Star Tribune (Oct. 8th 2002)
Stefani gets the spotlight, No Doubt plays on
Everybody and their mother probably knows what Gwen Stefani did between No Doubt's last concert and the new leg of her band's tour, which kicks off Wednesday in St. Paul.
The singer's wedding pictures with new rock-star hubby Gavin Rossdale, of the British group Bush, have graced several magazine covers and were splashed across the TV days after the Sept. 14 ceremony. It was just the latest instance of No Doubt's forever- likeable, platinum-blonde frontwoman eating up the lion's share of the band's media attention.
Tom Dumont, guitarist for the New-Wave-y southern California rock band, has a good laugh when asked if "the guys" of No Doubt did anything as newsworthy on their break.
"We mostly just hung out at home," he said, calling (coincidentally or not) from his house near San Diego. "It was nice, but not too interesting."
Along with bassist Tony Kanal and drummer Adrian Young, Dumont has gotten used to being one of the blurry figures behind Stefaniin his band's press photos. Spin magazine even digitally removed the three men from a recent cover photo of Stefani. She reportedly raised a fuss about it. The guys simply shrugged it off.
"Any problems we had with this issue are several years behind us now," said the guitarist, who, by the way, did attend the London wedding with his bandmates (you just didn't see him in any of the pictures).
"We know how things work," he said. "Gwen is very dynamic, and she plays that role well. I personally never aspired to that, anyway. I'm just happy to play guitar in the band and continue making records."
There is plenty for No Doubt to be happy about as a group, too. Its latest CD, "Rock Steady," has lived up to its name commercially. Ten months since its release, it is still in the Billboard Top 40 and has sold more than 2 million copies, topping the band's previous album, 2000's "Return of Saturn." However, the CD has about 10 million units to go before beating the group's smash 1996 debut, "Tragic Kingdom."
Two singles have helped "Rock Steady's" longevity: the infectiously funky summer hit "Hellagood," plus the new, reggae- tinged tune "Underneath It All," which was No. 18 on Billboard's Top 100 last week.
"Underneath It All" shows the influence of the band's choice of recording sites, Jamaica. It includes guest vocals by Jamaican star Lady Saw and was produced by reggae vets Sly and Robbie.
"We're really proud of the song," Dumont said. "When we started getting all the attention that we did on 'Tragic Kingdom,' we were a little embarrassed about always being called a ska band or a reggae- influenced kind of band. I think 'Underneath It All' shows we're a lot better at that style of music now. At least, I think we're as good as four white kids from California can be."
After the Jamaica sessions, No Doubt worked with a variety of producers, including William Orbit, Ric Ocasek and our very own Prince, who tweaked the song "Waiting Room." As a trade, he enlisted Stefani - who had great success off duets with Moby and Eve - to sing vocals on one of his tracks, yet to be released.
Dumont said the band was a little put off by the exchange.
"Prince had the whole band fly out to Paisley Park, but then the three of us basically got the couch while he ushered Gwen into the studio," he explained.
Laughing, Dumont added, "Can't say we were surprised."