The Bert Show "Vault: Interview With No Doubt" (October 30, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this archival episode from The Bert Show, the team sits down with members of No Doubt when the band visited Atlanta for Music Midtown. The candid conversation, led with characteristic humor and warmth, covers the band's globe-trotting schedule, the realities of fame, relationships on the road, fan interactions, behind-the-scenes stories, and brushes with industry greats like Bono. Gwen Stefani's "potty mouth" and wit are on display, lending an authentic and lighthearted feel to the interview.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

No Doubt's Grueling Tour Schedule & Arrival in Atlanta

• The band shares their recent itinerary, arriving in Atlanta at 4:00 AM after performing at a festival in Nashville.
  • [02:00] Tony (Band Member): "4 o'clock in the morning."
  • [02:03] Other Band Member: "Man, it was late."
  • [02:04] Interviewer: "That's early."
  • The band confirms enjoying festivals, not just for performing but for seeing other bands.
  • [02:25] Band Member: "I love Garbage. I love Shirley. The girl is hot, you know, and we've actually been friends for years..."

Relationships with Other Bands

• No Doubt’s camaraderie with other acts is apparent, especially the friendship with Shirley Manson of Garbage.
• [02:37] Band Member: "It's very exclusive. There's only a few of us in there."
• The fun speculation about a "rock and roll chat room," underlying the close-knit nature of festival circuits.

Dealing with Online Criticism & Fan Interaction

• Gwen describes her mixed relationship with online fan communities—sometimes drawn in, sometimes put off by negativity.
  • [02:50] Gwen: "I go through waves... I'll totally go in there and I'll be kind of addicted to it. And then people really piss me off... they like to go in there, complain a lot."
  • [03:18] Band Member: "Sometimes it is a bummer. I mean, we are only human beings, and it does suck to be criticized."
  • [03:29] Gwen: "It kind of deters me from wanting to go in there and chat... Then no one would believe it was me, and then I'd be really pissed off and storm out."
• Guitarist Tom Dumont is especially active in the online fan Q&A, showing the band's commitment to keeping a direct line to their listeners.
  • [03:48] Band Member: "Tom Dumont, our guitar player... He's really actively involved in posting all the time."

Festival Challenges & Being the "Biggest Band"

• The band reflects on the unique challenge of playing festivals, where not every attendee is necessarily there to see them.
  • [04:26] Band Member: "You know that everyone's not there for you, so you kind of have to win people over. We've been doing that for years, so we like doing that... it's in our blood."
• Playful humility about their headliner status:
  • [04:42] Band Member (Tony?): "I don't know if we're the biggest band. I think we're the biggest drinking band."

Breakthrough to Fame

• The conversation turns to No Doubt's shift from local favorites to radio breakthrough with “Just a Girl.”
  • [04:50] Band Member: "The big turning point for this band... 'Just a Girl' got on the local station, and it was like, oh my God, we are on the radio."

Reflections on "Behind the Music" and VH1's "Deeper"

• The band discusses the experience of seeing their own story condensed for TV.
  • [05:31] Band Member: "It turned out pretty all right, you know, considering it's like, you know, 15 years of our lives squeezed into 40 minutes."
• They mention VH1’s "Deeper" as a follow-up, capturing more authenticity.
  • [05:46] Band Member: “It kind of captures us in the moment... on tour with U2... hanging out and partying.”

Personal Anecdotes: Bono Calls Gwen

• The hosts ask how collaborations and tour invites happen; Gwen shares an anecdote of Bono literally calling her.
  • [06:10] Band Member: "Bono did call me up, though."
  • [06:12] Interviewer: "Did he really?"
  • [06:13] Gwen: "Yeah, he called me up to sing on his benefit record for the AIDS charity."
  • Gwen relays a humorous story about going out drinking with Bono in London:
    • [06:25] Gwen: "...we seriously went to a bar and got trashed. Like, just trashed together... he was really pissed at us the next day because he got so wasted."

Relationships and Life on the Road

• Discussion turns to Gwen’s relationship with Gavin Rossdale and the challenge of connecting while touring.
  • [07:14] Interviewer: "Does it bother you when you see women with the 'I love Gavin' shirts on?"
  • [07:19] Gwen: "I think it's great, you know?... he's hot as hell, and he deserves for every girl to want him because he's hot."
• How touring affects romantic relationships:
  • [07:34] Gwen: "I haven't seen him in like, months and months... he surprised me yesterday... I got to see him for a few hours last night."
  • [08:04] Interviewer: "How often do y'all talk?"
  • [08:05] Gwen: "We talk every day."
  • She's visibly excited about seeing Gavin soon as both bands head to Europe.

Atlanta Experience

• The tight schedule leaves little room for leisure in Atlanta.
  • [08:16] Band Member: "Today is get in, get out basically. Huh. We enjoyed the Ritz Carlton a little bit and now we're here. So we're gonna be going tonight right after the show."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fan criticism:
  • "Sometimes it is a bummer. I mean, we are only human beings, and it does suck to be criticized." – Band Member ([03:18])
• On being headliners:
  • "I don't know if we're the biggest band. I think we're the biggest drinking band." – Band Member ([04:42])
• On breakthrough moment:
  • "We were always a live band for nine years, and then we got on the radio, 'Just a Girl' got on the local station, and it was like, oh my God, we are on the radio." – Band Member ([04:50])
• On collaborating with Bono:
  • "Bono did call me up, though... we seriously went to a bar and got trashed... he was really pissed at us the next day because he got so wasted." – Gwen Stefani ([06:10–06:49])
• On her relationship with Gavin:
  • "Everybody wants to be loved, and he's hot as hell, and he deserves for every girl to want him because he's hot." – Gwen Stefani ([07:19])
  • "I haven't seen him in like, months and months... I got to see him for a few hours last night." – Gwen Stefani ([07:34])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:43 – Interview with No Doubt begins
• 02:10 – Band discusses festival schedule, love for Garbage
• 02:50 – Gwen on fan forums and online criticism
• 03:48 – Fan interactions and guitarist Tom’s online engagement
• 04:26 – Festivals, winning over crowds, being the “biggest” band
• 04:50 – Breakthrough to mainstream with “Just a Girl”
• 05:20 – Reflections on “Behind the Music” and “Deeper”
• 06:10 – Bono calls Gwen, wild night in London
• 07:14 – Relationships, being on the road, and Gavin Rossdale
• 08:13 – Experiences in Atlanta and tour logistics

Tone & Takeaway

The interview throughout is lively, friendly, and honest, with the band’s approachable nature and self-deprecating humor shining. Gwen is irreverent but warm, the band shares authentic insights about holding on to relationships and their roots, despite the whirlwind of international success. The episode captures a backstage pass feeling—showing No Doubt not as rockstars, but as relatable people balancing performance, connection, and fun.