Biography
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Years Active
1979 – present (45 years)
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Members
- Carl Perkins (1983 – 1985)
- Charles Tumahai (1985 – 1995)
- Morrie Watene (1982 – 1995)
- Tama Renata (1993 – 2018)
- Willie Hona (1983 – 1988)
Herbs is a multi-cultural New Zealand reggae group led by singer-guitarist Dilworth Karaka, the only constant member, that, since its foundation in 1979, has featured Samoans, Tongans, Cook Islanders and Maori members. The band was the 11th inductee into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. Although their last album of new material was released in 1990, Herbs still perform in New Zealand and Australia.
The band produced a stream of reggae hits with some of the NZ's top talent. Between 1986 and 1987, Slice of Heaven with Dave Dobbyn reached number one on both the New Zealand and Australian charts. In 1989, Tim Finn joined them for Parihaka and in 1992, Annie Crummer fronted the huge hit See What Love Can Do.
In the 1980s, and the first half of the 90s, the Herbs had ten Top 20 singles hits.
Though upbeat, the band's music is clear in its messages. Their 1980 hit French Letter, which spent 11 weeks on the charts, came to express New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance. Fourteen years later, it was re-recorded to garner support for the prevention of nuclear testing at Mururoa. Similarly, No Nukes, Nuclear Waste and Light Of The Pacific expressed much the same sentiment.
Herbs is considered pioneers of the pacific reggae sound, having paved the way for later New Zealand reggae groups such as Fat Freddy's Drop, Katchafire and Trinity Roots.
The band was the 11th inductee into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
Although their last album of new material was released in 1990, Herbs still perform in New Zealand and Australia.
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