HARD ROCK HIDEOUT INTERVIEW WITH MORGAN LANDER OF KITTIE
Hard Rock Hideout caught up with Morgan Lander recently, the lead vocalist and guitarist for one of Canada’s, (and the world’s), finest Metal Bands – KITTIE. Morgan Lander has proven she can growl and croon with the very best in world of Metal Music, she also proved to be quite the sincere and friendly interview as well. Here’s what Morgan Lander of Kittie had to say:
HRH: So, Morgan, where in the world are you?
Morgan: Home! We, (Kittie) have been off tour since January 25th, (of 2010).
HRH: How was the tour in Europe?
Morgan: Awesome, we had a really good time.
HRH: One of the great things about being a world known band, is the opportunity to travel the world and see so many great countries.
Morgan: Yeah, it is a great experience to go to so many different countries and play in front of the fans around the world. We had some fans that traveled eight hours in Europe, just to come out and see us! That really means a lot to Kittie, having fans that will travel that long and far to see our show.
HRH: Kittie and God Forbid in the States, what can the fans expect?
Morgan: Fun! We know God Forbid real well, plus we never toured together, so it should be great. We have always talked about touring together, (with God Forbid), now it’s going to happen. We also share a mutual crew person.
HRH Note: Kittie and God Forbid kick off their 17 date North American Tour, on March 3, 2010, in Toronto, Ontario at the Opera House.
HRH: Any tour pet peeves you want to reveal?
Morgan: I, Kittie, we love everything about touring. Let’s see… there is one pet peeve that really bothers us all, it’s when strangers knock on the tour bus door! Anytime of the day it’s scary, especially at night. The tour bus is our home, our sanctuary, you just don’t go knocking on someone’s front door in the middle of the night! We don’t feel very safe just opening up the door to strangers that want to meet us. Besides, maybe I’m in my pajamas!
HRH: Is there a live album in the future for Kittie?
Morgan: No, yet we always wanted to do one. It’s definitely doable, we could work it out. If one was to happen, I would want it to be a CD/DVD combination. A future live album from Kittie would be an eye opener for the fans as well, it’s been ten years of Kittie! We definitely have the material and so much has changed with Kittie since the Spit In Your Eye video, which came out in 2000.
HRH: I agree, the transformation of Kittie, from (1999’s) Spit and it’s all out Extreme Metal to Funeral For Yesterday and your newest album In The Black, where you have become a melodic and heavy band, with still some nods to extreme, is just unbelievably great in my opinion.
Morgan: Thank you!
HRH: What country has Kittie not played yet, that is on your must list?
Morgan: It seems like we have played just about everywhere, I believe we never played Norway. If you can believe that! Norway it is.
HRH: What’s your favorite Metal album of all time?
Morgan: If you asked me this question five years ago, you would get a different answer! It changes, all the time.
HRH: It changes weekly sometimes too!
Morgan: Yeah, it can! It is ever changing. Metallica Ride The Lightning, Carcass Heartwork and Van Halen I and II.
HRH: With Ride The Lightning and Heartwork, enough said, those are powerhouses. Wow, Van Halen, thats old school.
Morgan: It’s what I remember growing up as a kid, listening to what albums my parents played, Van Halen I and II left a mark on me.
HRH: When you want to chill out, what music do you listen to?
Morgan: I have lot’s of interests, Kings of Leon, Silver Chair, and definitely Pantera! Believe it or not, I can really chill out to Pantera!
HRH: There’s nothing wrong with that. Who are your peer bands that you draw influence from?
Morgan: Kittie is inspired by everybody we tour with. Still there will always be Pantera. Not only were they the best Metal Band that ever lived, they were and still are really cool people, the very best.
HRH: If there was ever to be a movie made about Kittie’s career, what would the title be?
Morgan: Wow, cool question! It would have to be named after one of our songs, like Until The End or Into The Darkness. These two song titles capture the crazy times, ups and downs and the unknown we have experienced throughout our career.
HRH: What is the rowdiest venue Kittie has ever played at?
Morgan: Wow, there has been a few over the years! There was this place in Seattle, where the fire marshal came and closed the place down, there was way too many people that showed up. White Rabbit in San Antonio, Texas for certain! South America in general, Chile, Mexico and Brazil. The Spit In Your Eyevideo/DVD is a great example for fans to see us playing in a rowdy venue.
HRH: From everything that I’ve read and heard, Brazil has some hardcore and dedicated Metal fans there.
Morgan: They sure do!
HRH: What’s your opinion on the Grammy’s?
Morgan: They should be inviting us to go! Really, it’s a spectacle and a popularity contest. Having the Metal and Hard Rock categories is good, still they need to focus on Metal Music more, with more categories. The Grammy’s should be representing everything that’s out there, there is definitely room for improvement.
HRH: In the eyes of younger female fans, are you comfortable with being a role model or more an inspiration?
Morgan: A role model takes on a heavy burden to bear. Parents, friends, older siblings and extended family should be the real role models. I’m more comfortable with being an inspiration for younger girls. I want them to see in Kittie, the hope and strong female character that shows the ability to become self empowered.
HRH: At what point, did you and your sister Mercedes realize that Kittie was for real?
Morgan: Looking back on the last ten years, it all happened so fast, there never seemed to be time to process it all and reflect on what is really happening. It always felt like quick time and being caught in the middle these past ten years, like being in the eye of the storm! Truthfully, to pick out those moments where we felt that Kittie was real, was knowing we had released our first CD Spit. Having a tangible CD that people could buy was reality. Being a part of Ozzfest was another moment where we knew Kittie was real as well. We just need those moments to reflect on it all.
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awesome interview! thanx!