OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY:
(COURTESY OF INTERSCOPE)
After seventeen years together, No Doubt stands as a continual phoenix. Few groups have managed to stay so vital for so long. Their story is one of family, hard work, perseverance and celebration. From an unassuming ska outfit in Anaheim, CA, to a fixture in the worldwide collective pop psyche, there is no denying how far they have traveled. With the release of this collection, drummer Adrian Young, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal and singer Gwen Stefani finally pause to look back.
Being some of the most down-to-earth artists you'd ever want to meet, it is surprising how No Doubt's saga does border on the fabled. The kudos have been countless: Grammy Awards; MTV Video Music Awards; VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards; California Music Awards; chances to work with Elvis Costello, Prince and OutKast; shows with U2 and The Rolling Stones; and finally the key to the city of Anaheim - presented to No Doubt in a lavish ceremony by then Mayor Tom Daly. However, as in all our lives, such sweet moments come tempered by conversely dark downs.
Things began innocently enough with band co-founder Eric Stefani plucking away Madness tunes on the family piano - slowly pulling his sister Gwen and other friends into the fold. The 1986-formed group was then struck by tragedy just over a year into its career, when original front man John Spence took his own life. Soldiering on, the inexperienced Gwen eventually transitioned to lone front-woman. They had found acceptance and a following in the underground Southern California ska scene, but later distanced themselves as they felt it had become confining.
After finally landing a recording contract in 1991, they released a mostly overlooked eponymous debut album a year later. In the midst of recording a make or break sophomore album between 1993 and 1995, main songwriter Eric left the group to focus on a burgeoning animation career. The void of his departure was compounded by the end of Tony and Gwen's seven year romantic relationship. At this point, most bands would have packed it in - no one would have blamed them.
Again they rose up. Holding on to hope and their Madness/Fishbone-inspired roots - they had to redefine themselves. Over three years and passing through eleven different studios they found their own original voice in an album which would become their breakthrough - Tragic Kingdom.
The album's heartbreak lyrical focus ("Don't Speak" would go on to become one of the most poignant and popular breakup ballads of all time) and their sprightly pop/punk/reggae/'80s-retro musical mix finally found the group a mass audience. Immersed in the synthesizer sonics of their new wave youth, the musicians were slowly but surely pushing their style forward as single after single topped the charts.
After years of honing their live stage energy, the band returned to the road with their new arsenal of songs. The sweat poured as the bars turned to clubs, the clubs turned to theaters and the theaters to arenas. To this day, their undeniable live connection continues to deliver the boundless stage magic that has thrilled audiences around the world.
But fame had its price. Lauded as a platinum blonde beauty, the spotlight stayed on Gwen in the wake of Tragic Kingdom -- thanks in part to a Latina-culture/'40s-film-star-influenced fashion sense, she was drawn beyond the focal point of a lead singer to cultural icon status. Editors and photographers zeroed in on Gwen and the resulting magazine articles and photo spreads repeatedly shook the foundation of the group.
Tony, Tom and Adrian found themselves swept aside by the torrent of success. Gwen was overwhelmed by the sudden attention and inequalities. Sessions for Tragic's follow up, Return Of Saturn, were muddled with uncertainty. After two nonstop years of songwriting, the attitude turned grim as No Doubt struggled to assert itself and carve out a new, post-Kingdom direction. Focus eventually returned and the music flowed. The first No Doubt wedding joined Adrian and his girlfriend Nina. Gwen's relationship with boyfriend Gavin Rossdale blossomed (they were soon engaged and married in 2002).
When the lovingly crafted Saturn didn't match the same staggering numbers upon its 2000 release as Tragic Kingdom, tensions ironically eased. The band was humbled, brought closer together as members and friends, and ultimately drawn into a more casual songs-and-friendship-first focus. The band relaxed. Gwen contributed to a pair of soon to be hits by Moby and Eve and a plan for the next phase came together.
Their most adventurous and free-spirited work to date followed in 2001's Rock Steady. The album incorporated numerous co-producers (Prince, Nellee Hooper, Ric Ocasek, William Orbit, Mark "Spike" Stent, Sly & Robbie and Steely & Clevie) and several recording locales (London, Jamaica, San Francisco and Los Angeles). From the dancehall groove and note-perfect reggae to shameless new wave effervescence, No Doubt successfully stepped between genres at a level which has seen many a superstar fall flat on their face.
Therein lies the key to No Doubt's continued musical achievement over a nearly two-decade existence. Through it all they have followed their own particular muse and allowed each member's pet influences to surface in song after song. Along the way they guaranteed not only their own creative happiness, but the happiness of their fans as well. Every time you pick up the latest No Doubt album you hear those quantum leap, multi-producer progressions and feel like you're experiencing a brand new band.
The support from all the fans never went unnoticed by Gwen, Tony, Tom and Adrian - from the early fans who dragged their friends out on a Monday night to see them at Fender's Ballroom in Long Beach, CA, to young teens making No Doubt their first concert experience at their local arena on 2002's Rock Steady tour, to all the fans in between and to come - this collection is most of all for them.
No Doubt could have easily wound up another Greek tragedy. Instead, their Herculean determination has scripted a passion play, where the underdog group eventually wins against all odds. A play that is -- believe it or not -- barely through Act One. This collection offers highlights of the past eleven years. So take a look back, but as always, the best scenes are yet to come...
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