Gwen Stefani is a powerful figure in music and fashion, best known to many as the lead singer and primary songwriter of No Doubt. She is also a popular judge on the reality singing talent show “The Voice” and has enjoyed success as a solo artist.
Her three-decade music career began when she joined No Doubt after her brother formed the band in 1986. Their 1992 debut album failed to make an impact as it dropped at the height of Grunge, an angst-ridden genre that conflicted with No Doubt’s upbeat, commercial pop sound.
Everything changed with the release of their third album, “Tragic Kingdom,” in 1995. A third-wave ska resurgence sent the album on to become diamond certified. The third single from the album, “Don’t Speak,” a deeply personal insight into her break up with band member Tony Kanal, spent a record-breaking 16 weeks at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The intimate songwriting became Stefani’s signature, leading Rolling Stone to call her the “Queen of Confessional Pop.”
No Doubt continued to find success and released a total of six albums that have sold over 33 million records worldwide. Stefani found equal success in her solo career with the release of her 2004 album “Love.Angel.Music.Baby.” This album included the most inescapable summer song of 2005, “Hollaback Girl,” which hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent eight weeks at #1 on the Billboard Pop 100. To date, Stefani has released a total of four solo albums.
Not content with just her prosperous music career, Stefani also became a successful entrepreneur in the fashion world. Stefani was taught to sew by her mother and has always had a keen interest in fashion. In 2004, she released her haute couture clothing line L.A.M.B. (the acronym of her first solo album). In 2005, she released her more affordable Harajuku Lovers line, followed by a perfume, eyewear, and a line of dolls inspired by the clothes Stefani and the Harajuku Girls wore while touring. L.A.M.B. has gone on to gross over $100 million and the brand's designs have appeared in W, Marie Claire, Elle, Lucky, and InStyle.