Rock and roll is a style of popular African American music which has spread across the world, including to the North Atlantic island nation of Iceland. Rock came to the island beginning in the mid-1950s, though the style achieved little mainstream success. At the American military base in Keflavik, however, soldiers demanded rock music, and some local youths became fans of the style. Rock's popularity increased steadily over the next few years. This wave peaked with the tour by Tony Crombie & His Rockets in May of 1957. Many Icelandic authority figures did not approve of rock's rebellious attitude and energy, and attempts were made to stop the growing genre. In an attempt at a compromise, Icelandic pop stars began singing American rock songs with Icelandic lyrics. A few bands with their own style did emerge, however, including City , Disco and Lúdó .

The British Invasion and Beatlemania arrived in Iceland in 1964, and the indigenous group Hljómar arose as an Icelandic coutnerpart to The Beatles. Beginning in about 1969, the English language era of Icelandic rock began, with bands like Trúbrot and Náttúra becoming popular.

The mid to late 1970s saw the rise of Gunnar Þórðarson and Magnús Eiríksson , who revitalized the field of Icelandic rock and created a more distinctive national style. This was followed by the 1980s and two separate waves of punk rock, based out of Reykjavik; these occurred in about 1981 and 1986.