Gunnlaugur „Gulli“ Briem, born on September 9, 1962, in Iceland, is a musician, drummer, and founding member of the Icelandic funk group Mezzoforte. He began playing drums at age five using kitchen utensils and received his first drum set at twelve. By sixteen, he was working as a professional musician. Briem studied in Reykjavík and at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. Briem's career took off with Mezzoforte, where he played from 1977 until April 2023, when he left to pursue a full-time solo career. During his tenure with Mezzoforte, he released notable albums, such as Earth / Jörð (2001) and Liberté (2014). Throughout his career, Briem collaborated with numerous artists, including Philip Catherine, Madonna in the film Evita, Björk during her early years, and The Miami Sound Machine. He also contributed to musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, Blood Brothers, and Whistle Down the Wind.
