Ska Punk act NO DOUBT would achieve enormous success with their 'Tragic Kingdom' album. Riding the crest of an Alternative Rock wave NO DOUBT's Pop sensibilities, as illustrated by the quirky hit 'Just A Girl' and huge ballad 'Don't Speak', allied to the striking vitality, independence (and midriff) of singer GWEN STEFANI would see 'Tragic Kingdom' shifting over ten million copies in America alone. Keyboard player Eric Stefani had founded NO DOUBT as far back as 1987, marking their commercial debut on the 1988 Moon Ska Records compilation with the track 'Everything's Wrong'.

The first version of the band, which included Eric's sister Gwen on secondary vocals, bass player and manager Tony Kanal, would be fronted by vocalist John Spence. However, leading up to the Christmas of that year Spence would commit suicide, shooting himself in the head in Anaheim Park. The band endured and duly enrolled Alan Meade as vocalist but his tenure was brief, decamping when his girlfriend became pregnant.

Eric's sister Gwen was persuaded to take over the role as singer. Guitarist Tom Dumont, previously with Portland Metal band RISING, arrived shortly after and drummer Adrian Young cemented the line up in 1989. NO DOUBT debuted with an eponymous album for Interscope Records which managed to sell some 30'000 copies.

A second attempt, 'The Beacon Street Collection'- which included a duet with SUBLIME's Brad Nowell on the track 'Total Hate '95', was an attempt to collate together the growing numbers of demos and ideas the band was gathering. Stefani repaid Nowell by guesting on the song 'Saw Red' on SUBLIME's album 'Robbin' The Hood'.

'Squeal' would be released as a limited edition single, the B side to this now scarce item being a live version of 'My Room Is Still Clean', only to be found on this release. The pattern would be followed with a second single 'Doghouse', once more the flip side 'You Can't Teach An Ol' Dog New Tricks' only being available on this record.

With third album 'Tragic Kingdom' committed a disillusioned Eric Stefani bailed out to become a cartoonist on the hit TV show 'The Simpsons'.

The lead out single from 'Tragic Kingdom', the bouncy 'Just A Girl', was taken to heart by major radio station KROQ 106.7 and soon spread across the nation. Follow up 'Spiderweb' would fare even better and tipped 'Tragic Kingdom' into platinum territory. Better was to come though as third single 'Don't Speak' would claw it's way to the very top of the Billboard charts igniting a sales rush on 'Tragic Kingdom' pushing it past the double platinum mark.

Australian issues of the 'Don't Speak' single would soon be sought after by collectors, featuring as they did acoustic versions of tracks recorded on tour in Auckland, New Zealand.

Live the band did not forget their roots, often performing SUBLIME's 'Pawn Shop' in concert as tribute to the recently deceased Brad Nowell.

The media would have a field day with NO DOUBT when it was revealed Gwen and BUSH singer Gavin Rossdale were an item. The duo soon became Alternative Rock's favourite couple, not hurting the profiles of either band in the process.

NO DOUBT released 'Return To Saturn' in April 2000, the record debuting at a lofty no. 2 on the American charts. In the wake of the album Stefani's presence on radio and TV was enhanced by guest appearances with Pop artists MOBY on his remix of 'South Side' and EVE's 'Let Me Blow Your Mind', both impacting significantly on Billboard. With media focus firmly back onto the band they returned to the studio to cut the quickfire follow up 'Rock Steady'. A change of tack saw NO DOUBT employing a diverse raft of producers for this opus, including Ric Ocasek of THE CARS, Sly & Robbie and even PRINCE. The record would be crafted in a variety of locales including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Jamaica. The band even re-located en masse to London for a period, cutting the hit single 'Underneath It All' in union with Dave Stewart of THE EURYTHMICS, this polished off in Jamaica with added embellishments from dancehall diva Lady Saw.

The December 2003 compilation 'The Singles' sported a take on TALK TALK's 'It's My Life'. GWEN STEFANI issued her debut solo album, entitled 'Love Angel Music Baby', in November of 2004. Guests included MARY J. BLIGE, DR. DRE, EVE, MISSY ELLIOT and THE EURYTHMICS Dave Stewart. Needless to say, Stefani's album proved to be a major global hit.

With NO DOUBT in hiatus, Tony Kanal teamed up with ex-JANE'S ADDICTION and PORNO FOR PYROS vocalist Perry Farrell and former EXTREME guitarist NUNO BETTENCOURT's new band SATELLITE PARTY for a performance at the July 2005 Chicago 'Lollapalooza' event.