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Magnús Þór Jónsson (born 7 April 1945), better known by the stage name Megas, is an Icelandic vocalist, songwriter, and writer.


Childhood and interest in music (1945-1970)

Being an admirer of
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...
, Megas welcomed the arrival of
rock & roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
to Iceland by 1956, although his interest in music had to be postponed while he attended grammar school in 1960. While he was young, he studied piano and explored the Arts: he painted, wrote short stories for his school, and published the sheet music and lyrics to 14 songs by 1968, many of which would be released on his first records. As a young
bohemian Bohemian or Bohemians may refer to: *Anything of or relating to Bohemia Culture and arts * Bohemianism, an unconventional lifestyle, originally practised by 19th–20th century European and American artists and writers. * Bohemian style, a ...
writer, he was inspired by
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...
and
Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter for the Rock music, rock band the Kinks, which he led, with his younger brother Dave Davies, Dave pro ...
, and embarked into songwriting.


Music career


First release and controversy (1970s)

At the beginning of the seventies, his music works were not accessible to the mainstream crowd, as Megas only performed them to his friends of left-wing circles. However, in 1972, Icelandic students in
Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
,
Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
helped him release his first album, in which satiric lyrics were accompanied by a mild acoustic music played by Norwegian folk musicians. This work caused controversy and his music was banned by the Icelandic national radio, but Megas grew a cult following in the growing alternative scene. However, Megas struggled with releasing new records. Instead, in 1973 he published the words to some of his music in 3 books. When his original lyrics were performed with the electric rock band Judas in 1975, Megas managed to reach a broader audience. He would do so by releasing his two next albums: ''Millilending'' (1975) and ''Fram og aftur blindgötuna'' (1976). He focused on topics that challenged all of Icelandic society's taboos with references made to classical literature and a sarcastic revisionist history. Despite the jarring nature of these records, his use of prose and the Icelandic language influenced the country's rock and roll scene. In 1977, Megas released ''Á bleikum náttkjólum'' with the accompaniment of Spilverk þjóðanna, a popular folk-rock band in Iceland. Critics revered the album, with some calling it the greatest Icelandic album and claiming that it features the first Icelandic punk song. By the end of the seventies, Megas was perceived as a provocateur, and his important role in the Icelandic rock scene turned him into a reference for future artists. After releasing a children's song album and a double live album, he withdrew from the Icelandic music and started working as a dock worker and graduated from arts school.


Returning to music (1983-1990s)

By 1983, Megas reappeared in the Icelandic music scene by collaborating with other bands and playing as a guest musicians on several albums. Around 1985, he joined Kukl, titled "MegaKukl" and toured Iceland, but the songs still remain unreleased. After seven years of absence, his solo career was resumed in 1986 with the release of ''Í góðri trú''. In 1990 Megas released ''
Hættuleg hljómsveit & glæpakvendið Stella ''Hættuleg hljómsveit & glæpakvendið Stella'' is an album released in September 1990 by Icelandic rock singer Megas. This double CD album features the Sugarcubes, a band led by Björk and Einar Örn Benediktsson. Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsso ...
'', and started a new project music with Kukl members called Hættuleg hljómsveit (A Dangerous Band), featuring singer
Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and eccentric public per ...
as backing vocalist.


Legacy and collaborations (2000s-present)

Megas has remained one of the most important Icelandic artists, being considered the father of Icelandic rock and acclaimed for his prolific and, sometimes controversial works. his complete discography up to 1990 was reissued in 2002, remastered and with bonus tracks.
More recently, he joined Súkkat to create a new project called "Megasukk" and released ''Hús Datt'', their debut album in 2005. Some of the artists that have worked with Megas are the following: Björgvin Gíslason,
Björn Bjarnason Björn Bjarnason (born 14 November 1944) is an Icelandic politician. His father was Bjarni Benediktsson (born 1908), Bjarni Benediktsson, Prime Minister of Iceland, Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs and Mayor of Reykjavík. Matric ...
, Bragi Kristjónsson,
Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson (born 11 December 1954) is an Icelandic musician. Music career Early bands Steinblóm (Stone Flowers) (1969) was his first group. It was a trio formed by Guðlaugur (electric and acoustic guitars), Haraldur Joha ...
, Hjálmar Sveinsson, Páll Baldvin Baldvinsson, Páll Valsson, Svavar Gestsson, Þórður Magnússon, and Þórunn Valdimarsdóttir, among many others.


In popular culture

Megas is mentioned in the song "Iceland" by The Fall which appeared on ''
Hex Enduction Hour ''Hex Enduction Hour'' is the fourth studio album by the English post-punk group the Fall. Released on 8March 1982, it was built on low-fidelity production values and caustic lyrical content of their earlier recordings, and features a two-dru ...
'' (1982). In a ''
Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...
'' article about The Fall's stay in Iceland, Megas is referenced:


Discography

Solo: *1972 - ''
Megas Magnús Þór Jónsson (born 7 April 1945), better known by the stage name Megas, is an Icelandic people, Icelandic vocalist, songwriter, and writer. Childhood and interest in music (1945-1970) Being an admirer of Elvis Presley, Megas welcomed ...
'' (MGAB 720601), re-release in 2002 with bonus tracks. *1975 - ''Millilending'' (Demant D1-002), re-release in 2002 with bonus tracks. *1976 - ''Fram og aftur blindgötuna'' (Hrím hf D1-005), re-release in 2002 with bonus tracks. *1977 - ''Á bleikum náttkjólum'' (Iðunn 002), with Spilverk Þjóðanna, re-release in 2002 with bonus tracks. *1978 - ''Nú er ég klæddur og kominn á ról'' (Iðunn 004), re-release in 2002 with bonus tracks. *1979 - ''Drög að sjálfsmorði'' (Iðunn 008–09), live album recorded 1978. *1985 - ''Megas allur'', box set with all previous albums and two bonus LP's with rare and unreleased tracks. *1986 - ''Í góðri trú'' (Hitt leikhúsið HITT 011), re-release in 2002 with bonus tracks. *1987 - ''
Loftmynd ''Loftmynd'' ("Aerial") is the ninth studio album by the Icelandic rock singer Megas. Formed of 17 tracks, the album was released through Gramm as Megas' final release through the label in August 1987, as it would go bankrupt the next year. It is ...
'', re-release in 2002 with bonus tracks. *1988 - ''
Höfuðlausnir ''Höfuðlausnir'' was an album released in May 1988 by Icelandic rock singer Megas. This album was released through Gramm and featured singers Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, i ...
'', re-release in 2002 with bonus tracks. *1990 - ''
Hættuleg hljómsveit & glæpakvendið Stella ''Hættuleg hljómsveit & glæpakvendið Stella'' is an album released in September 1990 by Icelandic rock singer Megas. This double CD album features the Sugarcubes, a band led by Björk and Einar Örn Benediktsson. Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsso ...
'' (Megas), re-release in 2006 with bonus tracks. *1992 - ''
Þrír blóðdropar ''Þrír Blóðdropar'' was an album released in 1992 by Icelandic rock singer, Megas, through Skífan. Formed by 16 songs ''Þrír Blóðdropar'', which in Icelandic means “Three Drops of Blood”, counted with the participation of Bubbi Mor ...
'', re-release in 2006 with bonus tracks. *1993 - ''Paradísarfuglinn'', best-of compilation. *1994 - ''
Drög að Upprisu ''Drög að Upprisu'' is an album released in 1994 by Icelandic singer Megas. Formed by 16 tracks, this work counted with the collaboration of guitarist Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson. Track listing External linksPage about Megas at Tónlist.co ...
'' (Japis), live album by Megas and
Nýdönsk Nýdönsk (alternatively Ný dønsk or Ný dönsk, literally New Danish) is an Icelandic musical group established in 1987 by Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson, Björn Jörundur Friðbjörnsson, Ólafur Hólm Einarsson, Einar Sigurðsson and Valdimar Bra ...
recorded 1993, re-release in 2006 with bonus tracks. *1996 - ''Til hamingju með fallið'' *1997 - ''Fláa veröld'' *2000 - ''Svanasöngur á leiði'' *2001 - '' Far... þinn veg'' *2001 - ''
Haugbrot ''Haugbrot'' is an album released in 2001 by the Icelandic rock singer Megas. The album contained 14 songs and featured Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson (born 11 December 1954) is an Icelandic musician. Music car ...
'' *2002 - ''Englaryk í tímaglasi'', re-release of ''Bláir draumar'' (1988) with bonus tracks. *2002 - ''
Megas 1972–2002 ''Megas 1972–2002'' is a compilation released in 2002 by the Icelandic rock singer Megas to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his music career. This compilation, made up of 43 tracks, contains several of Megas's hits, from the first album titl ...
'', best-of compilation. *2002 - ''(Kristilega kærleiksblómin spretta í kringum) hitt og þetta'', a bonus cd with ''
Megas 1972-2002 Magnús Þór Jónsson (born 7 April 1945), better known by the stage name Megas, is an Icelandic vocalist, songwriter, and writer. Childhood and interest in music (1945-1970) Being an admirer of Elvis Presley, Megas welcomed the arrival of ro ...
'' with rare and unreleased tracks. *2006 - ''Passíusálmar í Skálholti'' (Tindur), live album recorded 2001. *2006 - ''Greinilegur púls'', live album recorded with Hættuleg hljómsveit 1991. *2007 - ''Frágangur'', with Senuþjófarnir. *2007 - ''Hold er mold'', with Senuþjófarnir. *2008 - ''Á morgun'', with Senuþjófarnir. *2009 - ''Segðu ekki frá (með lífsmarki)'', live album with Senuþjófarnir, recorded in 2007. *2011 - ''(Hugboð um) Vandræði'', with Senuþjófarnir. *2011 - ''Aðför að lögum'', with Strengir. *2013 - ''Jeppi á fjalli'', with Bragi Valdimar Skúlason. As Megasukk: *2005 - ''Hús Datt'' Tribute albums: *1997 - ''Megasarlög'' by various artists. *2006 - ''Pældu í því sem pælandi er í'' by various artists. *2006 - ''Magga Stína syngur Megas'' by Magga Stína


Bibliography

*1968 - ''Megas I'' (Megas), reprinted in 1973. *1968 - ''Megas II'' (Megas), reprinted in 1973. *1973 - ''Megas III'' (Megas). *1991 - ''Textar'' (Almenna bókafélagið). *1989 - ''Sól í Norðurmýri: Píslarsaga úr Austurbæ'' together with Þórunn Valdimarsdóttir, reprinted in 1993. *1994 - ' (Mál og menning). *2012 - ''Megas: Textar 1966–2011'' (Reykjavík: JPV).


Related bibliography

*''Rokksaga Íslands'', by Gestur Guðmundsson. Forlagið (1990).


References


External links


Page about Megas at Tónlist.comPage about Megas (in Icelandic) on Guðmundur Heiðar Gunnarsson's blog
{{Authority control 1945 births Living people 20th-century Icelandic male singers 21st-century Icelandic male singers Icelandic writers