Circus Magazine (June 1997)
An Interview… No Doubt’s Tony Kanal
Talks about their Tragic Kingdom, his romance with Gwen, the music, Gavin Rossdale… Phew… & More!
No Doubt's frontwoman Gwen Stefani walks a fine line between a 30's movie goddess and a pouting lunatic with the looks of a teenaged Madonna. Her glamour and exaggerated facial gestures have won over thousands of MTV viewers on videos for their singles "Just A Girl," "Don't Speak" and "Excuse Me Mister".
All members in this Southern Californian band shine equally in their own ways at their fun, charismatic concerts so that the other three rigorous musicians - guitarist Tom Dumont, former manager and bassist Tony Kanal and drummer Adrian Young - are as visually receptive to their reggae-rock rhythms as the ever-dancing Stefani.
It's hard to imagine that over ten years ago, the rowdy Orange County-based group was once a pet project of Stefani and her older brother, Eric. While her brother pumped away on the accordion, Gwen's singing and actions were reserved and unimpressionable - a far cry from her strenuous, relentless exercises that she embraces today. Later in the band's early days in the late 80's (then known as The Untouchable,) the Stefani siblings teamed up with Eric's school buddy John Spence and India-born Kanal, rehearsed original material that featured the "two tone" ska influence.
By the turn of the decade, the group was faced with the best and worst of fateful events. Spence killed himself in 1987, and then a pair of 70's arena rock-influenced musicians, Young and Dumont were recruited a few months after. The band's original tunes and distinctive style began to gel, boasting an ear-catching hybrid of harder rock, New Wave and punk.
When No Doubt finally got signed to a recording contract in 1991, they dug their teeth into working on their self-titled album. However the company prematurely dropped the group the next year when the disc sold far below expectations. The band was only too happy to get back on the road and do what they felt they did best: being a live band, rather than a studio band. Their outrageous shows won the group valuable opening slots for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers and Fishbone.
Interscope took No Doubt back in 1994 and the band recorded their follow-up for the label, Tragic Kingdom. By this time, their repertoire was so greatly expanded that they amassed some 60 songs and set aside an album-length's worth for an independent CD, The Beacon Street Collection. This point in their career was quashed by Eric's decision to quit the group during the recording of their second album.
While their first album sank without a trace, Tragic Kingdom has sold almost seven million copies at presstime and the ballad "Don't Speak" has topped charts worldwide.
Circus spoke with Kanal about his past romance with Gwen Stefani, his opinion on No Doubt's success and Tragic Kingdom.
Circus: It's rumored that Tragic Kingdom sold the most copies in one month, surpassing even the Beatles. How do you feel about a success like that?
There's a lot of talk at the moment. I only believe half of what I hear. We're under a hell of a lot of stress and we are trying to focus on what we consider really important: Giving good performances and staying healthy.
Has your success changed you at all?
We never had the plan to become a mega-selling success. That's just something you can't plan. I'm sure it'll take me some time to get used to it, to understand what's really going on. The whole situation is still pretty new to us and it's a bit difficult to put everything into perspective right now. I'm pretty happy about it, that's all I can say about it.
Somebody once said a band doesn't need to have a friendship, but respect is essential for working together.
That could be true, but I believe we're friends. We've been through a lot. We've been touring for eight years, chaotic tours through joints where nobody really wanted to see us, a change in the line-up, a band member died... We're still together and that says a lot, doesn't it?
What's "Don't Speak" about?
Basically, it's a break-up song. But we didn't want the video to be about a normal break-up. So we thought: "What would be the saddest thing that could happen? The band splitting up?" So that's what the video's about.
It's not about you and Gwen?
Oh yeah, well the whole record is about that situation but it's a good record, just lately everybody starts analyzing the lyrics. It's all a while ago and we're friends now. We've done so much in the last year, and we've walked away from that. We're definitely friends now.
Is it difficult for you that Gwen is dating Bush's Gavin Rossdale now?
Gwen and I split up three years ago. For quite a while it was difficult to face the other everyday, but we went through that because we didn't want to jeopardize the band. But three years are quite a while and as I said, we're over it now and we're friends.
Have you found somebody else?
Me? No, I'm still looking. I'm gonna take my time.
Tragic Kingdom is about two years old. Do you still like it?
If we had the chance to change a few things we surely would, but on the other hand that could change a lot and some things might not happen as they were... For our new album I only have one wish: That we can disappear for a while, leave L.A. and work on something somewhere where it's quiet.
You went from rags to riches almost overnight. Any idea what you are going to do with the money?
I didn't even have a chance to think about it. I think I should give some of it to my parents, pay them back. They were worried about me for quite a long time. You know how parents are and how they feel about their children playing in a band. They were always hoping that I would take up a "real" job. But they were always supportive. I think now it's my turn to show them how grateful I am for everything they've done for me.