Kittie formed when Fallon Bowman and Mercedes Lander met in gym class. Morgan Lander became the lead vocalist and one of Kittie's guitarists and Tanya Candler completed the band's lineup on bass. After signing to NG Records, Kittie released their debut album 'Spit', which was certified gold by the RIAA and sold at least 600,000 copies in the United States. The band released 'Oracle' in 2001 and 'Until the End' in 2004. In 2005, Kittie parted ways with Artemis Records and created their own label. The band released 'Funeral for Yesterday' in 2007 and signed to E1 Music in 2009. The band released 'In the Black' in 2009 and 'I've Failed You' in 2011. In 2014, Kittie made a documentary as a 20th anniversary of the band.
In October 2016, it was announced that drummer/vocalist Mercedes Lander had started a new sludge/doom metal band called the White Swan that released the single "Illuminate". The debut EP, Anubis, was released on November 1, 2016.
On February 11, 2017, bassist Trish Doan died at the age of 31. Doan had moved to Australia in 2013 and had frequently used her social media accounts to speak of her frustrations with depression.
On August 30, 2017, the band announced that they would performing a three-set single concert on October 27, 2017, in their hometown of London, Ontario in the London Music Hall, featuring three different lineup variations made up of both current and former members.
The concert marked the launch of their 20-year anniversary documentary, and featured the return of Candler, Bowman, Phillips, Arroyo and Vujic to perform songs from their respective eras. The concert was released on DVD format on March 26, 2019. On March 30, 2018, the documentary Kittie: Origins/Evolutions, which was filmed prior to the reunion concert, was released on Blu-ray and DVD for the very first time. Like they did with reunion concert, Atfield and Marx declined to participate; according to Morgan Lander, Atfield was supportive of the documentary, appearing in the initial crowdfunding pitch video, but "didn’t think it was the right move for her" to appear. Packaged with the movie was a CD featuring a collection of live performances by the band. Several months later, it was announced that Lander had joined the melodic death metal band, Karkaos, as their new lead singer. In October 2020, Mercedes Lander stated that it was unlikely that Kittie would reunite to perform again without a significant financial offer and the ability to include all of the band's former members. Like her sister, she also stated that she found it difficult to go forward with the band without Doan.
Despite the previous doubts of the Lander sisters, it was announced in January 2022 that Kittie would reunite to perform on all three days of the When We Were Young festival, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 22, 23, and 29, with Vujic returning to the band on bass for all three dates. After the announcement of the October performances, the band were added to the Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia on September 8, 2022. Morgan Lander has stated that, although nothing is set in stone, she believes the band will continue performing in 2023.
Now or Never
Kittie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cannot lie
Candy suicide
I think that I might die
Endless torture played out
Time and time again
Wipe the blood and tears
This is the sweetest kiss of death
It's now or never, do or die
This is the sweetest kiss of death
It's now or never, do or die
The sweetest ending
Without a name
Every corner's dark
And everyday's the same
Crucify the wicked
Time distorted past
This time, it's shoot to kill
Let this be the last...
This is the sweetest kiss of death
It's now or never, do or die
This is the sweetest kiss of death
It's now or never, do or die
The sweetest kiss of death
It's do or die
Do or die
This is the sweetest kiss of death
It's now or never, do or die
This is the sweetest kiss of death
It's now or never, do or die
The song "Now or Never" by Kittie touches on themes of self-destruction, personal torture, and resignation to a grim fate. The opening lines express internal conflict, as the singer wants to hate something but is unable to deny it. The phrase "candy suicide" conveys a sense of pleasure in self-destructive behavior, indicating that the singer is drawn to destructive tendencies despite knowing the harm they will cause. The following lines speak to the repetition of this behavior and the toll it takes on the singer, who must constantly wipe away the physical and emotional damage.
The chorus of the song is a declaration of acceptance of this destructive path. The singer acknowledges that they are facing a "kiss of death", but it is ultimately a choice between taking action now or allowing things to continue until it's too late. The repetition of "now or never, do or die" reinforces the urgency of the decision.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of resignation to a grim fate. The idea of an unnamed "sweetest ending" suggests that the singer has already accepted their inevitable demise, even if they haven't made peace with it. The recurring theme of darkness and repetition indicate a sense of hopelessness and despair that is difficult to shake.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to hate this
I have strong negative feelings towards this situation or person.
I cannot lie
I am telling the truth about my feelings even if they are unpleasant.
Candy suicide
I am doing something pleasurable that will ultimately harm me.
I think that I might die
I am aware that my actions may have serious negative consequences.
Endless torture played out
I feel trapped in a painful situation that seems to have no end.
Time and time again
This has happened many times before and may continue to happen.
Wipe the blood and tears
I need to overcome my pain and move on from this situation.
I must let this in
I need to face the reality of this situation and accept it.
This is the sweetest kiss of death
This situation or person is alluring and tempting, but ultimately harmful.
It's now or never, do or die
I need to take action immediately because there may not be another chance.
The sweetest ending
This situation may have a pleasant outcome, but it is not worth the cost.
Without a name
This situation or person is unknown or unidentifiable.
Every corner's dark
There is danger and uncertainty everywhere I look.
And everyday's the same
My life is monotonous and unchanging.
Crucify the wicked
I need to eliminate or punish those who are causing harm.
Time distorted past
My memories of the past have been altered or skewed.
This time, it's shoot to kill
I need to be aggressive and decisive in my actions to ensure success.
Let this be the last...
I hope that this will be the final time I have to deal with this situation.
It's do or die
I must take action and succeed, or face dire consequences.
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.