Georg Hólm
The grounded bassist whose melodic, bowed lines provide the immense, glacial foundation for Sigur Rós's otherworldly soundscapes.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Icelandic bass guitarist·Birthday: April 6·Generation X
Biography
As one-third of the core lineup of Sigur Rós, Georg Hólm, known affectionately as Goggi, is the steady pulse beneath the band's soaring, cinematic music. While Jónsi's falsetto and bowed guitar often seize the spotlight, Hólm's bass work is the tectonic plate upon which their songs are built. He frequently employs a cello bow on his bass guitar, creating the deep, droning textures and harmonic richness that are signatures of the band's post-rock sound. His role expanded beyond music; as the most fluent English speaker in the group's early international years, Hólm became the de facto spokesman, handling much of the press and translating the band's elusive Icelandic beauty for a global audience. His calm, pragmatic presence has been a constant through the band's decades of ethereal evolution.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Georg was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Georg Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Georg's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the influential post-rock band Sigur Rós, contributing to all their major studio albums since 1994.
- Played a pivotal role in the creation of the band's landmark album "Ágætis byrjun," which brought them international fame.
- Performed at iconic global venues and festivals, including Coachella and the Hollywood Bowl, introducing their sound to vast audiences.
Did You Know?
He is known for playing a bass guitar that is often strung with cello strings to achieve his distinctive sound.
Hólm was a skateboarder in his youth and was in a punk band before co-founding Sigur Rós.
He is an avid photographer and has documented the band's tours extensively.
“The bass must feel like the land: immense, patient, and deep.”
