Gwen Stefani and her longtime posse return with a new album and less drama.

With Rock Steady, No Doubt officially joins pop-music aristocracy.

There's a new album to talk about, sure -- and it's by far the most entertaining of the band's 15-year run. But there's a more pressing topic to discuss: It's Oct. 22, and in a few weeks No Doubt will get to open for the Most Important Band in the World.

This is how they do it, Gwen and Tony, interview after interview, a half-hour or an hour at a time, sometimes all day when a new album is coming out (Rock Steady is being released Tuesday).

It’s not often that a band can withstand its founding member departing, increasing creative uncertainty, weak record sales, mounting industry pressure and loads of internal (and extremely personal) tension. But that’s exactly what O.C. darlings-turned-world-famous wünderkinds No Doubt have done.

We spoke with the band about how they've truly come into their own, and why they still just want to make smart party music.

America has been overrun with pop tarts, boy-band bores and nü-metal lemmings. Can No Doubt supply the joyous pop-noise that America needs now more than ever?

Discussing the making of No Doubt’s new album, Rock Steady, Gwen Stefani saturates her comments with utterings of “like” and “know what I mean?” It’s, like, quite charming, and, honestly, a little bit funny too—know what I mean?

No Doubt could hardly have been in a better, more relaxed mood than when we caught up with them 24 hours before they were to take the stage at Madison Square Garden in support of U2.

Globe-trotting from L.A. to London to Jamaica, the band hooks with William Orbit, Prince, and Sly and Robbie for its fourth album, Rock Steady.

Considering her good looks and celebrity status, you'd think Gwen Stefani of No Doubt would receive more than her share of suitors and gawkers, but she said her admirers pale in comparison to those that scream, drool and faint for her bandmates.