Eric had ideas for vocals and would try and get then 13 year old Gwen to sing along.
'I couldn't sing, she could'-Eric Eric's first song was called 'Stick It In The Hole' about a pencil sharpener. Gwen was influenced by Julie Andrews in The Sound Of Music. 'I use to really really think she was rad and there's a guy in fishbone Angelo Moore and I was the girl who would sit outside the club, I wasnt old enough to get in but I still went to all the concerts and he was a huge influence'-Gwen   In spring 1987 Gwen, Eric and a friend John Spence (who shared a love for ska and dancehall) started a band and called themselves No Doubt as a trio. No Doubt was one of John's favorite phrases and seemed like a positive and uplifting phrase too name themselves after. After a month they had a drummer and a horns section and became a 7piece band. John Spence was the main focal point of the band.  
Tony Kanal saw he's first No Doubt show on March 14 1987 at the Fender's Ballroom in Long Beach California. He thought No Doubt were amazing and then a week later auditioned for No Doubt. After only two songs he joined the band when he was 16. Gwen was 17 and in June when No Doubt were playing a house party Gwen made her first move on Tony. At first they kept their relationship a secret frightened of what the others might think. Tony also became the bands manager. They were quickly becaming known as one of the best live bands in Orange County.   They had to play their most important gig at the Roxy in Hollywood infront of industry. John pushed the band to start performaning everyday to prepare for the gig.
Just days before the gig John Spence wrote a two page letter on December 21st 1987 then John Spence commited suicide when he was just 18.
None of us were prepared for that, none of us could see that coming. it just kinda happened, it just changed everything-Tony "When your friend dies like that and it's so unexpected it's very traumatic. I think it taught us all a big lesson in how much one person can influence so many different people."-Gwen No Doubt saw no point in going on, they found it hard and confusing. After a group discussion they realised that John would of wanted them to carry on.   Gwen and Tony then confessed to the rest of the band that they were in love. Tony took Gwen to he's senior prom.No Doubt played opening gigs for The Untouchable and Fishbone. Demos were sold.  No Doubt then recruited Tom Dumont as their guitarist when he saw a flyer advertising for a new guitarist. Tom was influenced by heavy metal and brought a new hard edge sound to their sound. He played their first live show after just two rehersals.
 The band started to get a following with their live shows. Soon they were opening for such bands as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ziggy Marley. Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers helped the band work in the studio on their first demo record.   Adrian Young who was already a fan of their live shows joined. When the group was looking for a new drummer Adrian tried out. He told the band he had been playing for eight years, he had only been playing for a year and a half but he still made it into the band when he was 19. No Doubt play small gigs at unis and around CA. They play at the Clean & Sober Beach Party in July Newport CA.No Doubt's line up was now Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, Eric Stefani and Adrian Young. No Doubt then signed a multi album deal with interscope records with Tony Fergeson    No Doubt play around in California, they also open shows for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They appear on TV show The Gig on January 10th.   No Doubt sign a record contract to Interscope. They record songs for their debut album. Despite this No Doubt still continue with their day jobs. Gwen and Tony both worked in the same mall (Gwen worked on the make up counters), Adrian waited tables and Tom ran a small music equipment rental business. They still had to drive themselves to their gigs and drive and carry their own equipement.
  No Doubt released No Doubt. Following the release, the band toured extensively and focused on writing more songs. Although touring had gone well, sales of the LP did not, and their record company was not willing to fund another tour or LP. The band persevered and worked on their next release with their own funds. They make a video for "Trapped In A Box" for a mere $5,000; MTV never played it.
They go on their first national tour to promote their album in two cargo vans. 
I loved it, it was hard to sleep but to travel the states and to play in a rock band was awesome especially for the first time-Adrian No Doubt had to play smaller audiences where their records weren't being sold. The charts were dominated by grunge like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.  it's just illegal to hear our kind of music-Gwen Their first album didn't sell and success out side of California was small.  No Doubt begin the first session for recording an album, recording in 11 studios. Songs appear on the Tragic Kingdom album.  
No Doubt tour throughout the year including a performance at the Glam Slam in California. As well as songs from their self titled album they also start performing new songs that they've been recording including Snakes, Tragic Kingdom and Different People.  No Doubt independently release Squeal on 7inch vinyl. The B-side is My Room Is Still Clean written by Tony recorded at the Icehouse-Fullerton, California on 13th February 1993.  Also independently released, Doghouse on limited 7 inch vinyl. The B-side 'You Can't Teach An Ol' Dog New Tricks' which was later placed on the official site. They began writing songs for a new album and Matthew Wilder hepled to produce. He helped the band to refine their songs which Eric found hard. He stopped recording and reharshing and then quit the band to become an animator.  'Half way thru that album for me like when my brother left the band alot of the writing responsabilities fell into our laps and also when me and tony spilt up I suddenly I had alot of things to write about so like all those songs that were singles were written in the last half of that album and we were just starting to get the hand on writing'-Gwen No Doubt had been recording and writing for a year even though they didn't know the record was going to be released. Gwen Stefani was having second thoughts about staying in the band. Tony then told Gwen that he wanted them to split up.  I had been ready to get married so it was really hard, he was just totally the love of my life -Gwen
I didn't think we could grow if we stayed together. I felt like there needed to be some space and we needed to just experience life-Tony
Gwen was shattered but didn't give up and wouldn't let their break up ruin everything Gwen had worked for. Tony and Gwen were both still passionate about No Doubt and decided to carry on to finish their album and worked through it. Gwen found a new outlet which was writing lyrics. Mainly about her and Tony's spilt.
  No Doubt released Beacon Street Collection (which was re-issued in 1997). The LP was a raw expression of their sound, combing 80s punk with 90s grunge and consisting of song that weren't going to make their next release for the record company. By this point, No Doubt also lost a member when Eric Stefani left the group (to later work as an animator for The Simpsons).
 In the summer after two and a half years Tragic Kingdom was complete. Something was finally happening. You could tell that we were finally moving on-Gwen   On 10th October No Doubt released Tragic Kingdom and the band eventually began to take off. The first single "Just A Girl" was a modest pop hit and a much bigger hit on alternative radio and video channels. Gwen said of the LP: "We went through some really bad times the past couple of years - personally and bandwise - and our whole way of dealing with that is humor and I think that's really apparent in the record. Even though things may have been bad, and some of the songs are sad if you really listen to them, there's still an element of humor to it all."  Appearance on the Stephanie Miller Show.  Fall 1995 No Doubt went on tour in their first tourbus and were suddenly playing packed areana's supporting Bush. (Gwen meets future husband Gavin Rossdale, lead singer of Bush).Gavin first tells Gwen 'she's gorgeous', Gwen isn't impressed by the rock star. They start sneaking off together and end up dating.    No Doubt perform Just A Girl on Conan O Brien. Just A Girl reaches number 10. Tragic Kingdom debuts at no.175.   Filmed at Gwen and Eric's grandma's house, and featuring their friends the video for Just A Girl is played on MTV.
No Doubt perform on David Letterman.  Gwen breaks her leg on tour supporting bush.  June 15th No Doubt play at the KROQ Weenie Roast in Irvine California
Tragic Kingdom was certified gold. 27th No Doubt play at the Rosklide festival in Denmark. Gwen wears bright yellow bondage pants.  No Doubt hit the Top 40 with "Spiderwebs."
Tragic Kingdom was certified 2x platinum. The band embark on their first sold-out theater-size headlining tour 
 No Doubt perform on top of a building for the MTV awards. They perform Just A Girl and Spiderwebs. Tom wears a wigs during the first performance. They also perform Spiderwebs on Letterman.  No Doubt feature on the cover of Spin magazine (dated November however on sale in October). 'It felt like 'you guys weren't good enough to represent your band on the cover of this magazine''-Adrian Gwen felt like she was the problem of the band. This influences the storyline for the video of Don't Speak. They sold over 11million albums world wide. For Halloween they play at the UCI BREN events Center - Irvine, CA. Gwen wears angel wings and Tony wears a devils mask.  No Doubt hit the Top 40 with "Don't Speak." A song about Tony and Gwens break-up. A bare-footed Gwen performs in a vintage ripped spotted dress that didn't fit her until she washed it and it shrunk. No Doubt hit the Top 10 with "Don't Speak" - and ended the year hitting #1 where it stayed for 7 weeks. No Doubt performed on SNL, Gwen's hands were covered in Henna. Tragic Kingdom was certified 5x platinum."Don't Speak" topped the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Airplay chart for 16 weeks. Tragic Kingdom topped the Billboard 200 Albums chart for 9 weeks.  
No Doubt were nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist.
No Doubt were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and Best Rock Album (Tragic Kingdom). They didn't win but performed Spiderwebs.Tragic Kingdom was certified 6x platinum. They do a small Europeon tour including London's Astoria and gigs in Germany and Holland (their biggest ever gig at this point which was televised for TMF). 
"Don't Speak" topped the UK Singles chart for 3 weeks. The single stayed in the UK top 40 airplay charts for 6months. They appear on UK TV including Top Of The Pops for the first time. Tragic Kingdom reaches top 5.
No Doubt carry on promoting around Europe visting countries such as Spain to promote Tragic Kingdom.  Tragic Kingdom was certified 7x platinum. April 11th No Doubt perform Sunday Morning on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  No Doubt appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing surgical suits.Sunday Morning is released in Australia No Doubt appear on a special much music live and interactive.  No Doubt hit the Top 40 with "Sunday Morning." Just A Girl is re-released in the UK and reaches number 3. Tragic Kingdom was certified 8x platinum. Spiderwebs gets a UK release and reaches number 16. UK promotion is followed.  No Doubt win their first MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video ("Don't Speak") and was also nominated for Video of the Year. No Doubt appear on the cover of UK music paper Melody Maker... again only Gwen is on the cover. A furious Gwen comments 'We take the time out to do it and then when we get it back I'm on the cover and it says our band is breaking up'. Beacon Street Collection was re-issued. The LP was a collection of older songs that didn't make it on the Tragic Kingdom set and includes a song called "Total Hate" which has vocals by Bradley Nowell, lead singer of Sublime until his overdose death in 1996. Additional No Doubt tracks can be found on the M.O.M. (Music For Our Mother Ocean) compilation, California Ska-Quake compilation, and Skaface compilation. Gwen can also be heard with Sublime on their LP Robbin' The Hood with "Saw Red."  The official site is relaunched as No Doubt land is launched. The address changes to nodoubt.com (formerly www.hallucinet.com/nodoubt)
No Doubts tour hits Europe and continues to sell out. 
'Oi To The World' is covered (originally written by the Vandals) for the charitable album 'A Very Special Christmas 3.' The video was made in India by Sophie Muller who videotapped No Doubt when they were in India at the end of their big tour. video is
Sunday Morning is released in the UK where 'Oi To The World' can also be heard. Released on two CD format featuring live tracks as well the single reached number 50 in the UK charts. The video also stars Terry Hall (The Specials) and Gwen and Eric Stefani's Grandfather (serves Gwen in the shop).  No Doubt release the new full length video, Live In The Tragic Kingdom. Directed by Sophic Muller the video 92minutes long and is a concert filmed in No Doubt's home town Anaheim. No Doubt are nominated for two Brit awards. Best international newcomer and best international group.  No Doubt was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards for Song of the Year (songwriters: Eric Stefani and Gwen Stefani) and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal ("Don't Speak"). Eric and Gwen both turn up.
 After not playing live in 5 months No Doubt do two special shows on May 1st and May 2nd in Hawaii and are joined by idols Madness. They also performed new upcoming song, 'New' for the first time. Stefani won Best Female Vocalist at the California Music Awards, known as the Bammies and formerly called the Bay Area Music Awards. On April 21st the official Limited Edition Orange Crate is released including a new poster, stickers, the live in the tragic kingdom video and cds.  Gwen features in the new MTV ad campaign which features an extreme close up of her eyes. Gwen's eyes appear over huge billboards, magazines, and subways.
After writing and rehearsing at their LA home No Doubt go into the studio to start recording their next album after Tragic Kingdom. No Doubt win a World Music Award for best rock band. They were not there (Monte Carlo) but taped a thank you message. Seven songs were recorded so far for the upcoming album including Too Late in which Paul Buckmaster 'created a striking orchestral arrangement'.  Gwen has a short appearance in Rufus Wainwright music April Fools.Gwen plays an waitress and is joined by Hole's Bass player.  The band attend the MTV awards. Gwen turns up with bright blue hair inspired by the cookie monster from seasame street. Gwen presents an award with Lenny Kravitz.
Straying for a brief afternoon, Gwen records a duet with Brian Setzer for his new album, Dirty Boogie. The track, made famous by Ann Margaret and Elvis Presley is called "You're the Boss." They record "I Throw My Toys Around" with Elvis Costello. The song is put on the soundtrack to the Rugrats Movie. Tom says that this isn't a preview of the upcoming sound of their next album however. 
No Doubt record a song called 'New' for upcoming film 'Go!' starring Katie Holmes from Dawson's Creek. The song will be the title song from the film. Even though this is the first of new material heard from no doubt the song was actually the first song written after Tragic Kingdom. Adrian Golfing magazine "Schwing" goes on sale. Tragic Kingdom was certified 10x platinum.  12th February'New' is premiered on radio. 26th February The official website has special exclusive behind the making of the video for upcoming single 'New'. The video airs on MTV. No Doubt are recording up coming material still, Tom announces that 'One positive thing about having written and recorded so much music is that we'll have more than one albums worth by the time we're done, and there'll be plenty of exclusive songs for b-sides as singles are released.'  "New" can now be found on the soundtrack for the film Go (the track was co-produced by Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads). No Doubt attend the premiere of Go! Tom reveals that 11 songs are now recorded for the upcoming album.
May 10th The single for New is released in the UK and features for the first time remixes. The single reaches number 20. Gwen goes into the studio today with Fishbone to record a guest vocal on a song for the upcoming "Fishbone and Friends" album
 No Doubt are still recording.The up coming album has the working title of Artifical Sweetener (later to be changed to Return Of Saturn). Gwen breaks up with Gavin for a week so Gwen decides to rebel and die her hair bright pink. They get back together, she decides to keep her hair pink.  After a long break from touring No Doubt began a long anticipated short club tour. The play eight dates West Coast starting on 29th September at the UCSD Price Center Ballroom in San Diego and ending in Sacramento on October 10th. They play new songs Six Feet Under, Staring Problem and Ex Girlfriend.
New feature on the official site.. Photo Of The Day, courtesy of Tom's digital camera.  No Doubt attend the 1st Artist Direct Online Music Awards. They perform New and Sunday Morning.Adrian proposes to long term girlfriend Nina live on stage at the Palo Alto show. She accepted. 5th December  The band won the Most Stylish Video award at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards and Stefani was nominated for Most Fashionable Artist (Female). Gwen appeared at the show with bright pink hair and braces. .... CONTINUE TO 2000 >>> |