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Through 30 years, eight albums and 27 members, Pacific reggae band Herbs
have remained vital, described in one edition of the Who’s Who of Australian Rock as
“New Zealand’s most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice”.

Pacific Islanders Toni Fonoti (vocals), Spencer Fusimalohi (guitar) and Fred Faleauto (drums)
formed Back Yard in the mid-1970s to play gigs around their Ponsonby, Auckland, home.
They briefly considered changing their name to Pacific Herbs before rechristening the band Herbs in 1980.

The earliest Herbs line-up saw the trio joined by bass player John Berkeley, who replaced Dave Pou
just as the name change occurred, and an initially part-time member in Maori guitarist Dilworth Karaka,
the most experienced musician among them.

By the end of 1980, bassist Phil Toms (a pakeha) had replaced Berkeley, the band had found
a manager in Polynesian Panthers co-founder Will ’Ilolahia and caught the eyes of Mascot Recording
Studio boss Hugh Lynn and WEA Records.

A former Latin American dance champion, compere and nightclub owner, Lynn was becoming
New Zealand’s top rock promoter and he recognised Herbs’ potential when they appeared at Mascot
to record what would become their first release.

On the eve of an unpopular rugby tour of New Zealand by apartheid South Africa,
Herbs’ six-song EP Whats’ Be Happen? was released in July 1981. The cover featured a photo
of the controversial eviction of Maori land rights protesters from the disputed Bastion Point
in Auckland.

Herbs 1981 (left to right): Dilworth Karaka, Spencer Fusimalohi, Fred Faleauto,
Phil Toms, Toni Fonoti.

The politically charged record led off with law student Ross France’s
“Azania (Soon Come)” -- Azania being the name given to South Africa by black nationalists
during the struggle to achieve majority rule -- with its verses referencing political activists
Steve Biko and Nelson Mandela.

That was followed by the social commentary of mainly Fonoti’s lyrics in “Dragons & Demons”,
“Whats’ Be Happen?”, “One Brotherhood” (written solely by Toms), “Whistling In The Dark”
and the tribute to Bob Marley “Reggae’s Doing Fine”.

Herbs’ first single, released a year later, was “French Letter”, a protest of French nuclear testing
in the Pacific Islands. The song spent 11 weeks on the New Zealand charts, peaking at number 15.

By now Lynn had taken over management of the band and was putting the pressure on for them
to adopt a more professional attitude. There were now regular rehearsals and set lists and Lynn began
working the band hard in an effort to up their profile.

Saxophonist Morrie Watene was added to the line-up, but Phil Toms left the band after
“deterioration of relations” with main songwriter Fonoti and was replaced by Jack Allen. Ironically,
Fonoti departed soon after.

With the others more into the reggae music, the dreadlocked Fonoti was keen to explore
the Rastafari philosophy and began studying the Bible and the Twelve Tribes of Israel branch of
the Rasta movement. When a new record deal and a sponsorship from a fast food chain were put
before the band, Fonoti asked for time to weigh up his options.

He disappeared to the country, concerned whether Herbs was authentic enough for his new adherence
to the Rastafari message. Unable to make a commitment to the band, Fonoti eventually gave them his
blessing and bowed out. Percussionist Carl Perkins was eventually chosen as his replacement.

Herbs 1983 (left to right): Jack Allen, Dilworth Karaka, Morrie Watene,
Spencer Fusimalohi, Fred Faleauto.

Herbs undertook what would become a regular excursion when they toured the Pacific Islands in 1982,
and later released their second EP Light Of The Pacific. It opened with “French Letter” but saw
Fusimalohi come to the fore on “Jah’s Son” and “Mama’s Song”.

In the absence of Fonoti, Fusimalohi thought, “We’ve gotta try and do something to keep the
band alive” and took on more responsibility in providing new material. However, Fusimalohi felt things
weren’t working out for him both monetarily and in being apart from his family and left the band not long
after the release.

As preparations began for their debut LP, the band was augmented by keyboardist Tama Lundon.
While dairy farming at Purakau, north of Whangarei, Lundon had appeared off and on with Herbs since
the start of the decade, but as they became more popular he chose the band ahead of farming and became
a fully fledged member.

Soon after, the band recruited guitarist Willie Hona. He was a successful Auckland
cabaret act who had already released singles as a solo artist and as part of Northland band
the Face, which launched Kiwi pop idol Mark Williams.

Hona and Lundon clicked immediately and started writing songs together while working as
a duo with a dodgy drum machine at the Pioneer Hotel. There was an excitement within the band as
they returned to Mascot studios with producer Billy Kristian to record their new album.

Long Ago was released at the end of 1984 and featured future live staples in the title track,
the beautiful ballad “On My Mind” and “Nuclear Waste” -- all written by consummate frontman Hona
and Lundon, the latter with Rob Van De Lisdonk -- as well as songwriting contributions
from the entire band.

Herbs 1984 (clockwise from top left): Morrie Watene, Carl Perkins, Fred Faleauto,
Willie Hona, Jack Allen, Tama Lundon, Dilworth Karaka.

Herbs spent part of 1985 based in Australia, including supporting Rick Wakeman on a national tour,
as Lynn and Australian promoter Michael Chugg put together a plan to break the band overseas. However,
the heavy touring schedule took its toll and the band faced more line-up changes when Perkins
and Allen departed to form Mana.

Perkins was unavailable for the prestigious Tina Turner support at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland,
on December 7 1985, so the band called on percussionist Thom Nepia, an old friend of Hona’s,
to fill the void. It was Nepia’s 28th birthday and he was offered a permanent place in the line-up.

Early in the new year, Allen’s spot was taken by Karaka and Watene’s cousin
Charlie Tumahai. Tumahai had left New Zealand in 1966 and spent time with some of Australia’s
best bands, eventually journeying to England with Mississippi, an early incarnation of
the Little River Band.

When Mississippi disbanded he joined Be Bop Deluxe, recording five albums and touring the United
States eight times with them, and later formed the Dukes with former Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch.
In 1985, Tumahai decided it was time to return home.

His first gig with Herbs was also at Mt Smart Stadium, for the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior Festival
on April 22 1986, alongside Neil Young and a re-formed Split Enz. The concert was a fundraiser to help float
a new Rainbow Warrior after the bombing of the original vessel in Auckland the previous July.

Herbs toured throughout the Pacific in 1986 and performed at the Hiroshima Peace Festival in Japan
while between times recording their new album, again with Billy Kristian at Mascot. Their distinctive
vocals were an integral part of Dave Dobbyn’s transtasman number one “Slice Of Heaven”
the same year.

The follow-up album Sensitive To A Smile was released in June 1987 with a launch at
the Mangahanea Marae in Ruatoria. It opened powerfully with an a cappella arrangement of the traditional
Maori waiata “E Papa” and never let up until the last strains of closer “Jah Knows”.

The title track was the first single and peaked at number nine on the New Zealand charts.
“Rust In Dust” got as high as 11. The album was judged best album at the New Zealand music awards
while Dilworth Karaka and Charlie Tumahai won songwriters of the year for “Sensitive To A Smile”.

Herbs at their late 1980s commercial peak (clockwise from top left):
Charlie Tumahai, Dilworth Karaka, Fred Faleauto, Tama Lundon,
Morrie Watene, Willie Hona, Thom Nepia.

Big things seemed in store for Herbs in 1988 but that was when the wheels started to fall off.

According to New Zealand rock music archivist John Dix, “Fred Faleauto had an epiphany
midway through a soundcheck, suddenly reciting large chunks of the Bible, screaming like
a preacher in full flight, freaking everyone out.” The last link to the band’s earliest
Back Yard days, he left in June 1988.

Herbs recruited long-time Auckland session drummer Gordon Joll, late of Satellite Spies, and when
Sensitive To A Smile’s third single, “Listen”, another Hona/Lundon gem, rose to number seven
in October 1988, things looked to be back on an even keel. However, Willie Hona departed during an
Australian tour the next month, with Nepia and Watene taking over his vocal parts and Karaka taking on
his guitar duties.

Lynn’s aim to have Herbs on a par with the top Australian bands of the time saw them on the road, away
from their families for long periods, with a big PA system, lights and roadies. The downside was there was
very little money left for the band after expenses, and Hona decided he couldn’t continue.

In June 1989 they were back in the higher reaches of the New Zealand charts when they contributed to
Tim Finn’s single “Parihaka”. The song peaked at number six.

Earlier that year, the six-piece Herbs settled in to record a new album with none other than former Eagles
and James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh as producer. He had been touring in Australia and when WEA head
Tim Murdoch mentioned he was available to produce, Lynn saw it as an opportunity too good to pass up.

While Herbs and Walsh were on the bill of Greenpeace concerts in Wellington and Auckland,
Walsh immediately took the band and New Zealand to heart, announcing he would move to the country
and become a permanent member of Herbs.

Joe Walsh in the studio with Herbs rhythm section Gordon Joll (left) and Charlie Tumahai, 1989.
Photo courtesy of Gordon Joll.

Midway through the sessions Herbs toured town halls and theatres with Walsh as their “special friend”,
but he had gone back to the States permanently by the time Homegrown was released in 1990.

The album confused Herbs fans, opening with an a cappella verse of “Amazing Grace”, perhaps in
an attempt to match “E Papa” from the previous album, followed by the first of two Joe Walsh vocals.
In fact, the three Walsh songs on the LP would surface on his own recordings over the next two years.

Homegrown also included covers of the Left Banke and Merle Haggard hits, and the
only links to Herbs of old were “Anthem”, “Homegrown” and a new version of “Azania (Soon Come)”
from Whats’ Be Happen?. Later versions of the album featured bonus track “Talkback Radio”,
the theme song for The Billy T. James Show.

Herbs 1990 (clockwise from left): Charlie Tumahai, Dilworth Karaka,
Tama Lundon, Gordon Joll, Morrie Watene, Thom Nepia.

With Lynn heading for bankruptcy and Homegrown a commercial let-down, band and manager
had started arguing and eventually parted ways. Proposed support slots touring with UB40 in Europe
and Joe Walsh in the United States had both come to nothing in the previous few years.

Lynn had poured a lot of money into Herbs’ career and they had benefited greatly from his
industry connections, touring with or supporting the likes of Black Slate, UB40, Stevie Wonder,
Neil Young and Jimmy Buffett in New Zealand throughout the 1980s.

Members of Herbs featured on single collaborations in the early 1990s -- Annie Crummer’s joyous
“See What Love Can Do” and the questionable “Till We Kissed” with ’60s icon Ray Columbus --
but there would be no new album.

Neither the spirited vocals of Tumahai nor the searing guitar of new addition Tama Renata, who had
earlier contributed to Light Of The Pacific, could save “Till We Kissed”, but it was included on 1993’s
13 Years Of Herbs: The Best Of, which spent 10 weeks on the charts, rising to number 14.

After a period of live inactivity, the release of The Best Of sparked the band to life.
Karaka and Tumahai ventured to Auckland’s premier live venue, the Gluepot, to offer the drummer’s spot
to Grant Pukeroa but were so impressed by his fill-in Kristen Hapi that they successfully offered it to him
instead. Pukeroa would, however, take the role two years later when Hapi moved on. Juanito Muzzio took
over percussion for the absent Nepia.

Herbs 1994 (clockwise from top left): Tama Renata, Kristen Hapi, Morrie Watene,
Dilworth Karaka, Juanito Muzzio, Charlie Tumahai, Tama Lundon.

Karaka, Tumahai and Renata wrote the main love song “Here Is My Heart” for the 1994 New Zealand
blockbuster movie Once Were Warriors, for which Renata also provided the memorable
instrumental theme. Tumahai even made a cameo appearance in the film as a karaoke singer.

The band came on all Motown for their next single “Good For Life”, which was written for the New
Zealand Year of the Family campaign of 1994. Credited to Herbs and Friends, the song featured
backing vocals by Kiwi stars Suzanne Lynch, of Chicks fame, Beaver and Hammond Gamble.

Although Grant Pukeroa had taken over the drummer’s stool, Gordon Joll was again involved
with Herbs in 1995, programming drum parts for a new version of an old song. When the French
Government resumed nuclear testing in the Pacific that year, Herbs re-recorded “French Letter”,
which peaked at number nine. The song also marked Nepia’s return.

On their tour of France that November, members of the New Zealand All Blacks
rugby team passed copies of the cassingle to the Paris crowd after their final test match.

Tragedy struck the Herbs whanau on December 21 1995 with the sudden death of Charlie Tumahai
from a massive heart attack while working for a volunteer organisation helping young Maori
at the Auckland District Court. He was just 46.

When the band regrouped in the new year, with replacement bass player Max Hohepa and without
saxophonist Watene, it was for an Easter Sunday tribute concert to their fallen comrade, the proceeds
going to Tumahai’s family. Other artists announced to take part included Dave Dobbyn, Annie Crummer
and Hello Sailor.

Herbs 1996 (left to right): Grant Pukeroa, Tama Renata, Dilworth Karaka, Juanito Muzzio,
Tama Lundon, Thom Nepia, Max Hohepa.

In the 10 years following Tumahai’s passing, various Herbs line-ups would come together for
occasional performances, including the first New Zealand Womad, at Western Springs in 1997, Sweetwaters ’99
and their rendering of Dave Dobbyn’s “Slice Of Heaven” at the Australasian Performing Right Association’s
celebration of the top 100 New Zealand songs of all time in 2001.

With new saxophonist Walter Bianco now on board, a veteran of the Auckland live music scene, the event was
the debut of drummer Leyton Greening, who replaced Grant Pukeroa. The band was
joined by Kiwi hip-hop star Che-Fu and Auckland singer Lionel Nelson, a member of Nepia’s
sideline project TnT Music Factory.

Herbs performing at the APRA top New Zealand songs event, 2001 (left to right):
Tama Renata, Thom Nepia, guest Che-Fu, Lionel Nelson, Walter Bianco (rear), Dilworth Karaka.
Photo courtesy of APRA New Zealand.

Besides featuring on Dobbyn’s song, which was voted in at number seven, Herbs made it into the top 100
three times in their own right. “French Letter” was number 42, “Long Ago” was 68 and
“Sensitive To A Smile” was 80.

Herbs’ original drummer Fred Faleauto passed away in 2001. When Light Of The Pacific was
included in Nick Bollinger’s 100 Essential New Zealand Albums, published in 2009,
the author praised Faleauto’s distinctive drumming which had been an integral part of the band’s early sound.

Warner Music New Zealand released a revamped hits compilation called Listen: The Very Best Of Herbs,
which debuted at number one on the New Zealand album chart in January 2002.

At the time, Karaka told the New Zealand Press Association that the band had to thank their New Zealand
fans for the achievement. “It shows that they’re still out there and want another album,” he said. “We never
stopped writing. The stuff that we did write, we just stuck it in the bank.”

Case in point being the wonderful “Fishnet Tights”, a protest of driftnet fishing, which was a stand-out
on the Homegrown tour of 1990, harking back to the spirit of the Whats’ Be Happen? era.

“When we did our last album there were some publishing and contractual arrangements that weren’t
settled, and that ended up in court,” Karaka continued. “Rather than carry on we just put stuff away
and didn’t bother to continue on with that company.

“The response from people now (2002) has been really encouraging. I’ve always believed there was
another album there, maybe two, and hopefully this one we’ve just put out will kick-start us towards
the next one.”

Herbs live in Brisbane, Australia, 2005 (left to right):
Lionel Nelson, Thom Nepia, Dilworth Karaka.
Photo courtesy of Maori In Oz.

Alas it never did, but around 2003, Karaka and Lundon, later joined by Nepia and sometimes Renata,
began appearing at low-key gigs, folk and blues festivals as Herbs Unplugged. Two years later,
an expanded Herbs were on the road in Australia with countrymen Katchafire.

The trip saw vocalist Lionel Nelson and Queenstown drummer Ned Webster recruited for their only tour
with Herbs. Nelson had appeared with the band at APRA’s top New Zealand songs event in 2001 and had
been an original member of Nepia’s Auckland covers and corporate band TnT Music Factory in 2000,
as had Karaka.

Herbs Unplugged 2007 (left to right): Tama Lundon, Thom Nepia, Dilworth Karaka.

In 2008, Morrie Watene rejoined Karaka, Lundon, Nepia and Renata, with the addition of Ardijah
father and son Ryan Monga (drums) and Kaitapu Monga (bass), for Herbs-Ardijah double bills
in Australia and New Zealand.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Back Yard’s renaming as Herbs, Warner again repackaged
the best-of collection as Lights Of The Pacific: The Very Best Of Herbs in November 2008.
Unfortunately, Herbs’ back catalogue -- Whats’ Be Happen?, Light Of The Pacific, Long Ago,
Sensitive To A Smile and Homegrown -- remained deleted.

Herbs 2008 (clockwise from top left): Morrie Watene, Tama Lundon,
Dilworth Karaka, Tama Renata, Ryan Monga, Kaitapu Monga, Thom Nepia.

In October 2009 it was announced that former Herbs members Toni Fonoti, Spencer Fusimalohi
and Carl Perkins would appear under the banner Pacific Herbs, performing the hits of their former band,
at the Raggamuffin festival in Rotorua. However, days out from the event the official Raggamuffin web site
carried the message that “due to legal action by the band Herbs, the band previously billed as Pacific Herbs
will not be performing at Raggamuffin 2010”.

Meanwhile, with the returning to the fray of drummer Gordon Joll, in place of Ryan Monga, all
surviving members of the official Herbs that toured in support of Homegrown 20 years earlier were
reunited for a planned increased workload in 2010.