Formed in 1988 by high school chums Tom Larkin and Jon Toogood, Shihad began playing in their home town of Wellington, New Zealand, rapidly becoming one of the cities most popular acts.
It’s often been said that you can’t please everyone in this world, but over the last 22 years, Shihad have pleased a great many. Over that time, Shihad have chalked up quite a few enviable milestones:
They’ve toured the world, supported their musical heroes AC/DC, had three #1 albums and hold the record for the most Top40 Single Chart appearances for a New Zealand artist.
You can’t talk about Shihad without mentioning their electrifying live shows. Deservedly reputed as one of the most vital, experienced and energetic live acts around, they recently performed their seminal albums Killjoy and The General Electric in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The reviews were rapturous and applause thunderous.
While they once changed their name, they’ve never changed their lineup and have proven by example that they are by far one of the most determined and enduring names of our time.
Ah yes, Shihad have remained undeterred by the pitfalls of living and breathing rock ‘n roll. As it was from the very beginning, the music is both their livelihood and their lifeblood and is positively infused with their unwavering enthusiasm and excitement of the process.
So it’s only apt that their eighth studio album would be called Ignite.
Released September 2010, Ignite is a fitting tribute to all that has gone and is yet to come.
As the band celebrate this satisfying stage of their career, they show no signs of cooling off, experiencing yet another worthy high with the signing of a deal with Roadrunner Records in Australia.
