Episode 28: Jon Toogood – Shihad, The Adults

Jon Toogood. Credit: Supplied

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It’s the standard story that any band goes through. You’re watching a David Lynch adaptation of a Frank Herbert novel when you decide to name your band after a word you heard during the film, only to misspell it, and before you know it, you’re one of the most successful bands to ever come out of New Zealand.

Of course, if you recognised the story I just told you, then you’re either Shihad’s Jon Toogood, or someone else I really want to have on this podcast. But in the case of the latter, Jon helped to form the band now known as Shihad back in high school in Wellington alongside longtime friend and drummer Tom Larkin.

Forming the band officially in 1988, the group released their first album, Churn, in 1993, with ten more albums following to date. For those keeping score at home, only one of them has peaked outside of the New Zealand top ten, and only one album since 1999’s The General Electric hasn’t peaked at #1 on the chart. To put it simply, if you’re a Kiwi or an Aussie, Shihad are a bit of a big deal.

They’ve not always been known as Shihad though. There was that brief period of time when they adopted the name Pacifier, releasing a self-titled album which has since recently been reclaimed by Shihad as The Pacifier Album.

Outside of Shihad though, Jon’s also been the head of another project dubbed The Adults, which has explored a few different styles and genres across the two albums they’ve released.

Now though, Jon is doing things in a solo capacity with his debut solo album, Last Of The Lonely Gods. It's a special record, an introspective collection of songs borne out of a tumultuous period for Jon which included familial loss and a global pandemic which made the process all the harder.

In typical fashion, it’s a wonderful listen that you need to hear, and one which Jon is excited to tell you about in today’s episode.

That’s how I segue into urging you to check out Jon Toogood’s Last Of The Lonely Gods, and once you’re done, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.

Jon Toogood’s Trusty Chords

Jon’s One Influential Artist

1. The Beatles

Jon’s Three Impactful Albums

1. Metallica – Master Of Puppets (1986)

2. David Bowie – Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980)

3. The Cure – Disintegration (1989)

Jon’s Five Trusty Songs

1. The Beatles – 'A Day In The Life' (1967)

2. David Bowie – 'Ashes To Ashes' (1980)

3. Kendrick Lamar – 'euphoria' (2024)

4. Bob Dylan – 'It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)' (1965)

5. Aldous Harding – 'The Barrel' (2019)