November 25, 2008

No Doubt Planning Comeback Tour, First Studio Album In Seven Years

By Gil Kaufman (MTV.com)

Quite simply, "it's time for some rock and roll." That what No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal wrote on the band's official Web site about the group finally getting back together after several years apart while singer Gwen Stefani released a pair of solo albums and became a mother.

"We need to play, it's been too long," Kanal wrote. The group announced that they plan to end their long hiatus by going on tour next year. "I don't think we should wait. Pack up the babies and get a bunch of nannies," Stefani wrote on the site during a chat Friday night. "So fun! Would be so inspiring to get out there and play all those songs again." No cities or dates have been announced yet, but sources told People.com that the outing will likely kick off next summer.

Stefani added that "if we go on tour, it will inspire us to write. I need to see the fans out there." The playful chat began with the group trying to figure out when they should convene in the studio, with Kanal suggesting 3pm and guitarist Tom Dumont complaining that he wanted to meet later because he was out late at a show the night before. Stefani answered that her son Kingston, was up at 4am, so she too was worn out. Drummer Adrian Young said he was "nursing a hangover," but Dumont admitted, "I have cabin fever, maybe we should play shows or something."

Young said he loved the idea of going on the road again, and Dumont suggested the group could write and record new tunes while on the road, in an attempt to finish their first new album since 2001's Rock Steady. "Yeah, totally, I think playing some shows will make the studio time even better. Playing shows, writing songs, kicking ass, ND 2009," Kanal wrote.