History kittie

Origin of the name

The name "Kittie," explained by Morgan Lander:

“	When we were thinking of names to call the band before our first show, we had decided that we wanted something completely contradictory to what the band and the sound of the band was. I think we chose Kittie because we wanted something totally unexpected, something that sounded weak, so that when you heard the band for the first time, it would be a total shock. I think there were a few other pussy sounding names...Like Swan or Swansong (which is what I remember really wanting to call the band)...But Kittie was chosen, and the rest is history.	„

1996–2004

Kittie was formed in 1996, when Mercedes Lander and Fallon Bowman met in an extracurricular gymnastics class. The lead singer and guitarist, Morgan Lander, is the sister of drummer of band co-founder Mercedes. Their original bassist was Tanya Candler, who eventually left the band in the winter of 1999 to finish high school. Talena Atfield was selected as the new bassist.

In 2001, Fallon Bowman left Kittie without citing her reasons and eventually started a new project called Amphibious Assault. Fallon's position as guitarist was later filled by Jeff Phillips who worked as Kittie's guitar technician. He now plays guitar for Thine Eyes Bleed.

In 2002, Talena Atfield left and was replaced on bass guitar by Jennifer Arroyo. In 2004, the group added a fourth member, the second guitarist Lisa Marx, and Jeff Phillips went to work full-time on his side project, Thine Eyes Bleed.

In 2004, Kittie released the album Until the End.

2005–2007

Until March 2005, Kittie were signed to Artemis Records but parted ways due to "a proposed amendment to the recording budget for the pending fourth Kittie album." Problems between the group and record label had been rumoured for a long time. In March 2004, Artemis and Kittie came to an out of court settlement over unpaid royalties and 11 breaches of contract on Artemis' behalf.

On March 23, 2005, Morgan Lander made a post indicating that both Lisa Marx and Jennifer Arroyo had left the band.Jennifer Arroyo's split was amicable while Lisa Marx's came as a surprise. As with Talena Atfield's departure from the band, financial reasons were cited; and in the case of Jennifer Arroyo, the desire to work outside of Kittie full-time was an additional factor. Jennifer Arroyo would go on to join Billy Graziadei of Biohazard to form Suicide city.

In 2005 Kittie added two new members: Tara McLeod, on guitar, and Trish Doan, on bass who were the first official members since the original line up of Tanya, Fallon, Morgan and Mercedes. 2005 also brought the debut of Morgan and Mercedes’ clothing line, Poisoned Black clothing. Morgan and Mercedes also appeared briefly in the documentaries Metal: A Headbanger's Journey and Heavy Metal - Louder than Life.

On February 7, 2006, Kittie released the Never Again EP through Rock Ridge Music. Also in 2006, vocalist Morgan Lander provided vocals on the song "It Turns to Rust", from the album In the Arms of Devastation, by the Canadian death metal band Kataklysm.

In May 2006 Kittie announced a joint venture to create their own record label, "Kiss of Infamy Records" which will include major label distribution by EMI. The label name was later changed to X of Infamy from the previously announced Kiss of Infamy after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from attorneys representing Kiss Catalog Ltd. (the owner of the intellectual property rights pertaining to the musical group KISS) alleging that the Kiss of Infamy mark was "confusingly similar" to their client's mark. Their fourth studio album is entitled Funeral for Yesterday and was released on February 20, 2007 through their new label.

Along with the release of Funeral for Yesterday it was announced by Morgan Lander that Kittie would be releasing a new 45 minute DVD along with the CD.

Kittie kicked off 2007 with the "Funeral for Yesterday Tour" running from the beginning of February until the end of March. Other bands on the bill include Walls of Jericho, 36 Crazyfists, Dead To Fall, and In This Moment. The positive feedback and success of the tour encouraged Kittie to extend their tour into May 2007 with Walls of Jericho and In This Moment.

In November 2007 Kittie headed south to play shows in Central and South America, including dates in Santiago, Chile and São Paulo, Brazil. For these shows in Central/South America, Ivy Vujic of the Canadian band In The Wake filled in for Trish Doan on bass.

2008

On March 4, 2008 Kittie announced the departure of bassist Trish Doan due to an eating disorder.Doan had been diagnosed with the eating disorder anorexia, which she developed during the recording of "Funeral For Yesterday." Doan had battled the disorder for nearly two years. Soon after, Ivy Vujic was announced as the new bass player and has since shown up in interviews, promotional photos, and tours.

On August 2, 2008 David Lander, father of band members Morgan and Mercedes and the band's manager, died of a heart attack.

Between October 18, 2008 and November 8, 2008, Kittie embark on their first European tour in six years. The "Kittie Does Europe" tour includes dates in the Netherlands, England, Wales, Scotland, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Russia.

2009

On 26 June, 2009, Kittie announced that they had signed to the E1 Music label. A new album, entitled In the Black, was released on 15 September 2009. Videos were shot for two singles, "Cut Throat" and "Sorrow I Know". "Cut Throat" premiered on MTV 2's Headbangers Ball on 5 September 2009 and on Canadian show Much Loud on 20 September 2009. "Cut Throat" was also featured on the Saw VI Soundtrack released on October 20, 2009.

On 16 September 2009, an announcement was made that Massacre Records would distribute "In the Black" in Europe and that it would be made available there on 23 October 2009.^[8]

2010

January 2010, Kittie heads to Europe again to promote their new album "In the Black" which was released in Europe by German label "Massacre Records." Supporting bands on the tour include "It Dies Today" (USA) and "Malefice" (UK). This tour includes dates in Scotland, England, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

In a January 27, 2010 interview with Metalholic.com, Kittie vocalist, Morgan Lander revealed that the band is planning their 3rd video from the album, In the Black. According to Lander, the band is in talks to film a video for the track "Die My Darling.

March 2010, Kittie embarks on another North American tour with "God Forbid", "Periphery" and "Gwen Stacy" as support.

Band members

1996–1999	Morgan Lander – Lead vocals, Guitar Mercedes Lander – drums Fallon Bowman – Guitar, Backing vocals Tanya Candler – Bass guitar
1999–2001	Morgan Lander – Lead vocals, Guitar Mercedes Lander – Drums Fallon Bowman – Guitar, Backing vocals Talena Atfield – Bass guitar
2001–2002	Morgan Lander – Lead vocals, Guitar, Piano Mercedes Lander – Drums Talena Atfield – Bass guitar
2002–2004	Morgan Lander – Lead vocals, Guitar Mercedes Lander – Drums Jennifer Arroyo – Bass guitar Jeff Phillips – Guitar (session member)
2004–2005	Morgan Lander – Lead vocals, Guitar Mercedes Lander – Drums Jennifer Arroyo – Bass guitar Lisa Marx – Guitar
2005–2008	Morgan Lander – Lead vocals, Guitar Mercedes Lander – Drums, Vocals, Piano Tara McLeod – Guitar Trish Doan – Bass guitar
2008–present	Morgan Lander – Lead vocals, Guitar Mercedes Lander – Drums, Vocals, Piano Tara McLeod – Guitar Ivy Vujic – Bass guitar