Three of four members of Maus grew up in Árbær as friends from a young age and shared an interest in music. Birgir Örn Steinarsson or Biggi, Eggert Gíslason, Páll Ragnar Pálsson or Palli, and Daníel Þorsteinsson or Danni, decided to start their own band early 1993 they picked the name Maus after Art Spiegelmans classic graphic story.

When the band had found it's voice the course was set for participation in Iceland's largest battle of the band competition called Músíktilraunir. Close to thirty bands fought it out for the first prize, studio time, equipment and accolades and Maus won easily. This was in early 1994 and that summer the band entered a studio for the first time to record it's first album. The members where all around 18 at the time.

After a short tour to Europe the next summer the band entered the studio again to record their sophomore album. Released in late October, Ghostsongs, saw them mixing punk and Icelandic folklore. Needless to say, it didn’t sell very well altought it got positive critical receptions. The band was offered to support Ash at a gig in Reykjavik shortly after the release. A few months later they where supporting Super Furry Animals on they’re only Icelandic show.

The third album, Lof mér að falla að þínu eyra or Let Me Caress Your Ears, was released on November 3rd ’97. The band accepted the Icelandic Music Award as Best Band of 1998.

Early 1999 the guys started writing new songs again after two short tours to Scandinavia. They started recording late summer and finished after less than two months in the studio, all the preparation paid off. This time anticipating interest from abroad the band recorded all songs in Icelandic and English. The record, Í þessi sekúndubrot sem ég flýt or The Short Seconds I Keep Afloat, was released late October 1999 to rave reviews. It also earn them two more Music Awards for “best lyrics” and “best drummer”.

In 2000 they started work on a new album, but took time off to do a mini tour of the US with the highlight being a showcase gig at the CMJ festival in New York. That year also saw Maus support Kent, Ian Brown and Bloodhound Gang. They got articles in Rolling Stone, Dazed & Confuzed and Les Rockubles to name a few. Preparations for the new album went on through 2001, with the band celebrating their 200th gig in March and a supporting slot for Coldplay in august. That year the band also supported two of they’re favourite american alternative bands, Modest Mouse and Blonde Redhead. Maus recorded the album at Das Studio owned by Topspin Music. The lengthy preparations meant that the band had a lot of material when they started work in the studio and chose 11 songs from a collection of thirty. They’re upcoming album, “Musick”, is possible the biggest leap in music development the band has made so far. Bigir's nordic vocals hover over straight guitar figures and incessant drum tracks. Minimal and drifting verses give way to full on chorus lines and hooks.

Árni Matthíasson,
- journliast for Morgunblaðið and author of the Sugarcubes biography book.

(source: www.maus.is)