Kittie is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in London, Ontario, in 1996. They formed after guitarist Fallon Bowman and drummer Mercedes Lander met in a gym class. Mercedes' sister, Morgan Lander, became the lead vocalist and one of Kittie's guitarists and Tanya Candler completed the band's lineup on bass. Kittie was chosen as the band name because the name "seemed contradictory." The Lander sisters have remained the sole constant members. Collectively, their material is released by independent record labels and have sold over two million records worldwide.
After signing to Ng Records, Kittie released their debut album Spit (1999), which saw a wider release under Artemis Records the following year. The album, which primarily exhibited a nu metal sound, sold at least 600,000 copies in the United States and was certified gold by the RIAA. Kittie's subsequent output, including Oracle (2001) and Until the End (2004), saw the band transition towards a heavier, more aggressive albeit melodic sound featuring characteristics of alternative metal, groove metal and death metal. Neither album was able to replicate the success of Spit, and Kittie parted ways with Artemis Records in 2005.
After leaving Artemis, Kittie created their own label, X of Infamy, and released their fourth album Funeral for Yesterday in 2007. In 2009, the band signed to eOne Music, with who they released In the Black (2009) and I've Failed You (2011), both with bassist Ivana "Ivy" Jenkins. After the release of I've Failed You, the band's members pursued various other projects.
Kittie went on an indefinite hiatus following the death of bassist Trish Doan on February 11, 2017. In 2018, a documentary, Kittie: Origins/Evolutions, chronicling the history of the band was released in co-ordination with its 20th anniversary. In 2022, Kittie reunited to perform at the Blue Ridge Rock and the When We Were Young festivals, and remains active.
History
Formation and early years (1996–2004) Kittie was formed in 1996 when drummer Mercedes Lander and guitarist Fallon Bowman met in gym class. Morgan Lander, sister to Mercedes, became the lead vocalist and guitarist after weeks of Fallon and Mercedes jamming. Tanya Candler completed the lineup by joining as the bassist. Kittie recorded their first demos and began playing concerts in 1998. The band performed at Call the Office and the Embassy and signed up for Canadian Music Week in 1999. Kittie approached Jason Wyner, who was second-in-command at NG Records. After Jason saw the band perform live, NG Records signed Kittie in 1999. Kittie initially released their debut album Spit on NG Records on November 13, 1999; however, shortly after, NG Records was purchased by Artemis Records, and production was halted. Around the same time, Candler left the band and was replaced on bass by Talena Atfield. Artemis subsequently reissued Spit, with different artwork and photographs, on January 11, 2000. It is the band's most successful album, being certified gold by the RIAA. Spit has sold at least 600,000 copies in the United States and at least 40,000 copies in Canada. They supported the album by touring with Slipknot.
Their debut album and supporting tour earned Kittie coverage in Metal Edge, whose readers voted Morgan Lander for "Female Performer of the Year" and Spit for "Home Video of the Year" in the magazine's 2000 Readers' Choice Awards. The band was also voted "New Band of the Year", "Who's Going to be the Next Big Thing", and "Most Underrated Band", earning them a total of five Metal Edge Readers' Choice Awards that year. On July 11, 2000, Kittie made a home-video called Spit in Your Eye which featured interviews of the band and the band playing shows with the band Slipknot. The success of Spit led Billboard to call Kittie "the most successful female band in modern metal" in December 2001.
After returning home from touring, Kittie were tasked by their label with writing their next album in three months. During this time, the band's relationship with Fallon Bowman began to deteriorate; Bowman and Morgan Lander found themselves at creative odds, and their interactions became increasingly argumentative. Bowman ultimately quit the band following an argument at a rehearsal for a radio show on May 28, 2001, and her departure was announced in August 2001. They have since reconciled their differences.