Björk’s first-ever music project was Tappi Tíkarrass, an Icelandic punk band formed in 1982. They performed live in London on August 28, 1982, at The Western Melavellinum, showcasing a unique sound that blended punk, funk, rock, and jazz—setting them apart from the more traditional acts of the time.
The band’s provocative name, translating to “Cork the Bitch’s Ass,” came from a remark by bassist Jakob Smári Magnússon’s father, who joked their music “fit like a cork in a bitch’s ass.” Influenced by post-punk icons like Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure, Tappi Tíkarrass marked the beginning of Björk’s journey as an artist, already hinting at her future as a genre-defying icon.
