Mannakorn

Iceland's Beloved Musical Institution

Mannakorn is one of Iceland's most enduring and beloved musical groups, formed in 1975 in Reykjavík. Over nearly five decades, they became a cornerstone of Icelandic popular music, blending pop, rock, and blues into a sound that resonated deeply with generations of Icelanders.

The band's name derives from manna — the biblical substance provided to the Israelites in the desert — a fitting metaphor for a group that has nourished Iceland's cultural life for half a century.

Origins

Mannakorn's roots trace back to Hljómsveit Pálma Gunnarssonar (The Pálmi Gunnarsson Band), and even earlier to the group Lísa. The band crystallized in 1975 around the creative partnership of songwriter Magnús Eiríksson and vocalist/bassist Pálmi Gunnarsson — a collaboration that would define Icelandic music for decades.

Their self-titled debut album, Mannakorn (1976), was released on the Parlophone label following a television special titled Með pálmann í höndunum. It featured tracks like “Einbúinn,” “Róninn,” and “Ónæði” that immediately connected with the Icelandic public.

The Golden Era

The late 1970s cemented Mannakorn as a national institution. Their second album, Í Gegnum Tíðina (1977), produced enduring classics including “Reyndu Aftur,” “Bragga­blús,” and “Sölvi Helgason.” The album Brottför kl. 8 followed in 1979, further expanding their catalog of songs that became woven into Iceland's collective memory.

Between 1978 and 1980, Magnús Eiríksson also participated in the supergroup Brunaliðið, but Mannakorn remained his primary creative home.

Legacy & Influence

Mannakorn continued recording and performing across the decades — from Mannakorn 5 (1985) and Mannakorn 6 (1990) through to Ekki dauðir enn (2006, “Not Dead Yet”), Von (2009), Í blómabrekkunni (2012), and Í núinu (2014). In 2024, they celebrated their remarkable longevity with Mannakorn – 50 ár, a commemorative release spanning their entire career.

Magnús Eiríksson was not only the band's creative engine but also a champion of musicians' rights in Iceland — serving as the first chairman of the Association of Composers and Lyricists (FTT) and chairman of STEF (the Icelandic Performing Rights Society). He received the Order of the Falcon in 2014 and became the first recipient of the Icelandic Music Appreciation Award in 2024.

Magnús Eiríksson passed away on January 9, 2026, at the age of 80, leaving behind a body of work estimated at hundreds of songs that form an essential part of Iceland's musical heritage. His creative partnership with Pálmi Gunnarsson and their work in Mannakorn remains one of the great stories in Icelandic music.