Going into high school her musical inspirations were Julie Andrews and "The Sound of Music" as well as the Annie soundtrack. That made a sudden turn when Eric discovered Madness. The nutty boys inspired Gwen to dress as a "rudie" and she gave in to sing while her brother pounded out Madness songs on the family piano. When Eric teamed up with John Spence and formed a band Gwen was there too. But she was unsure what to do on stage as she told VH-1's Behind the Music, "At that time I was like 'how do I move up here?' Me in my dress... [while John amazed crowds with back flips and screaming]." Tony Kanal answered the call for a new bassist in March of 1987 and he also took Gwen's heart.

She fell in love instantly and asked Tony to kiss her during the summer. At first, Tony thought no but he changed his mind and gave Gwen a quick kiss. After that Tony and Gwen hid their relationship from the band. It was like playing with fire; Fleetwood Mac dealt with it but could a band of teenagers do the same survive? Tony's perfectionist approach kept the secret until the timing was right. John Spence committed suicide in December of 1987; the band questioned their future. At first, Alan Meade took charge of lead vocal duties; but, his time was cut short after less than a year when he left the band. Gwen and Tony then came forward and announced their intentions. Eric was befuddled. How could this happen? But the band pressed on a played live shows around the LA area. In 1991, Interscope offered them a contract that they accepted. In the studio it came time to record the songs written by Eric and Gwen seemed out of place but she survived as always.

While on the road one of the horn players quit to avoid losing his house and the crowds across the country were small. Despite that fact, the band felt those low numbers witnessed some of the best shows the band has ever played. Also, Gwen and Tony were together a good part of the time and they grew closer. After the road and the failure of an out of place album in the grunge heavy music scene, No Doubt came home and started to write. When the record company turned away her brother's lyrics it was troubling. More troubling for her brother; so in 1994 Eric quit to pursue a full-time job with "The Simpsons", who he worked for since the beginning part-time. Tony then changed his mind about his relationship with Gwen. She was ready to start planning a marriage but the idea blew up in her face, Tony said no more. Gwen then poured her heart out and came up with the songs that paved the mainstream success for No Doubt.

"Just a Girl" was inspired by Gwen's dad not letting her go to see Tony. She didn't like the idea and wrote the song in a bit of rebellious fashion. On stage she was proud to instruct girls everywhere to scream "Fuck you, I'm a girl!" When Gwen's mom witnessed her doing this at Tragic Kingdom's record release party the two did not speak for over a week. After KROQ picked up the tune the band made a video. Gwen talked a pregnant Jill Stefani to be in the video. Later, Jill gave birth to Gwen's niece Madeline who Gwen loves and adores.

In the Fall of 1995 "Tragic Kingdom" was released and No Doubt set out on tour. They eventually were asked to open for the English band "Bush". One night Gavin Rossdale the lead singer for Bush had some moments with Gwen. He told her she was gorgeous and she fell for him. They began spending time together when they could. Even after the tour ended and No Doubt played festival shows across the United States they were still thinking of each other. A long distance relationship was not out of the realm of possibility for Gwen but more than a tough pill to swallow for her adoring Gwennabe's.

There was more than just a new beau for Gwen that troubled fans; Gwen was losing her voice. No Doubt took time off in August 1996 when Gwen's voice went. The sold out Trocodero in Philadelphia, PA was the first show canceled. At this time Gwen was helped by a singing coach that helped her voice return and she now practices exercises to ensure it won't happen again. On the strength of "Don't Speak"; one of Gwen's songs directed at Tony after their break up, the band toured the world over and over.

In early 1998 the writing process began again. Off the road for a few months No Doubt began writing new songs to fill an album. They wrote so many that they could release a few albums! But many eventually hit the trash can because they wanted the album to be the best they've ever done. Felt unfulfilled, No Doubt enlisted the help of Glen Ballard a producer who helped out the likes of Aerosmith and Alanis Morresette. Glen helped tighten the album in a process that reached into 1999. Gwen's personal lyrics evoked the realization of becoming thirty and questioning what has happened in her life. Gavin told her the idea of Saturn returning to the position that it was in when you were born when you are 29 and now you have second thoughts. The band liked the idea and took it as somewhat of a theme.

In Return of Saturn Gwen wrote and composed a song by herself. She is not very good on guitar but ended up creating the melody for "Simple Kind of Life" while messing around one day. In the song she calls to mind what she always wanted to do "be a Mom". That's all this girl from Anaheim wanted to do. Live a normal life and help raise a family of her own in Anaheim. But she gladly relishes in the moment she has in No Doubt. Gwen covered her make-up case with stickers that read "DORK" and she never thought anyone would be influenced by her or her "loser" band from Orange County. Not bad for the dork who once led the loser band from garage to sold out arenas.

Quotes:

"We were labeled a ska band forever and it was always something we were trying to get away from."

"I like being an individual, I guess that's kinda what fashion is all about. I'm such a girly chick it's stupid."

" Fashion is something that everyone is guilty of and you shouldn't really talk about it you should just do it."

"We know who we really are, and that it can be gone at any moment."

"I just wanted to be a wife and a mom. This is not what I wanted to be when I grew up."

"I was chubby... I wanted to get skinny. I'd wear things that covered up what I didn't like about myself, like baggy pajama pants because I liked the old-men prints,"

"I think he [Tony] started feeling really claustrophobic, and he'd never had any kind of experience, as far as seeing other girls, since he was 16 years old. Of course, he was going out with the raddest girl in the world"

" Winning was so great [MTV 1998] I wana win everything from now on in my life"

" Winning was so great [MTV 1998] I wana win everything from now on in my life"

Sometimes you have to sacrifice your performance for high heels.

The people who worked at the clubs just assumed I was a tagalong girlfriend or groupie. I'd get up on stage and the audience was just like, 'Show me your tits!' I had nothing to show anyway.

Don't shave, don't shower, don't care. Be really stinky and wear the same clothes every day. I think what makes a man sexy is not being self-aware. That's what's really cute to me.

I want to be a guy, but I want to wear a lot of makeup.

I'm just an Orange County girl from a loving family making music with my friends. It's not really that big of a deal.

I think I've been able to fool a lot of people because I know I'm a dork. I'm a geek.

Tony was the star on this one. He was willing to try anything, and i was like, "whoa!! my best friend is getting me off right now!" There was a real chemistry.

Oh yea FORTUNATELY the girls are a lot braver then the guys, they flirt all the time.

I made out with the keyboard player from Fishbone, and he tried to take advantage of the situation and I was not about to, and he got really mad.

I think everyone has gifts and everyone has talents. If you are successful at it, it feels really good but it never really penetrates completely.

There are moments where I think that we made an amazing record and I'm so proud of it, but I don't wake up and go, "Wow, I'm amazing.

Yeah, it's fun. I love talking about myself. And its yummy right now in the heat ...

I wasn't a cheerleader or in the choir. I didnt have loads of friends.

Writing songs is super intimate. It's a bit like getting naked.

Being in a band you can wear whatever you want - it's like an excuse for halloween everyday.

© 1998 - 2006 Patrick Larsen. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated: 060116.