Thor's Hammer (band)

Thor's Hammer, or Hljómar, was an Icelandic rock band primarily active in the 1960s. Outside of Iceland, they are known among music collectors for their rare releases on Parlophone, sung in English and recorded in London for export. The most famous of these is the 1966 EP "Umbarumbamba", regarded as one of the rarest released records in the world and known to fetch prices into the thousands of dollars when a copy surfaces. Their style can be described as garage rock, fuzz rock, and freakbeat, with noticeable influnces from both The Who and The Beatles.

History

Formed in Keflavik in 1963 under the name Hljómar (literally "The Chords"), they soon became popular in Iceland at a time when local rock music was a rarity. By the mid-1960s they were recording in London on Parlophone Records for the international market, incluing the legendary EP "Umbarumbamba", now a valuable collector's item. This record was recorded as a tie-in with a movie starring the band also entitled "Umbarumbamba", but the film was not a success."". Liner notes, p.85. Rhino Records: 2001.] From these sessions also came the singles "Once" and "If You Knew". The band even attempted a single entitled "Stay" in the United States on Columbia Records, which was produced by John Simon, known for his work with The Band and Big Brother and the Holding Company's album "Cheap Thrills" with Janis Joplin.

In 1969 a number of Thor's Hammer members went on to form the prog-flavored band Trúbrot, which recorded two albums until itself splitting in 1973.

Continual interest in the band among collectors of 1960s rock music lead to the 2001 Ace Records compilation album "From Keflavik With Love", which collects all of the band's English-language output, including the tracks from "Umbarumbamba", "Once", "If You Knew", and "Stay", as well as a number of their Icelandic tracks.

Thor's Hammer should not be confused with the American metal band Thorr's Hammer, or the Polish NSBM band also named "Thor's Hammer". None of the three are related.

Band members

*Rúnar Júlíusson (vocals, bass)
*Gunnar Þórðarson (guitar, vocals)
*Erlingur Björnsson (guitar, vocals, 1966-1969
*Engilbert Jensen (vocals, drums)
*Shady Owens (vocals, 1968-1969)
*Gunnar Jökull Hákonarson (drums, 1968)
*Björgvin Halldórsson (vocals, 1973-1974)
*Birgir Hranfsson (guitar, 1973-1974)
*Pétur Östlund (drums, 1966)

References

*Hjálmarsson, Gunnar Lárus - "Eru ekki allir í stuði? Rokk á Íslandi á síðustu öld" (Forlagið, 2001)

External links

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ml3m96oogep7~T1 All Music Guide entry]
* [http://www.tonlist.is/ViewArtist.aspx?AuthorID=2660 Hljomar biography and discography (in Icelandic)]
* [http://www.tonlist.is/ViewArtist.aspx?AuthorID=2704 Thor's Hammer biography and discography (in Icelandic)]