The Sunday Mail (Aug. 9th 2009)

In The Hot Seat with Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani, 39, is back with the band where her success began as a lead singer - 1990s favourite and Grammy winner No Doubt - after a five-year break during which the American rock star found another kind of success with fashion label L.A.M.B. and had two hit solo records. And of late she has had in tow two boys, Kingston, 3, and Zuma, 11 months. 

WHY GET BACK WITH YOUR BAND NO DOUBT WHEN YOU'VE HAD SUCH PERSONAL SUCCESS? 

Since we were 17, we had never taken any time for ourselves. It was always band, band, band, band, band - because we loved it. Going alone was an opportunity, a window in time, to just do something different. It was never intended to be for so long. 

WILL THERE BE MORE SOLO WORK? 

Not that I'm planning on. I feel like I'm in a time of my life where I can't really make plans . . . It's really about living in the moment, because if you start to look ahead too far, you kind of miss where you're at. 

NO DOUBT IS TOURING WITHOUT A NEW ALBUM TO PROMOTE. IS THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE WRITER'S BLOCK? 

I might never be able to write another song. Who knows? I did try. 

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? 

I just see myself as really busy and really passionate about all the opportunities that have come my way. Now I have a family, that takes up my No. 1 priority, and I try to make them good kids, you know. That's the newest, hardest thing I've ever done. 

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY LIFE NOW THAT YOU AND HUSBAND GAVIN ROSSDALE ARE ON SEPARATE TOURS? 

When you have the family involved, you take it to a different level. Putting on a great show takes a lot of energy - emotionally and physically - so when you have two little humans and you're missing your husband, and you're trying to work it out all the time . . . some days it doesn't work and most days, it just works itself out. 

WHAT'S IT LIKE HAVING A THREE-YEAR-OLD? 

It's one thing when you have an infant, but when you have this two or three-year-old going, `Mummy, what's the deal?' -- it's harder. Kingston's whole thing is, `I need, I need'. He is insane right now. We're just hoping for the best and that he's not going to turn out to be a freak, but we'll see.