Singer, songwriter, designer. Born on October 3, 1969, in Anaheim, California (some sources say Fullerton, California). After rising to stardom as the lead singer of No Doubt, Gwen Stefani has become a popular and powerful figure in the world of music and fashion.
Learning to sew from her mother, Stefani developed an interest in fashion early on. Her love of music was influenced by her older brother Eric who played a lot of recordings by such ska revival bands as Madness. With friend John Spence as the lead singer, Eric started the group No Doubt, and Gwen soon joined as their second vocalist. Stefani started dating fellow bandmate Tony Kanal around this time.
After Spence’s suicide in 1987, Stefani became No Doubt’s lead singer. The band toiled in clubs around their native Orange County for several years. Eventually signed to the Interscope record label, No Doubt released their self-titled debut album in 1992. Unfortunately, the album failed to attract much attention from critics or the music-buying public. Stefani’s relationship with Kanal also hit the skids, with the pair calling it quits in late 1993. Two years later, the band suffered another loss when Eric Stefani left the group.
With Tragic Kingdom (1995), No Doubt emerged as a leading force in popular music. Their distinctive sound—with flavors of ska, punk, and pop—won over many new fans. Reaching the top of the album charts in late 1996, the recording’s success was driven in part by the hit single “Just a Girl,” which has been seen as an anti-sexism anthem by many. The video for the song helped make Stefani both a fashion icon and a star. Much like Madonna before her, Stefani wowed fans with her distinctive personal style. Her look borrowed from many different scenes and cultures, from punk style bondage pants to a forehead decoration known as a bindi traditionally worn by some Indian women.
Known for her deeply personal lyrics, Stefani found a lot of material in her failed relationship with Kanal. It is said to be the inspiration for the popular ballad, “Don’t Speak,” which was one of the other hits off of Tragic Kingdom. “Excuse Me Mr.” and “Spiderwebs” also did well on the charts. Their follow-up album, Return to Saturn (2000), did well and again featured some very personal lyrics by Stefani. In the song “Ex-Girlfriend,” she expressed her interest in settling down and having a family.
Around this time, Stefani had dyed her trademark white blonde locks a shade of bright fuchsia. She told Marie Claire magazine that the vivid new color was in response to her breakup with Gavin Rossdale, the lead singer of the grunge band Bush. The couple later got back together.
Stefani started to emerge as an artist in her own right in 2001, singing on Eve’s smash hit “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” and Moby’s successful single “South Side.” She even netted her first Grammy Award for her work with Eve, bringing home the honor for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. That same year, No Doubt released the album, Rock Steady, which had strong hip-hop and reggae influences. The group won two Grammy Awards for songs on this album in two different years. “Hey Baby” received the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2002 and “Underneath It All” won that same award the following year.
After the release of Rock Steady, Stefani’s life went through some dramatic changes. She married Gavin Rossdale in a lavish ceremony in London on January 1, 2002, wearing a white-and-pink gown designed for her by John Galliano. Two other celebrations were held, including one in Los Angeles . The following year Stefani turned her love of fashion into the clothing line L.A.M.B. (which stands for Love Angel Music Baby).
In 2004, Stefani released her first solo album, Love.Angel.Music.Baby, which had more pop and club music sound than her work with No Doubt. The recording received a number of positive reviews. In making the album, Stefani worked with a number of well-known songwriters and producers, including Dr. Dre, Dallas Austin, and Linda Perry as well as her bandmate Tony Kanal. She reunited with Eve for the song “Rich Girl,” which was one of the album’s popular tracks. An even bigger hit was the infectious “Hollaback Girl,” which was one of the most popular songs of the summer of 2005. As if her successful record was not enough, Stefani made her film debut as sex symbol Jean Harlow in The Aviator (2004) starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Her next solo effort, The Sweet Escape (2006), was also a smash hit. Stefani earned a Grammy Award nomination for her duet with Akon on the album’s title track. Before the album’s release, Stefani fulfilled her dream of becoming a mother. She and her husband welcomed son Kingston James McGregor Rossdale on May 26, 2006. They welcomed a second son, Zuma Nesta Rock, on August 21, 2008. Zuma weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces at birth, according to publicist Dave Tomberlin, adding that "Mother, baby and family are all happy and healthy." Rossdale also has a daughter with fashion designer Pearl Lowe.
With a thriving solo career and a popular clothing line, Stefani maintains a busy schedule. This has not precluded her from reuniting with her No Doubt bandmates. According to the band’s website, the group is recording some new material together.
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