No Doubt

No Doubt is an American alternative rock band whose music was initially influenced heavily by ska, punk and New Wave. Typically classed as pop, No Doubt's earlier work was quintessential ska but their latest album contains heavy elements of both pop and rock. more...

No Doubt is heavily influenced by Jamaican culture and have teamed up with many Jamaican artists such as Lady Saw and Bounty Killer. No Doubt's multiple genre style is noted in the song "Move On" where they state "We meshed the styles of five alive and intertwined and fused it". Many believe that No Doubt have "sold out" by losing their ska roots but others state that it shows their diversity. Some believe that they are still ska, as many of their newer songs contain ska elements.

History

Beginnings

No Doubt was formed by Eric Stefani (keyboards) in Anaheim, California with his friend John Spence (lead vocals) in November 1986. Eric's younger sister, Gwen Renée Stefani, joined the group that same year as co-vocalist. The trio played their first gig on New Year's Eve 1986/1987. The band from then on began to play small gigs around the Orange County area. Tony Kanal went to one of these early shows and soon joined the band as a bassist. In 1987 lead vocalist John Spence committed suicide, leaving Gwen Stefani as lead vocalist. Although the band was hit hard by Spence's death, they continued on and began to develop a live following, mainly in the band's home state of California. In 1988 and 1989 two new members were added to the band: Tom Dumont (guitar) and Adrian Young (drums). In 1991 the band received their first big break and were signed to the American record label Interscope Records. No Doubt's self-titled first album was released in 1992 and featured the single "Trapped in a Box". The album was not a success and No Doubt's record label began to lose faith in the band. The recording for their second album, The Beacon Street Collection, was funded by the band and when released renewed faith in the band from the record label and gained No Doubt some new fans. In the fall of 1994 No Doubt would suffer yet another setback when Eric Stefani left the band because he did not like the direction the band was heading in and began to pursue an animation career on the cartoon TV series The Simpsons.

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