Trish Doan, the bassist of the Canadian metal band Kittie, died on February 11, 2017, at the age of 31. She was found dead in her apartment in Surfers Paradise, Australia, where she had moved in 2013. The cause of death was not officially revealed, but many fans and friends speculated that she had committed suicide after struggling with depression for years.
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A Bright and Talented Musician
Trish Doan was born on May 9, 1985, in Gwangju, South Korea, and later moved with her family to Canada. She started playing guitar at the age of 13 and received her first guitar from her mother as a birthday present in 1999. In 2001, she co-founded the alternative rock band Her with singer and guitarist Rose Cora Perry at their high school in London, Ontario. She played lead guitar on the band’s only album, Straight from the Loft, which was released in 2003. She left the band later that year to focus on her university studies. She graduated from Sheridan College in 2006 with a diploma in Media Arts: Film and Television Production.
In 2005, Doan auditioned for Kittie, who were looking for a new lead guitarist after Lisa Marx left the band. She joined the band as a bassist instead and recorded one EP, Never Again, and one album, Funeral for Yesterday, with them. She left the band in 2007 due to her struggles with an eating disorder, which she later revealed in an interview with Blabbermouth. She said that she had developed anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and had to seek professional help to recover.
A Passionate Photographer and Techie
After leaving Kittie, Doan moved to Australia in 2009 to work on a college degree. She also pursued her passion for photography and technology. She created her own website, trishdoan.com (now archived), where she showcased her photos of Australian landscapes and cityscapes. She also posted about her geeky interests, such as bass gear, video games, gadgets, and web design. She described herself as a “renowned techie” who could solve any computer problem.
In 2011, she returned to Canada and rejoined Kittie as their bassist. She had been helping out with the organization of a documentary about the band, Kittie: Origins/Evolutions, which was released in 2018. She also performed with the band at several shows and festivals until 2016.
A Victim of Depression
Despite her achievements and talents, Doan suffered from depression for a long time. She often posted about her mental health issues on her social media accounts and encouraged others to seek help if they were feeling suicidal. She also supported various charities that aimed to raise awareness and funds for depression research and treatment.
On January 8, 2017, she posted a link to the Defeat Depression charity on her Twitter account and wrote: “Not one to fundraise, except for this. Without these resources, my sister, I would be dead.” This was her last tweet before she died a month later.
Her death shocked and saddened her fans and fellow musicians around the world. Many of them paid tribute to her on social media and expressed their condolences to her family and friends. Her bandmates from Kittie wrote on their Facebook page: “She was so bright and vibrant and talented and we loved her and still do. She was so much more than just a musician or member of the band. She was our blood, our sister and family.”
A Legacy of Music and Inspiration
Trish Doan left behind a legacy of music and inspiration for many people who admired her skills and personality. She was a talented musician who played with passion and energy. She was a creative photographer who captured the beauty of nature and urban life. She was a savvy techie who loved to explore new gadgets and software. She was also a brave fighter who battled with depression and tried to help others who were going through the same.
Trish Doan’s cause of death may never be officially confirmed, but it is clear that she lost her life too soon. She will always be remembered as a bright star in the metal scene and a loving sister to her bandmates and fans.
