The Record (April 12th 1996)

Any style seems to fit no labels on No Doubt

Based on its Top-40 hit, "Just a Girl," No Doubt is a post-grunge ska-New Wave band. Simple enough, right?

Well, not really. This Anaheim, Calif.-based group will undoubtedly confound a few listeners. On No Doubt's recently released album, "Tragic Kingdom," there's the middle-of-the-road "Don't Speak" - worthy of props from Mariah Carey - and "You Can Do it," a full-blown, 1978-style disco number.

"We don't take ourselves so seriously that we need to adhere to one style," said guitarist Tom Dumont. "I feel that one of our strengths is that we like to enjoy experimenting and trying different things."

No Doubt is perhaps one of the most visual acts on the scene today, thanks largely to its statuesque, platinum-blond lead singer, Gwen Stefani, and the band's zeal for performing. Since its inception in 1987, when most of the members where in high school, No Doubt has always put a lot of effort into its shows.

"Live concerts are always where we've concentrated our energy," said Dumont. "We like to have a lot of fun at our shows. We're visual and bright."

It was the band's live performances that led Interscope to signing the group and releasing its debut album in early 1992. A nationwide tour followed but breakthrough success did not.

"We felt like we had done just enough with that record to keep us going," said Dumont. "It was a step up from nothing, and we felt like we had somewhere to go."

In addition, the 1992 musical climate was not fertile for a New Wave-ish band like No Doubt.

"It was at that time grunge was just breaking," Dumont said. "Nirvana and Pearl Jam were just getting big. Our music was not what people wanted to hear at the time. Which is fine because it gave us time to develop and grow as musicians and songwriters."

In the time between the release of the first album and "Tragic Kingdom," songwriter Eric Stefani, Gwen's brother, left the band to become an animator on the cartoon series "The Simpsons." He's listed as a member of the band on "Tragic Kingdom," however, because he wrote or co-wrote six of the songs.

"We did quite a bit of touring for the first album and he learned that touring wasn't for him," said Dumont. "It was healthy and we're even better friends now because of it. He's really proud of us and happy for what happened."

The band has seen its share of tragedy. In 1988, singer John Spence, who fronted the band with Gwen Stefani, commited suicide. A replacement was sought, but eventually the band made a fortuitous decision.

"It never really dawned on us that {Gwen Stefani} could do it by herself," said the 28-year-old Dumont. "We'd been trying out singers and we said, `Let's just try it with Gwen.' Other bands have had just one singer.

"It was a challenge for her, and it was something she wasn't used to but there's something about her. She's a natural performer."