Herbs: Pioneers of Pacific Reggae

Herbs are a foundational New Zealand reggae band whose music became the soundtrack for Pacific Island identity and social protest in the 1980s. Formed in Auckland in 1979, the group achieved significant commercial success with multiple platinum-selling albums and their anthemic hit French Letter.

Early career

Herbs emerged from the vibrant Polynesian community in Auckland, initially as a nine-piece collective. Their 1979 debut EP, What's Be Happen?, released on their own Warrior Records label, immediately established their signature sound: a fusion of roots reggae with Pacific rhythms and lyrics addressing indigenous rights and nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Breakthrough

The band's major breakthrough arrived in 1982 with the politically charged single French Letter, a protest against French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll. The song's success propelled their debut album, Light of the Pacific, to platinum status in New Zealand, cementing their role as cultural commentators.

Key tracks

French Letter — This definitive protest anthem brought national attention to the nuclear-free Pacific movement and became a number one hit in New Zealand.

Slice of Heaven — Herbs' collaboration with Dave Dobbyn for the 1986 film Footrot Flats became a chart-topping, multi-platinum national anthem of sorts.

Long Ago — A classic from their debut album showcasing their smooth harmonies and laid-back Pacific groove.

Sensitive to a Smile — This later hit from the 1987 album Sweet Lovers demonstrated their evolving, more polished sound and earned them another platinum award.

Listen — An earlier track that exemplifies their commitment to message-driven music and roots reggae instrumentation.

Throughout the 1980s, Herbs solidified their legacy with a string of successful albums including Long Ago (1983) and the double-platinum Sweet Lovers (1987). Their collaborations extended to major international artists, most notably supporting superstars like Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley & The Wailers on their New Zealand tours, which amplified their profile significantly.

Similar artists from the New Zealand reggae and roots scene include Katchafire, a band heavily influenced by Herbs' legacy of modern roots reggae. Fat Freddy's Drop carries forward the tradition of Kiwi dub and soul with a large, collective approach. The Black Seeds blend funk and dub into their sound, much like Herbs' fusion style. TrinityRoots also share a deep commitment to atmospheric, socially-conscious roots music.

Herbs' music remains a staple on New Zealand's classic hits FM stations, alternative radio streams, and dedicated reggae radio stations. Their timeless tracks are regularly featured in rotations that celebrate the nation's musical heritage.

You can hear the pioneering Pacific reggae of Herbs on radio stations featured here on onairium.com, where their influential anthems continue to resonate with listeners discovering the roots of Aotearoa's sound.