ISSUE 05 2003 -
"AMUSING THE MUSES"
The cover art by Aldís has always been a
favourite. Becoming the official culture
night listings medium was a huge
responsibility and a huge honour. And
a huge amount of extra work for no
amount of extra money.
High point: Paul F Nikolov writes his
first article on immigration.
Achievement: Being the official culture
night listings medium.
Favourite quote: "A picture of the
picture in question, notice the absence
of burning crosses, indicating that this
is not the Ku Klux Klan, contrary to
popular belief.” Page 4, Letters.
ISSUE 06 2003 -
"ICELAND VS. THE WORLD"
The summer was over. The experiment
had ended, 6 issues. 3 months. It was
back to school and hoping to have a
return next year.
High point: Wulfmorgenthaler
Low point: This was the last issue of
that summer. Hence, the next months
would be a low point for the publishing
industry in Iceland at that time.
Achievement: Getting through the first
six issues with almost no casualties.
Favourite quote: "Since then I have
invaded the American base in Kef lavik,
risked offending the old Gods by
being drunk and obnoxious around
their followers, seen and eaten many a
whale in the interest of research, learnt,
about the ultimate futility of existence
through a three hour discussion with
Megas, and, of course, gone horseback
riding with a group of Swedes. My
life has almost become what some
people might call interesting." Page 5,
Editorial, Valur Gunnarsson.
That First year Of Grapevines
Words
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson
& Oddur Óskar Kjartansson
Photos
From Archive
Memorable Covers