New Zealand’s SHIHAD Plot Final Australian Tour
The band are celebrating 36 years of memories and milestones with their Loud Forever - The Final Tour.
 
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Wellington’s favourite sons SHIHAD are embarking on one final lap of Australia next year to celebrate their 36-year career.
Loud Forever – The Final Tour 1988 - 2025 is SHIHAD’s thank you to fans who have supported them through the good times and the bad times.
Inducted into the Aotearoa’s Music Hall of Fame in 2010, SHIHAD’s Jon Toogood, Karl Kippenberger, Phil Knight and Tom Larkin are excited to return to Australia for one last run of shows before calling it quits.
In a statement about the band’s journey, Kippenberger says: “We’ve had as much fun as we've had moments of disappointment and of anger. But we've also had some real special moments.”
Larkin adds: “The fundamental chemistry and makeup of what makes SHIHAD special and what makes SHIHAD work requires certain things to be in place. When you can't sustain those things or plan for those things, it takes away from SHIHAD being something that makes sense. It’s about a shared commitment and a shared energy.”
Phil muses: “You know, personal relationships and professional work don't always survive forever. But we've lived it all. We really have. We've lived the life that so many musicians would give their right arm for.
“We need to pay homage to the legacy of this band, because it's meant so much to us and also to the people that have supported us,” Jon says, before adding, “We’re gonna fucking hit it!”
SHIHAD’s The Final Tour Loud Forever 1988 - 2025 begins in Adelaide at The Gov on Thursday, February, 13 and continues at Sydney’s The Metro Theatre on Friday, February 14, Perth’s Astor Theatre on Friday, February 21 and Brisbane’s The Tivoli on Friday, February 28, before the trio’s final ever Australian gig at Melbourne’s Forum on Friday, March 7.
Seven-piece collective Battlesnake are rising from the underworld to join SHIHAD on all five dates, while punk royalty Bodyjar will make a special guest appearance at the final gig in Melbourne.
Tickets for all shows go on sale today, Wednesday, November 13 at 8:30am local time via shihad.com.
READ MORE: Thrash Metal Legends Testament Announce 2025 Australian Tour
SHIHAD’s 36-year career has seen the Kiwi act release ten studio albums – six of which topped the New Zealand Album Chart – win countless Aotearoa Music Awards, garner over 100,000 monthly Spotify streams and perform alongside some of the world’s biggest acts including Faith No More, Tool, Motorhead and AC/DC.
Despite several controversies (including a name change to Pacifier from 2002-204) and several periods of inactivity, SHIHAD remains one of New Zealand’s greatest musical imports.
Fans heading along to SHIHAD’s final shows can expect all killer no filler from a stacked setlist that will see the band perform fan favourites like ‘Home Again’, ‘Ride’, ‘Gimme Gimme’, ‘The General Electric’ and ‘I Only Said’.
Catch SHIHAD at The Gov on Thursday, February 13. Tickets on sale via shihad.com.
SHIHAD The Final Tour Loud Forever 1988 - 2025 Australian Tour Dates
with special guests Battlesnake* and Bodyjar+
Thursday, February, 13 – The Gov, Adelaide*
Friday, February 14 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney*
Friday, February 21 – Astor Theatre, Perth*
Friday, February 28 – The Tivoli, Brisbane*
Friday, March 7 – Forum, Melbourne*+
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