Albums & Info
December 1986 Back-flipping singer John Spence forms Orange County-based 2 Tone ska group No Doubt-named after his favorite expression-with keyboardist Eric, who forces Gwen to sing backing vocals. Gwen cites Madness, Kermit the Frog, Julie Andrews and Fishbone's Angelo Moore as her heroes. March 12, 1987 After several raucous party performances, No Doubt play their first "official" gig at Fender's Ballroom in Long Beach, California; the band was second on a bill of 14 with The Untouchables headlining. Tony, a high-school junior, was one of several hundred people watching. Shortly thereafter, he tries out. Band accepts him even though he's never been in a band, has long hair and is wearing Mexican sandals. By the summer, Tony, an organized perfectionist, becomes the band's unofficial manager. Spring 1988 College music student and heavy-metal guitarist Tom leaves his sister's band, Rising, because the metal scene in O.C. sucks; after peering in the window while No Doubt rehearsed, Tom pulls his long hair into a ponytail and joins the Ska-heavy No Doubt, adding a heavier edge. 1987-1988 Part of the then-underground-ska-scene, No Doubt built a huge following of loyal "rude boys" and "rude girls" after numerous gigs opening for The Untouchables and Fishbone, as well as their own all-ages shows. A three-song and a five-song demo are sold at shows. Summer 1989 Drummer, huge No Doubt fan and fibber, Adrian joins No Doubt after calling a number from the back of a demo tape; he tells No Doubt he has years of experience; he only has one. His love of 70's rock and Ska made the choice obvious. No Doubt plays their first out-of-state show in Arizona to about a hundred people. 1989-1990 Band quickly evolves into a solid five-piece unit, expanding their sound to include the styles of each member. With shows opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ziggy Marley and Mano Negra, their fan base broadens to the college crowd. Pizza mailing list parties become the modus operandi as the list, which was started in 1987, grows from a few hundred names to a couple thousand. (In 1993, when the list reaches approximately 7,000 names, Tony decides to have just pizza parties.) August 1991 No Doubt signs a "big" recording contract with Interscope Records; they continue driving around O.C. in their old cars and work day jobs (Gwen and Tony are sales people at the same department store, Adrian waits tables at a steak house, and Tom runs a medium music equipment rental business). Interscope head honcho Jimmy Iovine predicts Gwen will be a star in five years. The band really wants to be played on Los Angeles radio station KROQ. October - December 1991 Between working and going to school (Tom's a music major, Gwen's an art major, Tony and Adrian are psychology majors.), the group drives to a Los Angeles studio to record their 14-song debut album, which features early-crafted songs (1987) as well as recently penned material; they spend less than $13,000. Self-titled No Doubt released. Only 30,000 sold; grunge is in; they don't get played on KROQ. Adrian remembers the program director saying, "It would take an act of God for this band to get on the radio." Enough said. In support of No Doubt, the band embarks on its first two-week, 13-show, Western-state headlining tour in two vans (five members, a three-piece horn section, a roadie, tour manager/soundman and equipment). Summer 1992 Band makes video for "Trapped in the Box" for a mere $5,000; MTV never played it. No Doubt once again makes a two-week Western run. Fall 1992 Hitting the "big time," the band undertakes a two-and-a-half month national tour-still in vans. Although predominately headlining medium clubs, they opened shows for Public Enemy, Pato Banton and The Special Beat. ...want to read more ? visit the official No Doubt homepage here, or go to Gwens official site here. | ||||||
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