Gwen Stefani's Bittersweet Journey: Overcoming Struggles to Create No Doubt's Final Album

During the recording of No Doubt's final record in 2012, Gwen Stefani, the renowned songstress behind "Hollaback Girl," openly discussed the challenges she encountered, despite the band's previous success and her own feelings of "hella good."

"Push and Shove, the title, is incredibly fitting for the songs," Stefani expressed to Fault magazine in an article released on Thursday, June 22nd. "That entire period was exceptionally challenging. It felt like we were trudging through thick molasses, and nothing seemed to come effortlessly."

Gwen Stefani formed No Doubt in 1986 alongside her brother Eric Stefani and John Spence, who tragically passed away in 1987. Bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont, and drummer Adrian Young later joined the band before they released their first album, No Doubt, in 1992. In the mid-1990s, trombonist and keyboardist Gabrial McNair and trumpeter and keyboardist Stephen Bradley began touring with the ska band.

When No Doubt reunited in 2008 and later released their final album, Push and Shove, four years later, the dynamics within the band had changed.

Managing herself and her bandmates wasn't always smooth sailing, as Gwen, a California native who shares three sons with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, revealed.

Working with No Doubt required someone who could keep everyone happy and satisfied, as each member wanted their fair share, Gwen shared. Despite the challenges faced during the recording process, she expressed her joy in knowing that people still listened to the album. No Doubt officially announced their hiatus in 2013, but they did come together for occasional live performances in 2014 and 2015.

Another No Doubt reunion, however, isn’t totally off the table, according to The Voice coach.

During a December 2022 interview with WSJ. Magazine, Gwen expressed her excitement about being on The Drew Barrymore Show, stating that Drew Barrymore was one of her favorite celebrities when she was a child. She also mentioned the possibility of No Doubt doing something in the future, pointing out that many '90s artists, like Blink-182, have been making successful comebacks.

Gwen is currently focused on her solo projects and recent collaborations with her husband Blake Shelton, whom she married in 2021. She expressed her excitement about her long career, stating that she has so many hits that she can't even perform her entire catalog on stage. She shared her anticipation for her upcoming performance at a Warwick Castle concert in the U.K., where she will be headlining alongside Pink. Gwen admitted that she doesn't remember many things, but she is certain that this particular experience will be unforgettable.