Gulli Briem (official name: Gunnlaugur Briem) is banging on kitchen equipment at the age of 5. Playing real drums at 12. He studied classical percussion and music theory. Gulli Briem is professional musician since the age of sixteen. Studied classical percussion, jazz ensemble playing and theory for 3 years in Reykjavik and later in The Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. Has done session work with various artists, recordings, television performances and tours in Europe and Japan.



Founder member of the group Mezzoforte. First big success with this group was in 1983 with the U. K. the top ten hit, "Garden Party".



Performed with a lot of Icelandic, English and American artists on stage and in the studio, names such as:

Madonna in The Movie Evita and Top of the Pops, Michael Ball, Gareth Gates, Gus Gus and Björk.



Also kept busy writing & performing pieces for various shows, dance performances & theatre.



Currently living and working in London.

Festivals Gulli Briem played: The Montreux jazz festival, The St. Gallen festival, The North Sea Jazz festival, The Jakarta jazz festival and many more.



Artists (live and studio) Gulli Briem worked with: Herbie Hancock, Philip Catharine, The Miami Sound Machine, Gus Gus and Björk, David O´Higgins, Madonna, Gareth Gates, Mornington Lockett, Joe Hubbard, Tony Smith, Ike Leo, Mezzoforte, Michael Ball, Jonn Savannah, Hilaire Penda, Fi-Be, The Dreem Team, British National Symphony Orchestra, Fridrik Karlsson.



Musicals: Evita The movie (3 tracks), Jesus Christ Superstar, Blood Brothers, Whistle down the Wind, Carmen Negra.



TV shows: Top of the Pops - Madonna “All By Myself” and Mezzoforte - “ Garden Party”



In 1995 Gulli Briem released a drum video (in Iceland only). He has given clinics in Iceland, Norway and on The Farao Islands.



Other work: Gulli Briem has written a piece for 5 drumsets and 2 classical percussionists performed outdoor on the Reykjavik cultural night august 1999. Has also written the music for 2 modern dance pieces for Helena Jonssdottir one of the most respected dancers in Iceland. Iceland tours with the Reykjavik Jazz quartet performing for school kids for educational purposes. Recording and performing with the The Reykjavik Jungle Orchestra.