Being in a group can be like a soapopera! Find out how sudden fame, serious jealousy, and a gorgeguy named Gavin almost broke up the hippest band in the land.

It's been a most major week for NoDoubt. Their Tragic Kingdon album has hit number one, they'verocked out on Saturday Night Live, and they've had a private tourof the White House. But even with all that under their belts, theAnaheim, CA, quartet is stressed about tonight's concert, theirfirst full show in a few months.

Backstage at Rockland Community Collegein New York, the band members chill out in different ways. Bassplayer Tony Kanal is taping the scene with his camcorder. DrummerAdrian Young is hanging with his girfriend , Christine. GuitaristTom Dumont is digging through his huge bag of free Diesel gear,trying to find something cool to wear for the show. Singer GwenStefani, meanwhile has the college's gym all to herself - astarstruck staffer was only too glad to open it just for her.

Stretched out on a mat, Gwen stares ather stomach. "No boys liked me in high school because I waschubby ," she says.

Anyone who's seen No Doubt's babe of alead singer high-kicking it in their videos or in concert willfind it hard to believe that there was ever a time when Gwenwasn't in great demand - or in great shape. But she remembers itdifferently. "I was fat all over,"" she says ofher teenage self.

You're probably thinking, Yeah, right!But Gwen insists that she's forever battling her weight - infact, this very minute, she's working on dropping the five poundsshe's piled on during her vacation. But she's not stressing overit. "I'm enjoying being a little chubby," she insists."I love life, and if I want a rad slice of pizza, I'll haveit!"

Right now, Gwen has good reason to lovelife. After ten years of struggling for stardom with her bestbuds and bandmates Tony, Tom and Adrian, she couldn't possibly behappier - or luckier.

ROCK ROMANCE

"That's my boyfriend," Gwensays as Bush's song "Swallowed" comes on the radio. Sheused to play the "we're just good friends" gamewhenever Bush singer Gavin Rossdale's name came up. Till now,she's admitted to having had only three boyfriends in her life -the most significant of them having been Tony, No Doubt'sbassist, who was her prom date and main man for seven years.

Gwen was guyless - and heartbroken -after Tony broke up with her two years ago. She tried to deal bywriting songs about feelings; many of those tunes, including"Don't Speak," ended uo on Tragic Kingdom. But as hardas she tried, she just couldn't get over him. "Then I metGavin," she says. "And that one night was all it tookfor me to say 'Okay, I need to move on"

Her first close encounter with Brit babecame around Christmas '95, when No Doubt was booked as theopening act for Bush's tour. "The first thing he said to mewas, "You're gorgeous,"' she remembers. Gwen, though,was not impressed. "I wasn't looking to go out with a boy ina band - especially one who's that good-looking. I'm usuallyattracted to guys with personalities, ones that make me laugh.That's what I think is sexy - not some dude with flowing curlswho's tall and gorgeous." But once she got to know him, shejust couldn't resist: within days, the singers were smooching."I couldn't believe he liked me!" Gwen says. "I'dbeen down about the Tony thing for so long that my self-esteemwas way down, too. And suddenly this guy thinks I'm great - andhe has a British accent!"

Last year, as their bands went on torule the charts (it was Tragic Kingdom that bumped Bush'sRazorblade Suitcase out of the number one album slot), Gwen andGavin continued to date but kept their private lives just that.When the Bush - No Doubt tour ended, their separate schedules putdistance between them and put their relationship sort of on hold."We kept it quiet - if we didn't even know what we were, whytell everyone we're girlfriend and boyfriend?" she says.

LONG-DISTANCE LOVE

Though being seperated from her sweetieon a daily basis bums her out, Gwen works hard to keep theirromance alive. She has a photo of Gavin taped inside her makeupboz, takes her cell phone everywhere so she'll never miss one ofhis call, and even phones other Bush members to track him downwhen she just has to hear his voice. Still, she can't wait forthe day when they can do "real stuff" together, like"watch TV, go to the movies, and just hang out."

Until recently, No Doubt had all thetime in the world to hang out. Together since they formed in highschool in 1987, Gwen, tony, Tom and the group's founder, Gwen'sbig brother Eric Stefani (Adrian joined late), were beginning tothink they'd never make it big. Their self-titled debut album,released in 1992, pretty much bombed. Three years later, theyforked over the money themselves to put out another CD, BeaconStreet Collection, which also went unnoticed. Frustrated, Ericbagged the band to become a cartoonist. Then came the release ofTragic Kingdom. Incredibly, the first single, "Just AGirl," rocked the charts, followed by "Spiderwebs"and "Don't Speak." To date, Tragic has sold more than 5milion records.

The only glitch is, their sudden successhas caused more internal band problems than all their years ofstruggling ever did. For nearly a decade, nothing could comebetween them. But for a while last year, it seemed like Gwen'sovernight superstardom might tear them apart. Suddenly, allpeople were interested in was Gwen's singing, Gwen's clothes, andGwen's bindi (the Indian jewel on her forehead). The presstreated No Doubt as if it was just a girl and three anonymousbackground boys. Naturally, the guys felt like they'd been kickedto the curb. "For so long, we were all equal," explainsTom. "Then we have a hit, and it's like we're Gwen's backupband."

The group bravely addresses thesituation in its "Don't Speak" vid. "We made avideo about breaking up at a time when we thought we mightactually break up," says Gwen. "It was so real. We werefighting while we were filming."

MAKING UP

Luckily, the "Don't Speak"video has helped clear the air and allowed the group to go backout on the road, where they're sometimes forced to chill together24/7 - which isn't always so easy for Tony. Being in a band withan ex-girlfriend who's just become a megastar and hooked up withan English rock hottie can be a major adjustment. At No Doubt'snext gig in Asbury Park, NJ, Tony's standing before a door marked"group's dressing room." Next to it, there's an otherdoor marked "Gwen's room." Tony is not amused. He asksa concert staffer to rectify the situation. "Can you takethat down and put up something like 'number tow room'? This makesus feel weird."

Later, Tony opens the door that stillbears the "Gwen's room" sign and finds her talkingabout the short list of men in her life. "Don't include meon your list," he says. "I want to remainanonymous." "We were inseparable for seven years,"Gwen pouts. "Until you met Gavin," he shoots back."Shut up!" she groans. "That's exactly whathappened," says tony, who's kind of teasing, but not really."Everything was awesome until, 'Oooh, big rock star. Well,Tony, he has a private jet. Bye-bye!' That's how I rememberit." "I really love you alot," coos Gwen as hewalks off. Then she reminds him, "We're number one!""You're number one," he says over his shoulder.

But all traces of resentment andjealousy vanish when the band takes the stage. In concert,they're simply unstoppable. At the end, delirious fans chase themacross the auditorium as they head for their dressing rooms.

Backstage, Gwen lets it all sink in."There was this kid sitting in the front row wearing a Gwenshirt that he'd painted himself," she begins. "He wassinging along with every word and crying. I smiled at him andsaid, 'It's ok.' I wanted to say, 'I understand; I've done thattoo,' When you see someone like that, you realize how longthey've spent listening to your record and how it's going toimpact the rest of their life. Whenever they heard No Doubt, itwill bring them back to this time period. That's reallyspecial."