Short answers, pulled from the story.
Sigur Rós was founded in January 1994 by three musicians named Jón Þór Birgisson, Georg Hólm, and Ágúst Ávar Gunnarsson. The trio named the band after a flower that bloomed days before their formation to honor Jónsi's younger sister born shortly before.
The name Sigur Rós means Victory Rose and was chosen to honor Jónsi's younger sister who had been born only a few days prior to the band's formation. This personal connection became the foundation of a musical journey spanning three decades.
Sigur Rós released the album Ágætis byrjun in 1999 which became their breakthrough and established their international reputation. Critics worldwide praised the record and high-profile acts including Radiohead, Coldplay, and David Bowie offered their own endorsements.
All lyrics on the album titled with a blank circle were sung in Vonlenska also known as Hopelandic which is a language without semantic meaning. The band described it as a form of gibberish vocals that fits to the music emphasizing the phonological and emotive qualities of human vocalizations.
Kjartan Sveinsson left the band on the 24th of January 2013 feeling it was time to do something different. He rejoined the band on the 14th of February 2022 after a four-year hiatus.
Sigur Rós were charged with tax evasion in March 2019 for submitting incorrect tax returns from 2011 to 2014. The charges against Jónsi and his company Frakkur proceeded until all charges were dismissed on the 24th of March 2023.