focused on US market

Early in 2001 Shihad focused their attention on the US market and signed with an American-based management. They started work on their next album, Pacifier (September 2002) with Josh Abraham producing at Hollywood’s Pulse Recording Studios. However before recording was completed the September 11 attacks had occurred. Their management convinced the band to change their name due to the similarity between Shihad and the Arabic word jihad , which was now a sensitive term in the US. In January 2002 Shihad announced their intention to change their name, and at the 2002 Big Day Out concert in Auckland they sold T-shirts with Shihad and Remote printed below, indicating Remote was the new name. However due to Remote already being used, they settled on Pacifier, after the single from The General Electric . In mid-February their first performance as Pacifier occurred at the Viper Room , Los Angeles.