Gwen Renee Stefani Lead vocalist height: 5' 6" D.O.B.: October 3, 1969 Gwen's parents were in a band    called "The Innertubes" Gwen's grandfather has appeared   in 2 ND videos and the Beacon Street cover

Biography Prior to the introduction of the happy ska vibes of Madness, Gwen Stefani was a an average girl living in the shadow of Walt Disney. She liked to dress up with her sister Jill and play with barbie. And quite literally, Disneyland was in her backyard. Gwen was part of the Swimming team at Loara High School. The moniker "Frog" was given to her at this time. Music was always in her family; her brother Eric seemed like a natural musician and her parents were part of a folk band named the Innertubes. It was only a matter of time.

Going into high school her musical inspirations were Julie Andrews and "The Sound of Music" as well as the Annie soundtrack. That made a sudden turn when Eric discovered Madness. The nutty boys inspired Gwen to dress as a "rudie" and she gave in to sing while her brother pounded out Madness songs on the family piano. When Eric teamed up with John Spence and formed a band Gwen was there too. But she was unsure what to do on stage as she told VH-1's Behind the Music, "At that time I was like 'how do I move up here?' Me in my dress... [while John amazed crowds with back flips and screaming]." Tony Kanal answered the call for a new bassist in March of 1987 and he also took Gwen's heart.

She fell in love instantly and asked Tony to kiss her during the summer. At first, Tony thought no but he changed his mind and gave Gwen a quick kiss. After that Tony and Gwen hid their relationship from the band. It was like playing with fire; Fleetwood Mac dealt with it but could a band of teenagers do the same survive? Tony's perfectionist approach kept the secret until the timing was right. John Spence committed suicide in December of 1987; the band questioned their future. At first, Alan Meade took charge of lead vocal duties; but, his time was cut short after less than a year when he left the band. Gwen and Tony then came forward and announced their intentions. Eric was befuddled. How could this happen? But the band pressed on a played live shows around the LA area. In 1991, Interscope offered them a contract that they accepted. In the studio it came time to record the songs written by Eric and Gwen seemed out of place but she survived as always.

While on the road one of the horn players quit to avoid losing his house and the crowds across the country were small. Despite that fact, the band felt those low numbers witnessed some of the best shows the band has ever played. Also, Gwen and Tony were together a good part of the time and they grew closer. After the road and the failure of an out of place album in the grunge heavy music scene, No Doubt came home and started to write. When the record company turned away her brother's lyrics it was troubling. More troubling for her brother; so in 1994 Eric quit to pursue a full-time job with "The Simpsons", who he worked for since the beginning part-time. Tony then changed his mind about his relationship with Gwen. She was ready to start planning a marriage but the idea blew up in her face, Tony said no more. Gwen then poured her heart out and came up with the songs that paved the mainstream success for No Doubt.

"Just a Girl" was inspired by Gwen's dad not letting her go to see Tony. She didn't like the idea and wrote the song in a bit of rebellious fashion. On stage she was proud to instruct girls everywhere to scream "Fuck you, I'm a girl!" When Gwen's mom witnessed her doing this at Tragic Kingdom's record release party the two did not speak for over a week. After KROQ picked up the tune the band made a video. Gwen talked a pregnant Jill Stefani to be in the video. Later, Jill gave birth to Gwen's niece Madeline who Gwen loves and adores.

In the Fall of 1995 "Tragic Kingdom" was released and No Doubt set out on tour. They eventually were asked to open for the English band "Bush". One night Gavin Rossdale the lead singer for Bush had some moments with Gwen. He told her she was gorgeous and she fell for him. They began spending time together when they could. Even after the tour ended and No Doubt played festival shows across the United States they were still thinking of each other. A long distance relationship was not out of the realm of possibility for Gwen but more than a tough pill to swallow for her adoring Gwennabe's.

There was more than just a new beau for Gwen that troubled fans; Gwen was losing her voice. No Doubt took time off in August 1996 when Gwen's voice went. The sold out Trocodero in Philadelphia, PA was the first show canceled. At this time Gwen was helped by a singing coach that helped her voice return and she now practices exercises to ensure it won't happen again. On the strength of "Don't Speak"; one of Gwen's songs directed at Tony after their break up, the band toured the world over and over.

In early 1998 the writing process began again. Off the road for a few months No Doubt began writing new songs to fill an album. They wrote so many that they could release a few albums! But many eventually hit the trash can because they wanted the album to be the best they've ever done. Felt unfulfilled, No Doubt enlisted the help of Glen Ballard a producer who helped out the likes of Aerosmith and Alanis Morresette. Glen helped tighten the album in a process that reached into 1999. Gwen's personal lyrics evoked the realization of becoming thirty and questioning what has happened in her life. Gavin told her the idea of Saturn returning to the position that it was in when you were born when you are 29 and now you have second thoughts. The band liked the idea and took it as somewhat of a theme.

In Return of Saturn Gwen wrote and composed a song by herself. She is not very good on guitar but ended up creating the melody for "Simple Kind of Life" while messing around one day. In the song she calls to mind what she always wanted to do "be a Mom". That's all this girl from Anaheim wanted to do. Live a normal life and help raise a family of her own in Anaheim. But she gladly relishes in the moment she has in No Doubt. Gwen covered her make-up case with stickers that read "DORK" and she never thought anyone would be influenced by her or her "loser" band from Orange County. Not bad for the dork who once led the loser band from garage to sold out arenas.

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