New Zealand's premier 90s Rock band. SHIHAD has broken the mould by transferring domestic success onto the world stage. SHIHAD was borne whilst vocalist Jon Toogood and drummer Tom Larkin were still at school in 1988. Later the same year Phil Knight entered the ranks. SHIHAD took off quickly their ascendancy managed by Gerald Dwyer - ex-frontman for Punk act FLESH D-VICE. The band would soon be thrust into the big league supporting both MOTÖRHEAD and FAITH NO MORE on their 1990 New Zealand treks.

That same year SHIHAD issued their inaugural recorded work, the 'Devolve' EP. Even though the EP displayed undoubted U.S. Thrash Metal leanings the act's status at this early juncture being recognised by a top 20 placing on the New Zealand National charts.

In August long standing bass player Hamish Laing made way for his replacement Karl Kippenberger. The new look SHIHAD's baptism of fire with Kippenburger put the novice in front of 20,000 AC/DC fans and the following night to 40'000. 1993 opened with SHIHAD experimenting in the recording studio with KILLING JOKE mentor Jaz Coleman for the production of the 'Churn' album. The album, released in July 1993 and heavily imbued with the trademark Coleman sound, shot SHIHAD to star status in their homeland. Debut single 'I Only Said' gained a top five placing and the band embarked on a twelve month Australasian tour. Larkin's services were requested for KILLING JOKE's 'Pandemonium' album. The cult British band would ask for Larkin's commitment to European touring but the sticksman opted to stay the course with SHIHAD.

In June of 1994 the sophomore stripped down 'Killjoy' outing was recorded. Any illusions that success had tempered the band were soon forgotten when SHIHAD delivered an out and out balls to the wall Rock album. SHIHAD signed up with German Metal label Noise Records for a European release and duly hit the continent for a two month bout of touring prompting much favourable press.

SHIHAD would put in what was to be the first of many performances at the Auckland 'Big Day Out' festival in 1995 playing alongside HOLE, MINISTRY and PRIMAL SCREAM. Further European touring had the band on the road in Europe guesting for FAITH NO MORE. Headline dates would then ensue as well as festival appearances at the Danish 'Roskilde' event, the 'Phoenix' festival in Britain and the legendary Dutch 'Dynamo' show. A round of UK headliners in July would see fellow New Zealanders HEAD LIKE A HOLE as opening act. With interest riding high in Europe Noise signed SHIHAD for North America and in September the group performed at the Los Angeles 'Foundations Forum' industry convention sharing the stage with MOTÖRHEAD and MONSTER MAGNET. A three month club tour of the States commenced solidifying an already burgeoning fanbase.

A fresh album had been written and planned in America and January of 1996 saw SHIHAD returning to New Zealand. However, a huge blow was dealt to the band when manager Gerald Dwyer was found dead in his hotel room mere hours after watching the bands set at the Auckland 'Big Day Out'. SHIHAD were scheduled to play the Brisbane 'Big Day Out' gig but cancelled this to attend Dwyer's funeral. The band would rejoin the 'Big Day Out' package tour in Sydney billed alongside PORNO FOR PYROS, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and JESUS LIZARD.

SHIHAD, in a moment of personal triumph as a first for a domestic Rock band, played live at the New Zealand Music and Entertainment Awards. SHIHAD's glory was extended through to the awards themselves where they won the categories for 'Best Group', 'Best Album', 'Top International Recording Artist' as well as Toogood grabbing the award for 'Best Male Vocalist'.

The group continued to work live throughout both Australia and New Zealand, once more guesting for their heroes AC/DC, as well as noted noise merchants THE YOUNG GODS.

In the midst of working on a new album the band pulled out all the stops with another Auckland 'Big Day Out' gig ranked alongside THE PRODIGY and SOUNDGARDEN to open 1997. More gigs would see the band as roadmates to ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT. Livework would extend into Europe yet again with supports to ASH and SILVERCHAIR. By April they would be back in Australia opening for TOOL upfront of headline New Zealand shows.

The schedule was far from over though as Europe beckoned once more. Recently voted with an 'Album of the month' honour by 'Metal Hammer' magazine SHIHAD doubled up with Stoners FU MANCHU for Scandinavian gigs in July before their return to the British 'Phoenix' festival. The hard work paid dividends when the album was granted gold sales status in New Zealand during September.

Continuing the road graft SHIHAD put in a showing at the Australian 'Livid' festival and then hooked up with FAITH NO MORE. Back in their home country the band made space to put in a benefit gig for 'World AIDS Day' at Christchurch in late November. A hectic year was wrapped up with the bands appearance at the 'Rock Above The Falls' festival headlined by IGGY POP.

1998 would begin on the live front too with Australian gigs with openers AMMONIA leading onto guest capacity gigs with MIDNIGHT OIL. A string of New Zealand headliners led nicely up to the New Zealand Music Industry Awards were once again SHIHAD pulled in honours for 'Top Male Vocalist', 'Best Band' and 'Best Video'. Australia would welcome the band back to their shores in October for a renewed run of gigs, this time with GRINSPOON. The band issued the 'Blue Light Disco' EP and closed the year headlining the 'Bay '98' festival in front of 10'000 fans.

1999, as was now becoming a band tradition, began with a show at the Auckland 'Big Day Out'. The only difference now being that SHIHAD had been elevated to headline status. Band members would rub shoulders with two of New Zealand's biggest stars when Neil & Tim Finn invited SHIHAD onstage to perform with a SPLIT ENZ reunion bash at the 'Sweetwaters' festival. The band would also receive recognition from fast rising UK act EARTHTONE 9 who covered 'You Again' for their 'Hi-Point' EP.

Due to the possible emotive take on the word 'Shihad' (similar to 'Jihad'- Holy War) following the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks the band announced an intention to switch names. Their last scheduled appearance as SHIHAD was to be the 2002 'Big Day Out' festival. However, their preferred choice of REMOTE was already taken and the issue of a name change was thus placed on hold. Finally a new title of PACIFIER, besides having anti-war connotations also being the American term for an infant's dummy, was announced in March. Displaying a daring spirit of enterprise an Australian band, FRENZAL RHOMB, subsequently changed their name to- SHIHAD.

In September of 2004, as they set out to record a new album entitled 'Love Is The New Hate' in Vancouver, British Columbia with producer Garth Richardson, the band reverted back to the SHIHAD title, explaining their decision to become PACIFIER by simply stating "we were wrong". The group's comeback album would be preceded by a November EP 'Alive', promoted by New Zealand dates in late December seeing DEJA VOODOO and Christchurch act DEGREES K as support. Australian gigs in August and September of 2005 saw the band partnered with COG on the 'Homeland Security' tour.

SHIHAD's long awaited seventh album 'Beautiful Machine' was finally released in early 2008, hitting no. 1 on the New Zealand charts. Unlike the previous release 'Beautiful Machine' leaned more towards the PACIFIER material. The band undertook a national tour of New Zealand with THE MINT CHICKS and LUGER BOA in June.

October 2009 saw the band teamed up with LUGER BOA, AIRBOURNE and THE LIVING END for 'The Rock' radio station's 'Legal Tender' tour of New Zealand. The group supported AC/DC on all three of the band's 2010 New Zealand tour dates on 28th and 30th January at Westpac Trust Stadium in Wellington; and at Western Springs in Auckland on 4th February.