Reykjavík Grapevine - 09.09.2011, Blaðsíða 19

19
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 14 — 2011
HAM YEARS
1987: Sigurjón sees Swans in London.
Forms HAM with Óttarr Proppé (vocals),
Björn Blöndal (bass) and Ævar Ísberg
(drums). The first HAM rehearsal takes place
just before New Year’s Eve.
1988: The first HAM gig, in March. The
five track ‘HOLD’ 12" EP is released by
Smekkleysa/Bad Taste in July. A video for
‘Trúboðasleikjarinn’ (“The Missionary Lick-
er”) is banned on national TV. It features Ste-
fán Karl, punk band Fræbbblarnir's drummer,
swinging naked on a cross smeared in blood.
Dr. Gunni joins on second guitar. In Octo-
ber, Pere Ubu's David Thomas refuses to let
HAM support the band when they perform
in Reykjavík, after witnessing their sound-
check. Jón Egill Eyþórsson joins HAM after
Dr. Gunni leaves.
1989: Drummer Ævar is fired for being
‘too soft.’ In protest, Jón Egill quits. Drum-
mer Hallur Ingólfsson and guitarist Flosi Þor-
geirsson join the band. HAM play the New
Music Seminal in New York as part of Bad
Taste's ‘World Domination Or Death’ mas-
terplan. Bless, Reptile and poet Jón Gnarr
appear as well. The ‘BUFFALO VIRGIN’ LP is
released by One Little Indian in the UK. HAM
supports The Sugarcubes on a UK tour. A
drunk Flosi severely insults NME's left-wing
scribe, Seething Weels, with one too many
politically incorrect phrases. HAM's reputa-
tion with the UK music press is consequently
deemed beyond repair.
1990: Arnar Geir Ómarsson, Addi, replaces
drummer Hallur. HAM record a new album,
‘PIMPMOBILE’. It is never released—the of-
ficial reason is that it got lost when the US
branch of Rough Trade Records went bank-
rupt. HAM hustle and play the Icelandic rock
locals, often with bands like Sororicide from
the then-burgeoning death metal scene.
1991 - 1992: Jóhann Jóhannsson [Appa-
rat Organ Quartet, solo] joins on guitar and
keyboards. He has already been with Sigur-
jón and Óttarr in the funk band Funkstrasse.
Sigurjón plays the role of rock musician Orri
in Óskar Jónasson's comedy ‘Sódóma Reyk-
javík’. He writes music for the film—including
a guitar riff that will later ends up as the basis
of Quarashi's hit song ‘Stick 'Em Up’. HAM
record new songs for the film with ex-Swans
member Roli Mosiman. This includes HAM's
most famous song, ‘Partýbær.’ Björk Guð-
mundsdóttir, Óskar's girlfriend at the time,
plays organ in the song. Sódóma Reykjavík is
premiered in October 1992. Legendary sta-
tus ensues. HAM appear in the film as Helía.
A documentary entitled ‘HAM Í REYKJAVÍK’
is released on VHS in a limited edition of 100
copies.
1993: Flosi quits. ‘SAGA ROKKSINS 1988-
1993’ (“A History Of Rock 1988-1993”) is
released by Bad Taste in May. It is a com-
pilation featuring songs from the ‘Pimpmo-
bile’ and Sódóma sessions and the whole of
the ‘HOLD’ EP. In June, HAM start their New
York City tenure and play several shows, in-
cluding some at CBGB's. A live recording of
the CBGB gig is released on CD in 2001 as
‘CBGB‘s 7. ÁGÚST 1993.’ In New York, they
meet Páll Óskar and Sigurjón and Jóhann
wind up helping make Páll's first album,
‘Stuð’ when they return to Iceland that au-
tumn.
1994: HAM decide to call it quits. In June
they play their "last concert ever" at Tunglið.
A live album, ‘HAM LENGI LIFI’ (“Long Live
HAM”) is subsequently released.
1995: Skífan releases ‘DAUÐUR HESTUR’
(“Dead Horse”), a collection of songs from
the Sódóma period.
2001: HAM come back to perform at two
Rammstein concerts in Reykjavík. They
also play on their own at the club Gaukur á
Stöng. Recordings from that gig are released
as ‘SKERT FLOG’ (“Curtailed Seizure”). A
second HAM documentary, ‘HAM—Lifandi
dauðir’ (“HAM—Living Dead”), premieres in
December.
2006 - 2010: HAM return once more in
2006, (with Flosi but sans Jóhann) and now
with a new song, ‘Sviksemi’ (“Deceit”) that
they premier on TV. The band is "back for
good", performing once or twice a year, more
often than not at the Eistnaflug metal festival
in Neskaupsstaður, or at Iceland Airwaves.
New songs are added annually.
2011: A new studio album, with ten new
songs is released!
WHY DO ICELANDERS
LIKE HAM?
Picture this: An Icelandic
television talk show in the
early ‘90s. A young man is
describing his life in Denmark,
where he had been studying. Asked
about how closely he had followed news
from Iceland during his studies he says:
"Well, somehow I thought that HAM was
the most popular band in Iceland, since
they were always being mentioned in
Morgunblaðið. When I came home,
however, I found this not to be true, no
one knew what I was talking about."
Today is widely accepted in Iceland
that HAM is the best band ever to ap-
pear in Iceland, never mind Sigur Rós
or the Sugarcubes. In fact, people are
known to proclaim loudly (when ine-
briated) that HAM actually is the best
band to emerge in the World. Ever. This
is relatively new, as you can infer from
the quotation above. In fact, when HAM
were active, in the late ‘80s (the first gig
was in Lækjartungl in downtown Reyk-
javík, March 10, 1988—the following day
Lækjartungl was closed for good) peo-
ple generally didn't know what to think
of the band. One reviewer for Morgun-
blaðið called HAM the most boring band
of our times—already HAM was gener-
ating superlatives, but for all the wrong
reasons.
The idea that HAM was well known
and generally liked from the start is thus
obviously not true. Yes, there was a vo-
cal core of people that loved the band
from the start, but it took several years
for people in general to understand
what HAM was all about. The crowd
that loved The Sugarcubes, Reptile and
S/H Draumur mostly found HAM to be
too loud, too aggressive and too ugly.
One memorable incident was in October
1988, when Pere Ubu, those paladins of
propriety, came to Iceland and HAM was
supposed to support them in Tunglið
(ex. Lækjartungl). When David Thomas
heard HAM play at the sound check he
refused the support. Even metalheads,
who tend to like angry, ugly and loud
music, didn't like HAM, they were too
sloppy and had terrible dress sense.
Soon after HAM folded in the autumn
of 1993 a new generation of musicians
and music fans started to appreciate
the band and HAM became legendary.
Their support of Rammstein was an eye
opener for most of the rock fans in the
Laugardalshöll-stadium, and later they
were invited to play at Iceland's premier
hard rock festival, Eistnaflug, in 2008.
So what is it people like about HAM?
The short answer is: HAM is the quint-
essential Icelandic band, the distillation
of Icelandic humour, black as sin. HAM
is just like us when we are drunkhappy-
loud and also just like us when we are
drunkangrysad and everything in be-
tween. You don't have to be Icelandic to
enjoy HAM, but it helps. A lot.
Árni Matthíasson, journalist
WHY DO ICELANDERS
LIKE HAM?
People like HAM because of
their lightly absurd mix of
coolness and humour. The
group behind HAM is far
reaching within the creative sector. It
gathers a certain group, a kind of ‘rock
elite’ for Iceland, which many people
wish to partake in. Then, some people
might like HAM because someone told
them to.
Anna Margrét Björnsson,
HARPA PR Representative
While most people make a
clear distinction between
what is supposed to be
funny and what serious, Ice-
landers have never seen much reason
to do so. So when HAM play their mix-
ture of brutal rock ‘n' roll riffs and witty
lyrics that would get lost in any transla-
tion, Icelanders simply get it.
Páll Ragnar Pálsson,
musician, composer
HAM is not a metal band—
HAM is a leather band. This
is the key to their popular-
ity with the Icelandic na-
tion. Because everyone wants to wear
leather. It is embedded deep within our
national spirit, and can be traced back
to the time when leather was used for
bookmaking. As a band, HAM call for
leather. Even though they do not wear
leather these days, it doesn’t change
anything about Icelanders’ desire—they
need their leather.
HAM is also a cheese. Cheese is
best when it’s gotten a little old and
mouldy. Nothing is worse than unripe
cheese—at the same time, nothings
better than Gamle Ole mixed with fresh
whitebread, butter and jam. Every Ice-
lander knows this.
Last but not least, HAM is like ma-
ture sex. Youth’s awkwardness and
inexperience are left behind and re-
placed by trust. Anyone that’s tried
can attest: sex gets better as you grow
older. HAM are at the peak of their ma-
turity and experience, and the Icelandic
nation is the fortunate lover.
Grímur Atlason,
Iceland Airwaves Festival Director
Because HAM is simply the
best rock band ever! They
are good for every occasion;
for drinking, for partying, for
driving fast. Their music is upbeat, but
still depressing, just like our nation.
Guðmundur Óli Pálmason,
drummer, SÓLSTAFIR
Icelanders connect with
HAM because of their
music’s heaviness and pa-
thos. Sigurjón’s father was a
church organist, and I think that greatly
influenced ‘The Duke’, as he is called.
The dramatic sorrow—and the epic na-
ture—of the songwriting resonates with
the extreme opposites presented by
our seasons. We like HAM for the same
reasons that Finnish people like vodka
and saunas.
Icelanders seem to have a knack
for spotting pretentiousness. And even
though HAM certainly possess a cer-
tain constructed drama, the music’s
power and ferocity is sincere and real.
That’s how it is.
Birgir örn Steinarsson,
writer, musician, DJ
I suppose they think HAM
are cool. The comedy
‘Sódóma Reykjavík’ plays a
large part, I suppose. Movies
have a way of building cults. I was at
a lot of HAM shows back in the day,
and people weren’t exactly queuing
up to attend. They’ve done things right
since. They’ve aged very gracefully,
their comeback was very tasteful and
they’ve managed to build on their ‘cult
reputation’ very nicely.
Ólafur Páll Gunnarsson,
Head of Music, Icelandic State Radio
(Rás 2)
Do Icelanders even like
HAM? I remember when
no one in Iceland liked
HAM except for me and my
friends. Now everyone loves
them. I suppose it’s a mix of many
things. Their music sounds like metal
at first listen, but lacks a lot of what
makes metal ‘metal’. It’s a basic rock,
with a drone, no power breaks. I think
it’s mainly HAM’s persistent nature that
has won them their place in Icelanders’
hearts. They’ve been going at it for
twenty-something years by now, and
have managed to appeal to at least two
generations in the process.
There are also other things. The
bandmembers are all characters, and
some of them are beloved comedians
or public persons. But mainly, HAM are
just awesome. And persistent.
Árni Sveinsson,
filmmaker
HAM consists of men that
have sort of been deputised
by nature itself. They are
born leaders, and now, when
they've been doing this for what, thirty
years? Twenty-five years? In any case,
they have reached the stage and age
where they don't need to try anymore.
They are just naturally cool. They've al-
ways possessed it, this incredible, Old
Icelandic SHERIFF POWER. You look at
these men, you don't hesitate, you just
know. They are self-appointed chief-
tains, you don't fuck with that.
Mugison, musician
Mayor Jón Gnarr) and the ‘Fóstbræður’
(“Blood brothers”) comedy sketch
show]. Music was far away in the dis-
tance for many years."
A German rock band, Rammstein,
slowly got very popular in Iceland, not
the least because people thought it
sounded a lot like HAM.
"Record store employees made me
listen to Rammstein as soon as 1997,
and we presented the band to the nation
through the Tvíhöfði radio show. So in
2001, when Rammstein came to play
Iceland, there was a lot of pressure on
HAM to return. We had kept in touch
and Óttarr and I have met regularly for
lunch all those years. So we thought,
why not?"
HAM supported Rammstein in
Laugardalshöll for a two show stint,
playing for about 10.000 people in to-
tal. A sort of HAM legend had devel-
oped in Icelandic rock circles—maybe
because of Sigurjón's daily presence
on the radio and the enduring popular-
ity of [aforementioned director Óskar
Jónasson’s] ‘Sódóma Reykjavík,’ a 1992
comedy wherein HAM play a large part
(it was recently voted the most beloved
Icelandic film). The band's return was
touted as the birth of the son of Satan,
and the HAM legend still lingers on.
HAM ARE qUICK LIKE A
GLACIER
"The comeback was fun, and in the af-
termath I started relating again to this
world. I thought that it would be fun
to meet those entertaining men on a
somewhat regular basis and engage
in something creative together. A plan
of sorts was laid out in 2006, when
we performed again in public. In the
five years since, the songs on the new
album started to come forward. I have
to be in HAM to be able to write HAM
songs. We have to have a goal, like prac-
ticing for a concert, and we have to meet
regularly for me to be in the mood for
writing a HAM song. I couldn't write
a HAM song in the Canary Islands! It's
inbred. From being in HAM, a HAM
song sprouts. We have maybe played
twice a year for the last few years, and
two new songs appear annually. Slowly
we had readied a ten track album..."
And now, after twenty-two long
years, a brand new HAM album is fi-
nally out! It’s called ‘Svik, harmur og
dauði’ and it is available for purchase
on CD, vinyl and in various digital for-
mats.
"It's a dark and dramatic album.
What has always fascinated us is to
make dramatic and wistful music. But
earlier we were just a group of twenty-
two year old happy dudes, and couldn't
really put it forth convincingly. Over the
years I have matured and experienced
lots of drama in my life. I think all this
has found its way into the music. This
kind of album couldn't have been made
in 1989. We just didn't have the maturi-
ty or the experience. This is a dramatic
album, and Óttarr's lyrics mirror all the
drama.
The lyrics are not about our per-
sonal drama or experiences; they are
inspired by the music. It's always like
that. First comes the music, then the
lyrics. I'm very content with this album.
It took five years to make, but only three
days to record. I have no idea if we'll
ever make another album. There are no
new songs. But who knows, maybe in
2016, five years from now. At least we
have a title for a new album: ‘Heims-
pekingurinn, fávitinn og hóran’ (“The
Philosopher, the idiot and the whore”).
There must be a concept!"
KEEP DOING WHAT YOU LOVE
By now, many of Sigurjón's friends are
deep in the business of running the city
of Reykjavík, thanks to The Best Party’s
freak election victory. Does he regret
not taking a more active part in The
Best Party business with his friends?
"No! For a little while I wondered
whether I should be more into it, but
fortunately I didn’t do it. When the elec-
tion struggle was going on, my wife and
me were having a daughter and then of
course, I live in Kópavogur. I always
thought that I was the one in Tvíhöfði
with more political interest, but I was
obviously very wrong!"
"I don't think I will ever go into poli-
tics. It's just way more constructive and
fun to do what I do. To be creative in
many fields. I am a screenwriter and
producer for TV shows [currently ‘Pres-
san’, season three and ‘Ástríður’, season
two, both for Stöð 2], and I am develop-
ing various exciting things. I’m writ-
ing a movie, a horror film called ‘The
Girl And The Devil’. I am always doing
something that’s fun. I owe it to myself
to be creative all day long, as I think I
have the gift for it. You can definitely be
a creative politician, like Jón obviously
is, but the environment is very diffi-
cult, so the job takes up a lot of energy.
You're being bothered all day long. It's
a dilemma you face, and my choice was
to keep on doing what I love."
Sigurjón, Jóhann and Páll Óskar make Páll's de-
but album, Stuð.
HAM today.Flosi and Óttarr having not so sober fun in New
York City, 1989.
HAM play Tunglið to promote ‘SAGA
ROKKSINS 1988-1993’ in 1993.
You can check out HAM on YouTube and gogoyoko and probably on
lots of other places on the internet. And ofcourse the TRACK OF THE
ISSUE at www.grapevine.is