Sigur Ros multi-instrumentalist Kjartan Sveinsson has grown tired of touring and won’t take part in the group’s world tour for their album Valtari.
According to Pitchfork, singer Jonsi Birgisson told the Reykjavik Grapevine that Sveinsson “wants to spend his time doing something else” and feels that spending time on tour is “not necessarily the most productive” thing to do.
Three different musicians will take over Sveinsson’s duties on the tour – with Ólafur Björn Ólafsson and Benni Hemm Hemm joining the band to replace him on both keyboard and oboe. In addition, band member Georg ‘Goggi’ Hólm has enlisted his younger brother, Kjartan Dagur Holm, to take over Sveinsson’s guitar work.
In the same interview with the Reykjavik Grapevine, Birgisson squashed rumours of the band splitting up due to Sveinsson not wanting to go on tour – revealing the contingency plans listed above. He also denied more rumours from within the Iceland media that they have another, already-complete second album ready for release following Valtari, which is out on May 29.
Sigur Rós will kick off their world tour in the US and Canada in late July and August – but there is no word on a possible visit Down Under just yet.
