KITSCH was formed in the town of New Plymouth, Taranaki in 1993. Guitarist Ben Crawford was a former member of local Death Metal band BENICIDE. All aged just 17, KITSCH played their first gig at the White Heart Hotel which hosted many of the towns hard rock bands at the time. After winning the 'Battle Of The Bands' competition in 1995 the band recorded two songs for a compilation. A rarity, the split 7" single shared with SCHIZO-PHRENIA and SUBKULTCHUR, emerged on a local label.

In 1997 KITSCH played at the 'Big Day Out' festival in Auckland and then decided to move to the city. Debut album 'The Way It Was' came out the following year and received a good response from New Zealand punk rock fans. The band then toured with other kiwi bands such as MUCKHOLE, FOAMY ED and BLAKE. KITSCH released a second full length album 'Love Songs For Romantic Punks' in 2002.

Rodd Beeby took over bass duties in June 2005. The band returned having signed to Elevenfiftyseven, recording third album 'The Burning Ground' with engineer Evan Short.