Gwen Stefani Biography:

Before she learned she could create and write music, Gwen Stefani was looking forward to a world of marriage, children, and a normal life. When her brother turned her on to ska and new wave music, it set off a series of events that would ultimately lead to millions of albums sold and a huge Hollywood image that reached beyond music and into the fields of movies, film, fashion, and technology.

Born and raised in Fullerton, CA, Stefani had a musical revelation at the tender age of sixteen. She had fallen in love with the "Madness and Selecter" albums her brother, Eric Stefani, was playing all the time. Seeing "Fishbone", the "Untouchables", and other bands caught up in the Los Angeles' ska revival scene only strengthened her curiosity in music, so she excited when her brother asked her to join a ska band he was forming with a friend named John Spence. 

Gwen Stefani initially shared lead vocals with Spence, but in December of 1987 he committed suicide, leaving the band,  now called "No Doubt",  with an doubtful future. According to various press and media interviews with the band members after their success, Gwen Stefani was the glue that held "No Doubt" together during these hard times, encouraging the band to keep trying. She was also romantically involved with the band's bass player, Tony Kanal.

After playing a number of shows and private parties, "No Doubt" were signed to Interscope Records in 1991. The label considered their 1992 debut album a bomb and refused to financially support a tour or additional albums, but the band refused to give up. The "Beacon Street Collection" was released in 1994 and did well enough to make Interscope rethink their decision, but the band was again going through a disturbing period behind the scenes. Eric Stefani left the band to become an animator for the smash hit Fox Network series "The Simpsons", and Gwen and Tony's relationship was over. Gwen created a portfolio of songs centered around heartbreak and renewal that would become "No Doubt's" third album, "Tragic Kingdom", and the rest is history.

With the smash hit singles "Just a Girl," "Spiderwebs," and "Don't Speak," the album jumped to the number one spot on Billboard and received three Grammy nominations. The media began to focus on Stefani's position in the band. Voted one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People," her video and photo shoots focused on her alone, and rumors spread that the other band members were not happy with the lack of awareness they received. 

These problems continued as the band released "Return of Saturn" in 2000 and "Rock Steady" a year later, but the success was muted during this period by new gossip - Stefani's romantic relationship with Bush's front man, Gavin Rossdale. She also started performing outside the band, lending her vocals to the remix of artist Moby's "Southside" and rapper Eve's "Let Me Blow Your Mind." In 2002, she arrived and hour late for her wedding with Rossdale in London, England.

After "Rock Steady", "No Doubt" took a vacation from recording. Stefani consulted Kanal about producing an new solo project that would be based on her non ska favorites. Prince, the Time, Club Nouveau, and Madonna were the names mentioned, and the idea was to make the project "fast and easy." In time, the "fast and easy" record grew into a project much bigger. Songwriter Linda Perry became involved and the recordings became much more sophisticated, smooth, and dance oriented. A number of famous musicians - Dr. Dre, the Neptunes, Dallas Austin, Andre 3000, Nellee Hooper, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis all became involved. In October of 2004, the contagious and manic dance single "What You Waiting For?" was released with its associated music video and dominated MTV for months.

The new album, "Love.Angel.Music.Baby.", was released in November with weird artwork that showcased Stefani's four woman group the "Harajuku Girls". The all Asian Harajuku Girls were motivated by Stefani's attraction with the Harajuku girls of Japan, young club kids and teens who have a flip and cool attitude toward fashion. Appearing with Stefani live, in videos, and in photos, the girls swiftly drew disapproval from the Asian community, mad about the rumor that they had to sign a contract to never speak English when in public, and that Stefani's young girls looked nothing like the real Harajuku girls and were being exploited for their sexual appeal and erotic fashion trends. 

"Rich Girl" became the next smash hit song with the anthem "Hollaback Girl" becoming victory number three. While the songs were all over pop and dance radio stations, Stefani was cast as Jean Harlow in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" along side super sexy celebrities Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale and Jude Law. 

Next Stefani ventured into the fashion industry and introduced her clothing line L.A.M.B. Showing her influence from the world of high tech, she designed the Harajuku Lovers' 4.1 MP Digital Camera for Hewlett-Packard. The camera was sold in a limited collectors edition with a Gwen Stefani designed case and biographical DVD.

In 2005, Stefani announced she was pregnant, but she stayed busy in 2006: along with working on her L.A.M.B. fashion line, she released a line of limited edition Gwen Stefani fashion dolls complete with garments from her videos and tours, and worked on her second solo album. That spring, Stefani gave birth to her first son, Kingston James McGregor Rossdale. 

Next, the Neptunes produced "Wind It Up" was released and gave way to the the full length album "The Sweet Escape", which was released the week as the live DVD "Harajuku Lovers Live".

 

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