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Shihad

Shihad

Events

Forged in the fires of 1988’s thrash metal scene, Wellington’s SHIHAD quickly evolved into one of Aotearoa’s most beloved bands.

Their story begins with Devolve (1990), a high-octane four-track EP of Metallica-inspired thrash. A year later bassist Karl Kippenberger joined Tom Larkin (Drums), Phil Knight (Lead guitar) and Jon Toogood (Vocals and guitars) to solidify the line-up that would change the face of New Zealand music and earn the enviable reputation as Aotearoa’s most formidable live band.

The group broke through with its second album Killjoy (1995), which blended the colossally heavy riffs of debut album Churn (1991), with a newfound pop sensibility. This potent mix would become the signature SHIHAD sound.

Killjoy spawned two Top 20 singles, ‘You Again’ and ‘Bitter’, and won four Aotearoa Music Awards (AMA’s), to begin a winning streak that would see SHIHAD collect 18 AMA’s throughout their career and be inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

Nine of SHIHAD’s 10 studio albums powered into the New Zealand Music Charts Top 10, with six (The General Electric (1999), Beautiful Machine (2008), Ignite (2010), FVEY (2014) and Old Gods (2021)) hitting the top spot, a feat unrivalled by any other local act.

Powering those albums are iconic songs, like ‘Run’, ‘The General Electric’, ‘La La Land’, ‘Pacifier’, ‘My Mind’s Sedate’, and instant classic ‘Home Again’, a signature anthem not just for SHIHAD, but for all Kiwis abroad.

Along with these soaring highs, SHIHAD experienced heavy lows. But no setback could withstand the crushing power, purpose and propulsive momentum of the band.

Live, SHIHAD were truly an oversized presence. 2005’s free gig at Auckland’s Aotea Square is legendary, they owned the prized sunset spot at music festival Big Day Out for years, headlined major festivals like Rhythm and Alps and toured with metal icons like Faith No More, Black Sabbath, Motorhead and AC/DC.

But with gaps between albums increasing, growing commitments outside the band and the member's inability to give SHIHAD the time, focus and dedication it needed and deserved, the group made the hard call to conclude the band. While opinions within differ, the group are united in agreeing that half-assing SHIHAD was never an option.

But SHIHAD’s story is not over just yet. The upcoming LOUD FOREVER tour offers both the band and its nation of fans the opportunity of a fittingly loud and raucous farewell.

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More Information

Please visit our Getting Here & Home page to find out more.

To stay updated on motorway closures, please visit NZTA Journey Planner. For updates on roadworks in the area, please visit nzta.govt.nz/asm/summer-works. 

Please visit our Accessibility page to find out more.

  • Bags larger than 30cm x 30cm will not be allowed in so if you want to avoid extra queues, leave your large handbags and backpacks at home. Any bags larger than this size will be cloaked prior to entry to the venue.
  • We ask people attending the show to arrive early and please be patient as we go through our security procedures prior to entry to the building.
  • We are a smoke free and vape free venue by law. For everyone to enjoy our events, any attendees smoking or vaping inside will be escorted out of the venue without the possibility of re-entering. There will be designated smoking/vaping areas outside the building where pass outs will be permitted (e.g. you will be allowed to leave the venue and re-enter).

  • Bottles of any kind are not allowed into the Arena for this show. We have a range of drinks for sale and free water stations available on both levels of the Arena to keep you hydrated.

You can view our Venue Layout by clicking here.

No professional cameras or extendable lenses are allowed but you can bring a pocket-sized instamatic camera. 

Please leave iPads and other large tablets/devices at home - the light from these screens is an annoying distraction to those around you. 

We also ask that you please leave tripods and selfie sticks at home.

Basically, if your camera is a point and shoot that fits into your jeans pocket, you will be fine.

Thanks for your understanding!

The city bylaws are that no alcohol is to be consumed on the streets within Auckland CBD this is pretty strictly enforced by Auckland Police. The law of the land states that if you arrive at the arena intoxicated we can't let you in. If you show signs of intoxication at Spark Arena, then you will be asked to leave. In the exact words of the law "The licensee or a manager of any licensed premises who allows an intoxicated person to be or remain on the licensed premises commits an offence". This is not something we want to happen, so help us out and ease off the drink.

Tickets for this event will be mobile tickets, accessed through the Ticketmaster App or by opening Ticketmaster.co.nz using your mobile browser. If you find yourself unable to access your ticket on your mobile phone at the venue, please visit the Ticketmaster Box Office next to Entry B. You will need to provide some form of ID so that the Box Office staff can access your Ticketmaster account details.

Spark Arena are now using the latest self-service scanning technology at all entrances so please have your tickets ready and follow the directions of the helpful staff.

Taking or using a screenshot of your ticket(s) is not permitted for this event & will not be valid for entry.

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