Salmonella Dub are a long-running dub/roots reggae band from New Zealand whose sound has incorporated elements of rock, hip-hop, drum'n'bass, classical, and traditional Pacific island music styles. The group has released several acclaimed, popular albums in its native country -- two of which have topped the charts -- and they have been influential throughout the Pacific island music scene, inspiring similar genre fusions. Their music always has a positive and hopeful tone, even as it occasionally drifts off into ambient space or dub experimentation. They also aren't afraid to indulge in their playful, mischievous side; their name stems from their penchant for "bad taste" cover versions of oldies and novelty tunes during their early live gigs.

Salmonella Dub formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1992, initially consisting of guitarist Andrew Penman, drummer David Deakins, and bassist Mark Tyler, all of whom were members of a band called Golf Course Alligators. The group experimented with primitive, homespun sampling techniques and effects in lieu of a proper recording studio. They began playing gigs in early 1993, and were joined by Peter Wood (trumpet, keyboard) and Conan Wilcox (saxophone, percussion) for the release of their self-titled debut album, issued by Penman's Curious Recordings in 1994. A mini-album of live recordings, Dub for Straights, followed shortly, as did the 1995 EP Dub Tom Foolery