Onstage USA
No Doubt
Geared up to Rock Steady. By Jon Weiderhorn
A touring rock band has to evolve and adapt to survive. Fans might embrace a group’s original style and image for a while, but if a look and sound remains constant for too long, a band can become stale, its music bordering on self-parody.
The members of No Doubt are keenly aware of that phenomenon, which is why the band’s live performance over the years has changed as much as its music. In 1987, No Doubt was a high-octane ska/punk band armed with simple staccato songs, delivered by musicians who pogoed as they performed. Not long after, the band added ’80s pop melodies to their music and began playing with a sharper stage focus. In 1993, they downplayed the pop elements and amped up the punk-rock anger, reflecting the alternative angst of the time. The band began turning heads with its powerful concerts and the onstage energy of its front woman, Gwen Stefani. Read the rest of this article »
Article from February 01, 2002
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BAM USA
The continuing story of No Doubt… are they happy now?
In November 1995 when No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom was just a few months old, BAM magazine chose the Orange County-based quartet to grace the cover of our semi-annual “Local Music” issue. Now, a year and a half later, No Doubt are back; not only on the cover of BAM but back in town for a two-night stint at their hometown arena, the Anaheim Pond. By Jennifer Schwartz
Needless to say, a lot has happened since the Fall of ‘95. From Details to Rolling Stone, the members of No Doubt have become fodder for a media frenzy for over a year. It’s been almost impossible to avoid stories about the cute little band from Orange County who plugged away for years and years in clubs throughout Southern California, until finally landing a record deal. And as the story goes, after signing with Interscope, they release a self-titled debut which dies on the vine and they are predictably released from their contract. No Doubt are labeless and nearly hopeless as they withstand drastic line-up changes, including the loss of main songwriter Eric Stefani, leadsinger Gwen’s brother. But the band perseveres and are subsequently picked up by Trauma Records (which, incidentally, has a distribution agreement with Interscope). After eight long years of existence No Doubt releases Tragic Kingdom with only humble expectations. It sells 10 million copies worldwide and hits No. 1 on the Billboard album charts for nine weeks. But you probably know this already. Read the rest of this article »
Article from May 16, 1997
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Rolling Stone USA
Gwen Stefani tilts her head down, and her eyes look up, her lips purse, and sometimes an unwatched hand fingers her bare midriff, her expression is somewhere between that of a coy teenage “shall we?” and a cartoon bird looking up, up and away above the wall, wondering if maybe - just maybe - it could fly that high. Wondering if this time it’ll escape its garden prison and flutter to freedom. Pop music history is made up of complicated combinations of dates and troubles and events and dreams and miseries and ambitions (and we will discover plenty of these in the tangles tale of No Doubt), but it’s also made up of single, momentary glances that we will never forget, of the occasional flicker in some singer’s eye. Read the rest of this article »
Article from May 01, 1997
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Details USA
Gwen in doubt
Gwen Stefani’s survived a friend’s suicide, a flop record, and a band that was set on self-destruct. Now she’s a international sex symbol with a hit record, a hip boyfriend, and a whole new set of troubles. By David A. Keeps
Imagine being in high school back in the mid-80s. You play piccolo in the marching band. You hate math. You’re a little shy of confidence and creativity. And a little chubby. One day your older brother brings home a record by a nutty English group called Madness. It’s rad and it totally changes your life. You hang out with the punkers and the mods and start making your own clothes. Then your brother decides to form a band and makes you the lead singer. You are Gwen Stefani, sixteen going on seventeen. Read the rest of this article »
Article from April 01, 1997
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Bam USA
Just A Girl
Anaheim’s No Doubt sets the “Rock Feminist” label on its head
Being a woman in today’s pop music arena seems to immediately slap that feminist scarlet letter on the artist’s chest - a tag that most of the prominent females in modern rock heartily endorse with their attitudes. A gauge of this? What would be the assumptive grrrl reaction to being called “cute”? Madonna or Courtney Love would probably have some smartass retort. Chrissie Hynde would just smirk or totally ignore the comment. L7 would laugh. TLC or Salt-N-Pepa would give it right back, only spicier. And the members of Bikini Kill might hit you over the head with their guitar.
But Gwen Stefani of No Doubt would probably just say… “Thank you.” Read the rest of this article »
Article from November 17, 1995
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