The positive response to Kittie‘s recent comeback has sparked excitement for their upcoming seventh studio album, Fire. This release will mark their first album since 2011’s I’ve Failed You and is expected to drop later this year via Sumerian Records.
Although Kittie initially found success in the nü-metal scene with their gold-certified debut album Spit in 1999, the band faced challenges including frequent changes in labels and lineup. Tragically, the passing of their bassist, Trish Doan, in 2017 contributed to the band’s eventual hiatus.
Initially perceived as a novelty act in the male-dominated metal scene, Kittie evolved their sound over time by incorporating heavier elements, earning them respect beyond the nü-metal era. Despite their initial success, ongoing issues and declining interest eventually led to the band taking a hiatus.
In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, vocalist/guitarist Morgan Lander candidly discussed this challenging period, revealing that attendance at their shows dwindled to around 50 people at times.
Regarding the factors that contributed to Kittie’s hiatus of approximately eight years, Lander conveyed to the previously mentioned publication:
“I think the best way to describe it is we just sort of overstayed our welcome. We were doing a lot of headlining shows, constantly touring, and never really seemed to gain much footing or interest. There were some nights on some of those tours in the very last few years where 50 people would show up to a show. That’s a hard thing as an artist to grapple with. I do remember having conversations where it was like, ‘I don’t feel like I can do this anymore. I need to try new things.’”
As the past year or two has seen a renewed interest in bands from the late 90s and early 00s, coupled with a significant shift in attitudes towards women in the metal scene, Lander believes that the timing is perfect for the band’s comeback. She expressed to the previously mentioned publication:
“I just think that the world is ready for us now. A lot of the things that we were doing 25 years ago were still… I don’t want to say controversial, but they seemed so new. It definitely has a lot to do with a shift in thinking and acceptance and representation in the years since the very first time that Kittie came out. Sometimes it just takes the world a bit of time to catch up and appreciate those things.”
She’s absolutely right about the changes in representation and acceptance within the heavy music world. The landscape has transformed significantly since Kittie‘s prime. Gone are the days of ‘Hottest Chicks In Rock‘ tours and overly sexualized photo shoots that once objectified women in metal and hard rock publications.
During the late 90s and early 00s, when Kittie was making their mark, many prominent metal bands were involved in the release of pornographic ‘groupie’ films, engaging in demeaning activities backstage. The stark contrast in reactions to such behavior now, especially on social media, highlights just how much progress has been made in the industry’s treatment of women.
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