01 September 2010 - 0 Comments

Long renowned as one of the country’s greatest rock bands, Shihad’s 22-year career is being recognised with induction into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award at the 2010 Vodafone NZ Music Awards.

It’s far from the first time the band has been honoured – it was named Most Promising group at the 1991 Music Awards and has scooped up a stack of Tuis in its 22-year career. Awards include Group of the Year in 1993, International Achievement in 1995 and 2000 and Top Male vocalist in 1995 and 1999.

Shihad has had three #1 albums and holds the record for the most Top40 Single Chart appearances for a New Zealand artist.

Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards spokesperson Campbell Smith says Shihad is a giant among Kiwi bands.

“When you talk about modern legends of New Zealand Music, Shihad will always be one of the first names – likely the very first name - that will be mentioned.  This band has been and continues to be a towering presence and influence on the local scene and a proud flag bearer for New Zealand and our music off-shore. Oustanding songs and records, but it is the incendiary live performances that stand out for me. Shihad is the pinnacle, no New Zealand artist has ever been better in a live performance environment.

“The guys have just released their eighth studio album and they are still going strong. This is a thoroughly deserved honour for four of the nicest blokes you could ever meet”.

Shihad was formed by vocalist and guitarist Jon Toogood and drummer Tom Larkin in 1988 with Phil Knight on guitars and Karl Kippenberger on bass guitar rounding out a line-up that hasn’t changed in more than two decades.

This year, the band toured New Zealand performing the albums Killjoy and The General Electric in full.

Latest album IGNITE is Shihad’s eighth, following – Churn, Killjoy (gold), Shihad (gold), The General Electric (double platinum), Pacifier (double platinum), Pacifier Live (gold), Love Is The New Hate (Platinum) and 2008’s Beautiful Machine (gold).

Previous recipients of the New Zealand Herald Legacy Award are Ray Columbus and The Invaders (2009), Straitjacket Fits (2008) and Johnny Devlin (2007).

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