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Rip It Up, Issue 68, 1 March 1983, Page 10

New Zealand bands got a better deal at this year’s Sweetwaters. The top ones got good timeslots, everyone got their hour’s worth. Some used the opportunity well, others less so. A few were truly able to drive home the point that New Zealand music can hold its own with the outside world. Herbs were one of the few. It was only fitting that Herbs should join ÜB4O on stage at Sweetwaters they had set the scene so well for the British band an hour and a half earlier. Herbs’ set had been hard to fault, their Polynesian dancers (could any other band have gotten away with bringing dancers onto the stage?) were a great success. Some people would say Herbs were the best New Zealand band there.

Herbs has its roots in a band called Back Yard, formed four years ago by original singer Tony Fonoti, drummer Fred Faleauto and guitarist Spencer Fusimalohi. The name was changed to Pacific Herbs, then, three years ago, the band became Herbs. Dilworth Karaka joined on guitar at the time of the early Trident pub gigs and soon after Will Ilolahia became the band’s manager. The band told Ilolahia they wanted to get serious, wanted to work their way up. Most of all they wanted to establish their own identity, a Pacific identity, in the music they played. Since then there have been a number of lineup changes, most notably Fonoti’s departure

forcing Fusimalohi and Karaka to take over the lead vocals. Herbs’ progress from a cover-playing weddings/21st band to one of international standard has been quite remarkable. The success has up until now been far from national, however. The South Island tour Herbs undertake this month will be their first. The tour will promote the band’s album ‘Light of the Pacific’. The first, ‘What’s Be Happen?’ mini-album has sold more than 3000 copies in its New Zealand and Pacific editions and the two singles ‘French Letter’ and ‘Jah’s Son’ have also sold well.