Born in Fullerton, California in the United States on 3 October 1969, Gwen Stefani got her start in music when her brother, Eric, invited her to provide backing vocals for the newly formed band, No Doubt. In 1992 they released their first album, but it wasn’t until their third album “Tragic Kingdom” in 1995, that the band found huge popularity; in fact, the album sold more than 16 million copies and garnered several Grammy nominations in 1997. No Doubt’s release of “Rock Steady” in 2001 meant some of the highest singles of the band’s career.
In 2004, Stefani released her first solo pop album, “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” Despite mixed reviews, the album sold over 300,00 copies in its first week. The album also garnered Grammy Award nominations both in 2005 and in 2006. Additionally, “Love. Angel. Music. Baby’s” fourth single, “Hollaback Girl” became the first US digital download to sell more than one million copies. Also in 2004 Stefani launched her own clothing line named “L. A. M. B,” followed by a less expensive line called “Harajuku Lovers.”
In December 2006 she released her second solo album, “The Sweet Escape.” The title track, released as the album’s second single, earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with vocals, for the work with Akon on the song. Stefani promoted the album by embarking on a world tour.
While balancing her clothing line, her family life, her solo music career, Stefani and the other members of No Doubt reunited in 2008, where they set out for various shows around the world. By 2012 the band released their “Push and Shove” album; however, the band went on another hiatus the following year. By 2014 Stefani added another item to her long list of career paths by becoming a coach on the singing competition, “The Voice,” and has been finding time to get into the studio to record new solo music.
I have listened to No Doubt and Gwen Stefani since they were a ska band in California. I even got their autograph back then. I had no idea they would become huge superstars with tons of pop hits and fans.
So I went to see her a few years back at an outdoor arena. The place was packed with younger kids and a bunch of college age people. I remember thinking they were probably just being born when I first started listening to her!
My favorite part was when during a song, the band and her briefly played part of The Classic Ska Anthem “The Guns of Navarone” which made me so happy. I think I was one of only maybe 100 people in the crowd that knew that song and appreciated it. It really sealed my connection to when I saw them last (when they were just another ska band) and I am glad to see with all of her success she still had respect for her roots.
The show was great. The crowd really had tons of energy and it was just a great rock and roll show. I really was surprised at how good it was and how much people really like her. She did all of her classic hit songs.
Awesome show.