Grýlurnar – Iceland’s First All-Women Band (1981)
In 1981, musician Ragnhildur Gísladóttir had a dream — to form an all-women rock band. She placed an open call for female instrumentalists and soon founded Grýlurnar together with Herdís Hallvarðsdóttir on bass, Linda Hreiðarsdóttir on drums, and Inga Rún Pálmadóttir on guitar. Ragnhildur herself played keyboards and sang lead vocals.
Grýlurnar are often celebrated as Iceland’s first all-female band, breaking new ground in a music scene that had long been dominated by men.
Ragnhildur explained the band’s name — Grýlurnar, meaning The Ogresses — by saying, “When you’re a grýla, you’re allowed to do anything.” The name became a statement of defiance and feminist power.
Their lyrics were bold, witty, and unapologetically feminist — laced with irony and playful mockery of macho attitudes. Grýlurnar not only made music; they made a statement, proving that women could take the stage, play loud, and redefine what Icelandic rock could sound like.