Jihad 'forces Shihad re-think'

Shihad: Four months in the US recording album

The war on terrorism in Afghanistan has forced the number one rock band in New Zealand to change its name, according to reports.

Four-piece band Shihad have spent 13 years at the top in their native country but confusion in the United States with the term jihad, or holy war, has prompted the re-think, reports the website newzealandmusic.com.

Jon Toogood, Tom Larkin, Phil Knight and Karl Kippenberger have been trying to break into the notoriously difficult American market.

Drummer Larkin told the website that the band had no choice but to change their name if they wanted any success in the US.

'Real interpretation'

Larkin said the band had spent four months in the US recording their new album and that the television news had been dominated by the "jihad against America".

"It doesn't matter what the real interpretation of the word is - as far as 99.9% of Americans are concerned, jihad means 'fundamentalist terrorist war against all Americans'," Larkin told newzealandmusic.com.

"We wouldn't get played on radio, we wouldn't get tours and what would be the point - all the hard work to go nowhere," he added.

Described as "brooding, violent, menacing and memorable" by British rock magazine Kerrang!, Shihad began playing in their home town of Wellington quickly establishing themselves as one of the city's most popular acts.

While successful in Australasia they have yet to make any real impact on the US and Europe.

The band have yet to decide on a new name.

Larkin said at the moment the title on their new album was "The Band Formerly Known As Shihad".