tragic kingdom tour dates

• Moscow concerts Moscow concerts Moscow concerts See all Moscow concerts ( Change location ) Today · Next 7 days · Next 30 days
• Most popular artists worldwide
• Trending artists worldwide

• Tourbox for artists

Search for events or artists

• Sign up Log in

• Get the app
• Moscow concerts
• Change location
• Popular Artists
• Live streams
• Deutsch Português
• Popular artists
• On tour: no
• Upcoming 2024 concerts: none

855,338 fans get concert alerts for this artist.

Join Songkick to track No Doubt and get concert alerts when they play near you.

Find your next concert

Join 855,338 fans getting concert alerts for this artist

Similar artists with upcoming concerts

Tours most with, past concerts.

Coachella 2024 (1st Weekend)

Chester Bennington Tribute Concert

View all past concerts

No Doubt set the bar for all ska punk bands. Conceived out of Anaheim, California by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont, still remains the reigning ska punk band.

The band was first formed in 1986 by keyboardist Eric Stefani and vocalist John Spence, and together they recruited Eric’s sister Gwen Stefani as backing vocalist. As they played the various parties in their hometown of Anaheim, they recruited bassist Tony Kanal to join their band. However, in December 1987 Spence tragically committed suicide, and after a short break the band came together with Gwen stepping in as lead vocalist. The band soon after gained guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young and had gained a large local following.

Their huge following resulted in their first signing with Interscope Records in 1990; however their self-titled debut album didn’t fare as well as the label had hoped. Their “failed tour” also added to the doubt that the label had in the band as they started to work on their second album. Consequently the clash for creative control and Eric Stefani resulted in his departing the band in 1994.

The release of their album “Tragic Kingdom,” which centered greatly on Gwen and Kanal’s seven-year relationship, was the game changer. The single “Just A Girl” found huge commercial success, and the album hit Top 10 early the following year, and hit eight times platinum. The album also found No Doubt with two Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Rock Album in 1997. With Gwen’s strong stage presence, the band was also able to have a hugely successful tour that lasted through until December 1997.

Unfortunately the follow up album “Return of Saturn” in 2000 didn’t find quite as much success; resulting in a shortened tour circuit for the album. Returning to the studio early in 2001, the band was able to release “Rock Steady” by 2012. “Rock Steady” earned two Grammy nominations for singles “Hey Baby” and “Underneath It All.” By 2003 the band released a compilation album that found HUGE success.

The band took their first long hiatus in 2003 to allow the members to pursue their solo careers. Gwen Stefani, who went on to be a hugely successful pop artist with her multi-platinum album “Love. Angel. Music. Baby,” also started her own family with husband, Gavin Rossdale. It wasn’t until 2008 that the band came back together to work on new music and started back with a tour first; and by 2012, the band released “Push and Shove.”

Despite the success of the single “Settle Down” the band took another hiatus in 2013, but with the promise that the band would regroup in 2014.

Live reviews

Newly reunited No Doubt have a barrage of hits to unleash on their audiences and with front woman Gwen Stefani holding proceedings over the whole affair you know you are assured a fantastic live experience. During their heyday No Doubt were one of the biggest name in alt-rock after a string of their hits topped the US charts.

From the dreamy 90's intro to 'It's My Life' the crowd cheer uncontrollably before the guitar kicks in to that infamous chorus. Hitting their stride the band perform as though it was still 1995 and they were fresh to the scene. 'Hey Baby', 'Ex-Girlfriend' and 'Underneath It All' sound as good as you would imagine and don't appear to have aged at all since their release. This is perhaps due to No Doubt's music being held dear by so many of people.

The chilling 'Don't Speak' allows Gwen to shine as a vocalist and she seems genuinely moved as the audience shower her with applause at almost every pause during this mega-hit. Finale of 'Hey Girl' allows the rest of the band to take the spotlight as they jam intensely to this grungey piece of ska/pop. Now twenty years since their incarnation, No Doubt's music is still as relevant as ever and their live show is of equal high quality.

Report as inappropriate

I have seen No Doubt live eight times, between 1997 and 2009 (during their last tour), in both small venues and large amphitheaters. They always put on a great show and their energy is never ending. I couldn't tell a difference in their performance between the first and last time (12 years later) that I saw them. Gwen, as charismatic as she is, always seems to be able to connect with the audience. She goes crazy during one of my favorite songs, Just A Girl, by climbing up on the stage equipment and jumping around the stage. No matter what album they are touring on, they always play their classic hits from Tragic Kingdom album, which is my all-time favorite. They produce a great live music sound. During several of their shows, they've had a trumpet and trombone player on stage with them, whom I believe are their friends that are on the Rock Steady album. Also, during one show, Gwen had her husband Gavin Rossdale come up and do a surprise performance. It was amazing! The band’s drummer, Adrian, always has unique stage outfits (from thongs to baby diapers, etc). I highly recommend seeing No Doubt live, they have so much energy and do not dissapoint.

Videos (12)

Photos (40)

Posters (26)

Find out more about No Doubt tour dates & tickets 2024-2025

Want to see No Doubt in concert? Find information on all of No Doubt’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Unfortunately there are no concert dates for No Doubt scheduled in 2024.

Songkick is the first to know of new tour announcements and concert information, so if your favorite artists are not currently on tour, join Songkick to track No Doubt and get concert alerts when they play near you, like 855338 other No Doubt fans.

Last concert:

Popularity ranking:

• Keane (378)
• No Doubt (379)

Concerts played in 2024:

Touring history

Most played:

• Los Angeles (LA) (187)
• SF Bay Area (53)
• San Diego (34)
• New York (NYC) (23)
• Chicago (18)

Appears most with:

• Paramore (49)
• Have Heart (37)
• Garbage (36)
• Sublime (32)

Distance travelled:

Similar artists

• Most popular charts
• API information
• Brand guidelines
• Community guidelines
• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Cookies settings
• Cookies policy

Get your tour dates seen everywhere.

• But we really hope you love us.

• All Artists »

Tragic Kingdom

Tragic kingdom tour dates 2024.

• May 25, 2024 - May 25, 2024

Tragic Kingdom recently released a concert schedule coming to select areas in North America. As one of the top Pop / Rock live performers at the moment, Tragic Kingdom will soon make appearances live again for fans to attend. View the itinerary here to find a show that interests you. Then, you can view the event specifics, post it in Facebook and have a look at a big inventory of concert tickets. If you are unable to make any of the current concerts, sign up for our Concert Tracker to get alerts when Tragic Kingdom shows are booked in any city. Tragic Kingdom might reveal more North American concerts, so keep coming back for any updates.

Tragic Kingdom Concert Schedule

About tragic kingdom tour albums.

Tragic Kingdom came on to the Pop / Rock scene with the appearance of tour album "Tragic Kingdom", published on N/A. The song instantly became a success and made Tragic Kingdom one of the top emerging great concerts to experience. Following the appearance of "Tragic Kingdom", Tragic Kingdom released "NO DOUBT" on N/A. The album "NO DOUBT" continues to be one of the more popular tour albums from Tragic Kingdom. The Tour Albums three top songs included , , and and are a hit at every concert. Tragic Kingdom has released 7 more tour albums since "NO DOUBT". After 0 years of albums, Tragic Kingdom most popular tour album has been "Tragic Kingdom" and some of the best concert songs are , , and .

Tragic Kingdom Tour Albums and Songs

Tragic Kingdom: Tragic Kingdom

Tragic kingdom: no doubt, tragic kingdom: super hits - now 2000, tragic kingdom: mtv alternative nation, tragic kingdom: the singles 1992–2003, tragic kingdom concert tour questions & comments, tragic kingdom tour and concert ticket information.

• Tragic Kingdom concert schedule has finally been made public.
• Tour dates for all Tragic Kingdom concerts are refreshed up to the minute.
• Concert schedule for Tragic Kingdom is located on this page.
• Front row tickets will not be an issue, we always have terrific seats.
• Tickets for the approaching Tragic Kingdom concert are in stock.

Tragic Kingdom might soon come to a city near you. View the Tragic Kingdom schedule just above and push the ticket link to checkout our huge inventory of tickets. Check out our selection of Tragic Kingdom front row tickets, luxury boxes and VIP tickets. After you track down the Tragic Kingdom tickets you need, you can buy your seats from our safe and secure checkout. Orders taken before 5pm are normally shipped within the same business day. To buy last minute Tragic Kingdom tickets, check out the eTickets that can be downloaded instantly.

Tragic Kingdom Top Tour Album

• Tour Cities

Concert Tracker

• Follow your favorite performers and cities
• Receive alerts when new shows are announced
• Get updates for the latest concert schedules
• Never miss a show again!

Trending Tours

Bruce Springsteen

Janet Jackson

Justin Timberlake

The Rolling Stones

Lauren Daigle

Morgan Wallen

Megan Thee Stallion

Music + Concerts | No Doubt talks ‘Tragic Kingdom’ at 25: The…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Food & Drink
• Amusement Parks
• Theater & Arts

Things To Do

Music + concerts, music + concerts | no doubt talks ‘tragic kingdom’ at 25: the tears, tours and triumphs behind the classic album, gwen stefani, tom dumont, adrian young and tony kanal reflect on no doubt’s third album, “tragic kingdom,” which came out on oct. 10, 1995, and its slow, steady rise to no. 1..

On Oct. 10, 1995, No Doubt’s third album, “Tragic Kingdom,” was released.

The Anaheim-based band — comprised of vocalist Gwen Stefani , guitarist Tom Dumont, drummer Adrian Young, bassist Tony Kanal , trombonist Gabrial McNair and trumpeter Stephen Bradley — feared that the record would never see the light of day. The label had gone through some changes and they’d been shuffled in and out of nearly a dozen Los Angeles area recording studios during the album-making process. They’d also received less than enthusiastic sales of their eponymous debut back in 1992 and a self-released follow-up, “The Beacon Street Collection” earlier in 1995.

“We were really compelled to make that record; it was so important to us,” Dumont said during an interview from his Long Beach home last week. “It’s the honest truth that we didn’t expect it to break through and become a success at all. We were writing the album in such a naive, but good, way. We were writing it for ourselves and to prove something only to ourselves and to make songs that we loved.”

The cover, back cover and CD of No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom.” The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anaheim’s No Doubt (from left: Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal and Adrian Young) released its third album, “Tragic Kingdom,” on Oct. 10, 1995. The success of that record launched the band into super stardom. (Photo by Eric Keyes)

The CD of No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom.” The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

No Doubt vocalist Gwen Stefani performs at KROQ 106.7 FM’s annual Weenie Roast at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater on June 15, 1996. (File photo by Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer)

The foldout of No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom” CD. The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anaheim’s No Doubt (from left: Stephen Bradley, Tony Kanal, Gabrial McNair, Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young) accept the award for best group video at the MTV Video Music Awards Thursday, Sept. 4, 1997 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. (Photo by Adam Nadel, Associated Press)

Anaheim’s No Doubt (from left: Adrian Young, Tom Dumont, Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal) released its third album “Tragic Kingdom” on Oct. 10, 1995. (Photo by Joseph Cultice)

The cover and CD of No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom.” The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anaheim’s No Doubt (from left: Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, Gwen Stefani and Adrian Young) released its third album, “Tragic Kingdom,” on Oct. 10, 1995. (Photo by Joseph Cultice)

The cover of No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom” CD. The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anaheim’s No Doubt (from left to right: Adrian Young, Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal and Tom Dumont) released its third album, “Tragic Kingdom,” on Oct. 10, 1995. The record launched the band to super stardom. (Photo by Jeffrey Bender)

The cover of No Doubt’s “Live in the Tragic Kingdom” CD. The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

No Doubt vocalist Gwen Stefani reacts to not only getting the key to the city of Anaheim on Nov. 7, 2002 at Disneyland, but also the key (in her left hand)to the Mayor Tom Daly’s office (at least for the next three weeks). (File photo by Michael Goulding, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The back cover of No Doubt’s “Tragic Kingdom” CD. The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The DVD of No Doubt’s “Live in the Tragic Kingdom.” The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The cover and DVD of No Doubt’s “Live in the Tragic Kingdom.” The 25th anniversary of the album’s release is on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

THE SLOW, STEADY CLIMB TO NO.1

Though it came out in 1995, it wasn’t until December 1996 that “Tragic Kingdom” finally peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, where it spent nine non-consecutive weeks at the top. The album also spawned numerous singles including “Just A Girl,” “Spiderwebs,” “Don’t Speak,” “Excuse Me Mr.” and “Sunday Morning.” The record put Orange County and No Doubt on the map as one of the area’s most commercially successful musical acts .

“We were on tour during that time, and this was pre-email and all of that, but I remember going down to the lobby of the hotels we were staying at and getting the faxes from management that had the charts,” Kanal said. “We’d be in some faraway place, somewhere in the middle of the night jet-lagged, and I just remember the fax machine with like that thermal paper. When we got it, it was wild just to see that thing slowly climb the charts.”

In 1997, “Tragic Kingdom” was nominated for best rock album and the band was nominated for best new artist at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The next year, the single “Don’t Speak” was nominated for best pop performance by a duo or group and up for song of the year. Each single included a music video that received heavy play on MTV and the band became winners and performers at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Following that successful run, No Doubt released “Return of Saturn” in 2000 and went on to win a pair of Grammy Awards with 2001’s “Rock Steady.” Stefani embarked on a successful solo career that included a Las Vegas residency and Dumont, Kanal and Young each had their own projects, including forming a supergroup with AFI vocalist Davey Havok dubbed Dreamcar . The band did come back together for “Push and Shove” in 2012. However, No Doubt has been inactive since 2015 following a short string of festival shows, including Kaaboo Del Mar .

GETTING ON THE RADIO

Since the band hailed from Southern California, one of the biggest, most gratifying moments came when the songs were added to the regular rotation at The World Famous KROQ 106.7 FM, a station all members of the band grew up listening to.

“I just remember [someone at the station] saying, and this a literal quote, ‘It’s going to take an act of God to play No Doubt on KROQ,’” Stefani said during a phone interview before heading off to film a new season of “The Voice” in Los Angeles. “So, I guess God is real because they played it. I remember calling in and requesting, like a hundred times, for them to play ‘Just A Girl.’”

Former KROQ Kevin & Bean Show co-host Kevin Ryder recalled the first time former programming director Kevin Weatherly played “Just A Girl” for the crew and told them he wanted them to play it on the morning show. Back then, he said, it was heavier punk rock and grunge bands like Bad Religion, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden that dominated the airwaves and the station was actually beginning to receive complaints from fans that there were no female artists being played.

“I remember listening to that song, ‘Just A Girl,’ and just going ‘YES!,’” Ryder said. “I was really happy about it, and ‘Just A Girl’ is a song that punches you right in the face, which was exactly what we needed from a band that was fronted by someone like Gwen, who was just a fireball. No Doubt was ska-ish and that was not at all what was mainstream at the time. But I was so happy to have that song because it was good, it was very different from what else we were playing and it was coming from a female-led band.”

No Doubt had been on the road for the “Tragic Kingdom” world tour when the album was released and the band stayed on the road for two and a half years. From the time they left Anaheim in the summer of 1995 to when they returned in November 1997, their entire lives and the trajectory of the band had completely changed.

“To put that in perspective, we circled the globe three times,” Young said of that tour during a phone chat. “We went from small clubs to theaters, then some arenas.”

The band performed two sold-out shows at The Pond [now Honda Center] in Anaheim on May 31 and June 1, 1997, which were filmed for the live concert DVD “Live in The Tragic Kingdom.”

Young also recalled the first time they heard themselves on the radio while out on the road and staying in a hotel in Provo, Utah.

“It was exhilarating,” he said. “I remember vividly that there was a lot of hugging going on.”

The success came as no surprise to No Doubt’s agent, Mitch Okmin, who first saw the band live at Prince’s Grand Slam club in Los Angeles in the early ’90s.

“They were just such a great live band,” he said during a phone interview. “I always knew if somehow they got the luck of radio airplay, or at that time they got play on MTV, that they’d take off. Because they’d been playing for years and had honed a really great live show and that’s what really makes careers — being great live.”

THE HOUSE ON BEACON AVENUE

All members of the band agree that a lot of the magic from “Tragic Kingdom” stemmed from all of the hard work, late-night hangs and demoing sessions done at their band house. The four-bedroom, single-story tract home on Beacon Avenue in Anaheim, just a few blocks away from Disneyland, served as the band’s home base. It originally belonged to Stefani’s grandmother, and after her passing it was inherited by her parents.

Somehow, she and her brother, Eric Stefani, who was the principal songwriter of the band at the time, convinced their parents to let them turn it into their musical sanctuary. Midway through the songwriting process for “Tragic Kingdom,” Eric decided to pursue other interests, including animation and he eventually went to work on “The Simpsons.”

“When Eric left, it was a real pivotal moment for the rest of us, because he is such an incredibly creative musical genius,” Kanal said. “When he left, it created this sort of, ‘Okay, what are we going to do now?’ But that forced Tom, Gwen, Adrian and myself to step up and that’s when songs like ‘Spiderwebs,’ ‘Just A Girl’ and ‘Sunday Morning’ started coming out.”

Dumont said at that point everything else in life was secondary to the band, though all of the members were working odd jobs to support themselves, while also pursuing higher education at Fullerton College and Cal State University, Fullerton.

One night, Kanal handed Dumont a cassette tape. It had two songs on it, and he told him to write his guitar parts so they could demo them the next day in the garage, which had been turned into a makeshift recording studio.

“Tony hands me this tape and says, ‘Gwen and I wrote a couple songs,’ and I remember being in my bedroom and learning ‘Spiderwebs’ and going, ‘Okay, wow, this is really good,’” Dumont said. “The other song was ‘Sunday Morning,’ and I was just like, ‘Wow, okay these are both great songs.’ At that point, it was really exciting.”

“Those songs were written on a four-track recorder at my parents’ house in my bedroom,” Kanal added. “Gwen and I demoed those songs and that’s kind of what our process was. Everyone had ideas and then they’d bring them to the house. I remember writing ‘Sunday Morning’ and Gwen wasn’t feeling well that day and I had an acoustic guitar and I started singing, ‘Somebody is feeling quite ill…’ and that became ‘Sunday Morning.’”

Dumont said he remembers sitting in the garage studio with Stefani, trying to evoke “aspects of Devo and The Cars” in this guitar playing, as they fleshed out “Just A Girl.”

“She had a notebook of ideas and this was an idea of hers about coming to terms with growing up and seeing what challenges there were in being a female and growing up,” he said. “There was sort of this sarcastic take on it, and she wasn’t just singing like ‘Girl Power.’ She was singing it in such a clever and sarcastic way. Eric pulling away from the band left a space for Gwen to start writing words about her life rather than just singing words about Eric’s life.”

TURNING HEARTACHE INTO HITS

Stefani said that serving as a judge on “The Voice” has given her a chance to really look back, reflect and appreciate her experiences. She noted that she’s currently been inspired to write some new songs.

“Songwriting is the thing I’m the most proud of, that makes me feel like I’m worthy of something and feels like I’ve contributed to something,” she said. “It’s such a personal healing and it’s a spiritual kind of thing for me, because I really don’t feel like I’ve ever had control over it. Back then, I don’t know how we did it. We were kids and everything was just pure instinct.”

In the middle of trying to get the record out, and as the band was still recovering from losing Eric, Stefani and Kanal’s relationship fell apart.

“That time period was a painful time period for me,” Stefani said. “I was very naive. I was very sheltered and I depended so much on Tony, and then when we broke up I was like ‘I don’t know what to do with my life.’ I was so dependent on him and then with my brother leaving, I mean, I followed [Eric] around like a puppy and looked up to him and was doing whatever he told me to do.”

“Those two things were suddenly gone. I felt very alone all of a sudden, but yet these dreams were kind of coming true all around me. It was a great and amazing time, but also a sad time for me. The greatest part of it all was probably becoming a performer. Every single show, you’re out there living your truth and living those songs with the pain in the lyrics and learning to connect with the audience.”

What would have normally shattered a band actually brought everyone closer, Kanal said.

“I think back on it now and even though Gwen and I were living through a tough time with the breakup, as creative partners, that took precedence in our lives,” he said. “Even though we were going through this really emotional stuff, which obviously ended out coming out in the music, we managed to stay really close and be creative partners through all of that.

“There was this catharsis to it, and it was like therapy as we were dealing with these emotions and putting them into music. I think that’s why so many people related to the songs was because the sincerity, the pain and the heartbreak, the joy and the happiness that came out of all of it. It came from such a real place for us and we were so passionate about our band and what we were doing that it translated and people really felt that.”

IN THE SHADOW OF DISNEYLAND

The album title, “Tragic Kingdom,” comes from a song on the album of the same name and is also a snarky nickname for “The happiest place on Earth.” It’s both an ode to the band’s hometown and a nod to how Disneyland subtly creeped its way into the band’s writing and recording process since they could quite literally see the Magic Kingdom from the Beacon house.

“Every night, we could hear and see the fireworks show from Disneyland,” Dumont said. “At night, you could hear the yeti from inside the Matterhorn growl like every 60 seconds.”

“In early 1995, we played a series of grad night shows there and that was huge for us because they paid us a reasonable amount of money and we got to run around the park all night and go on rides in between sets. We also got the key to the city from the mayor of Anaheim at Disneyland, too. The whole thing with the album title is interesting because yes, we’re from Anaheim, so it worked on that level, but it also reflected the turmoil in the band at the time … there was a sort of darkness to our world as well.”

At the end of the day, Kanal said that yes, moments like performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Sting in 2003, playing atop Radio City Music Hall in 1996 for the MTV Video Music Awards and meeting President Barack Obama during a taping of “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” in 2012 (and finding out “Different People” from “Tragic Kingdom” was on the president’s playlist) were monumental, but he mostly remembers the more subtle moments in between.

“We’d go on stage and have the best time ever and we’d go out and destroy and make it great whether it was for five people or 50,000 every night,” he said. “It’s the little things that stick with you though. Like the boring airport layovers and the bus breaking down in Prague. Those were the real bonding moments.”

“There was always a real camaraderie with No Doubt. It was always more than the music. The music was a big part of it obviously, but there was a real family bond with No Doubt.”

• Newsroom Guidelines
• Report an Error

More in Music + Concerts

Music + Concerts | Stagecoach 2024: How to livestream the festival from home

Music + Concerts | Stagecoach 2024: What you need to know before heading out to the three-day country festival

Music + Concerts | OC Fair 2024: Tash Sultana, Cannons, X and Squeeze are coming to Pacific Amphitheatre

Music + Concerts | Pearl Jam, Neil Young with Crazy Horse top the Ohana Festival lineup

This story is over 5 years old.

Navel gazing: looking back at no doubt's 'tragic kingdom' 20 years later, one email. one story. every week. sign up for the vice newsletter..

By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

• Latest News

‘A Girl Called Dusty’: Dusty Springfield Makes Her Album Debut

The 1969 lp that marked the ‘shape of things to come’ for george benson, ‘walking the floor over you’: ernest tubb creates a country perennial, ‘throwing copper’: how live fashioned a platinum-grade alt.rock classic, ‘read my mind’: how reba mcentire broke country music’s boundaries, ma rainey: the mother of the blues, unearthing the best of johnny cash’s american recordings, the warning share music video for ‘qué más quieres’, liana flores signs with verve records, unveils ‘i wish for the rain’, schoolboy q announces ‘blue lips weekends’ tour, loreena mckennitt announces ‘the mask and mirror live’, andrea bocelli announces 30th anniversary concert event and film in tuscany, abbey road studios to launch ‘stories in sound’ live experience, billy idol talks making ‘eyes without a face’ with vevo footnotes, ‘tragic kingdom’: how no doubt’s heartbreak seduced the masses.

‘Tragic Kingdom’ may have been shadowed by breakups and loss, but No Doubt channeled their emotions into genre-busting pop anthems.

Published on

No Doubt is the house that Tragic Kingdom built. Stacked with decade-defining hits – “Spiderwebs,” “Sunday Morning,” and, of course, the untouchable “Don’t Speak” – the album became a cultural phenomenon and sold more than 20 million copies worldwide; not bad for just a girl and her friends from Orange County.

Listen to Tragic Kingdom now.

Breezed in like Sunday morning

Like the theme park it alludes to, Tragic Kingdom is a pastiche of other worlds and cultures discovered through the import bin. These SoCal-dwelling Anglophiles helped put ska and dancehall back onto the radio in the U.S., while paying homage to the ska, 2Tone, and new wave acts they grew up on: Madness, The Specials, The (English) Beat, and The Selecter.

‘Promiscuous’: The Story Behind Nelly Furtado’s Hit

At a time when grunge was still considered music’s raison d’etre, No Doubt breezed in like Sunday morning with their pin-up punk aesthetics, bouncy ska, and quirky take on 80s pop. This was not the acoustic angst of the Lilith Fair festival, nor the raw rebellion of Hole’s Live Through This (one critic went so far to call Gwen Stefani the “anti-Courtney Love”), but hook-stacked, heartfelt and effervescent she-bop.

Their fair share of setbacks

Before Stefani’s platinum-lacquered locks and track pants were a permanent fixture on MTV in 1995, No Doubt had experienced more than their fair share of setbacks. In 1987 they lost a friend and former bandmate, John Spence; personal breakups and disillusioned band members were taking their toll on the band; and radio wouldn’t touch them.

Their self-titled debut album was a victim of poor timing. Released just as the Pacific Northwest was blowing up, no one wanted to pogo along to ska in 1992. Tout plans were scrapped, and it wasn’t until 1994 that the band got back into the studio for a proper follow-up album (their self-released The Beacon Street Collection notwithstanding).

Stood out from the pack

Despite its sunny veneer, Tragic Kingdom is widely acknowledged as a breakup album – not just of romantic relationships. During the making of Tragic Kingdom , Gwen’s brother and bandmate Eric Stefani left the group to become an animator on The Simpsons, while her boyfriend and bandmate Tony Kanal also ended their eight-year relationship, leading to the jilted-lover’s pop anthem, “Don’t Speak.” On a scale of One to Fleetwood Mac, the band’s internal dynamics lay somewhere in the middle, but heartbreak is a powerful motivator, and is responsible for the most affecting tracks on the album, from “Happy Now” to “Sunday Morning” and “End It On This.”

Even during the time when every Tom, Dick, and Charlie was sporting a pork-pie hat and checkered Vans, No Doubt stood out from the pack, powered by the megawatt star presence of their lead singer. Stefani’s vocal stylings easily adapted to the disparate musical styles that appear on Tragic Kingdom and lend themselves to the theatrical characters she often portrays.

More than the sum of its singles

So much of the tone of Tragic Kingdom is set by the first four tracks on the album; from Adrian Young’s opening reggae drumline on “Spiderwebs” to the instantly-recognizable riff on “Just A Girl,” it proved that, even with a hodgepodge of styles – when calibrated correctly – the album could hit that pop sweet spot.

Tragic Kingdom is not merely just the sum of a few singles, it also contains some unexpected surprises. While everyone with a pulse knows “Don’t Speak,” not everyone remembers the underrated ballad “The Climb.” With its bluesy opening and theme of self-reliance, it’s one of Eric Stefani’s lasting contributions to the album. There’s even some disco-funk courtesy of the slapping bassline of “You Can Do It.” Another surprising sonic moment comes at the end, the title track being an operatic ska song with more drama than an 80s musical soundtrack and an unexpected shredding guitar solo courtesy of former heavy metal guitarist Tom Dumont. Even as Tragic Kingdom progresses, No Doubt never lose their pep, finding a wonderful crescendo on the foot-stomping “Sunday Morning,” complete with Motown-esque “whoa whoas.”

If the album’s cover was any indicator, No Doubt was fated to navigate the tricky situation of being eclipsed by their frontwoman. Even as riot grrrl was still operating underground, Gwen Stefani became one of the most recognizable female rock stars in the world. Instead of ignoring the obvious, the band faced it head on, putting out a video for “Don’t Speak” that depicted this exact predicament.

Just two months after its release, on October 10, 1995, it shot to No. 1 on Billboard . The band’s confessional pop rang true to the adolescent masses around the world and, soon enough, their musical and style influence was taking root. In their effort to be everything to everybody, No Doubt became something for everybody.

Tragic Kingdom can be bought here .

January 16, 2019 at 9:20 pm

In one article I read the following words: grunge, d’etre, pastiche, Anglophiles………sounds like the writer needs to stop pulling out the thesaurus.

July 10, 2019 at 6:11 pm

bought the Cd when it came out and fell in love…

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Join us on Social

No Doubt in 1996

Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Welcome To The Tragic Kingdom: No Doubt's Masterpiece Turns 25

The ska-pop greats' sophomore record not only featured some of the most definitive songs of its era, but its visceral lyrics and innovative genre-bending would make a significant impact on the fabrics of pop and rock music at large

In the spring of 1995, uncertainty hung heavy in the Southern California air for No Doubt , a spirited band of misfits from the Anaheim suburbs. Their bouncy, brassy 1992 self-titled debut had been ignored and their label, Interscope Records, didn’t really know what to do with them other than pass them to producer Matthew Wilder , of "Break My Stride" fame, for guidance. Eric Stefani, who co-founded the band in 1986 with his sister, Gwen , and classmate, John Spence, was growing more disillusioned with it all every day. The main songwriter and visionary, he wasn’t much for relinquishing creative control. And for a group who found inspiration in the Jamaican ska, new wave and punk of British two-tone bands like the Selecter   and Madness, the Wilder paring felt like, as Gwen told Rolling Stone in 1997, "such an invasion, at first."

No Doubt took their frustration into their garage studio on Beacon Avenue and furiously recorded a sophomore effort over a weekend on their own watch. The Beacon Street Collection captured the raw energy that made the band so popular in Orange County’s ska and punk undergrounds and peers of like-minded groups such as Sublime —but, then, Eric left the band in late 1994. No Doubt self-released the album in March the following year. It was embraced more warmly than its predecessor and proved their worth to Interscope, who greenlit a studio follow-up. But without their former captain steering the ship, No Doubt was treading new water.

Read More:  Got To Keep On Movin': How Matthew Wilder's '80s Deep Cut "Break My Stride" Broke TikTok

Stefani had already been writing songs of her own, trying make sense of the end of her eight-year relationship with the band’s bassist, Tony Kanal. Kanal and guitarist Tom Dumont picked up songwriting duties along the way, too. But it would be Stefani’s heartache and hopeful angst that would really set Tragic Kingdom on fire—and launch No Doubt into superstardom and Stefani as a pop culture luminary, first with the lead single, "Just A Girl." With sunny, swirling opening guitar riffs and Stefani, in her signature vocal quaver, belting about feeling under the thumb of protective parents and the misogynies of society, "Just A Girl" became one of the most important feminist anthems of the decade. Tragic Kingdom , released on October 10, 1995, also earned the band a substantial number of awards including GRAMMY nominations in 1997 and 1998. Producing seven singles over three years, the album not only featured some of the most definitive songs of its era, but its visceral lyrics and innovative genre-bending would make a significant impact on the fabrics of pop and rock music at large. 25 years later, the album endures both as a confessional pop masterpiece and beloved classic that continues to resonate deeply. 

<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }</style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PHzOOQfhPFg' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

With Eric at the helm, quirkiness was a defining quality of No Doubt’s sound. Though a bit scattered, his zany compositions carved out a fearless approach the band would continue to carry after he left—which worked in their favor, since the departure made space for the artistic idiosyncrasies of the other members to shine. Dumont’s technical dexterity, for example—the result of a varied background of playing in heavy metal bands and studying classical guitar theory in college. Fan-turned-drummer Adrian Young, with his feverish yet nuanced pummel executed in the vein of Rush's Neal Peart. Kanal, who had absorbed '80s rock from his pre-Angeleno childhood in England, played in his high school jazz band, and found profound inspiration in Prince . And Gwen, a self-proclaimed  "ska chick" who loved The Sound of Music , old Hollywood glamour and the Police. While the group retained the madcap spirit that had always made them so much fun to listen to, this version of No Doubt was more structured than ever—a cohesiveness partly in credit to Wilder, to be sure, but they found their sweet spot within each other. The band’s amalgamation of influences and individual strengths created a fresh sound that was so distinct and yet so hard to define, which is what made it—and continues to make it—so brilliant. And it set them apart from the heavy broodiness of contemporaries like Nirvana , Soundgarden  and Hole that then ruled the alternative mainstream.

The shift is heard immediately on "Spiderwebs,"  Tragic Kingdom ’s opener, which combines a new wave-tinged melody with bubbly reggae bass licks and a mosh-inducing chorus. It transitions perfectly into the rapid-fire punk of "Excuse Me Mr.," a song about desperately vying for unrequited attention, the sonic blistering of which is similarly channeled in the angsty "Sixteen." Then, there's "Happy Now?," a guitar-driven rock track detailing a certain painful breakup with acerbic lyrics like "Now you must adhere / To your new career of liberation / You've been cast all by yourself / You're free at last." Hints of horn blast throughout the album adding a brightness to songs such as "Sunday Morning"—one of the Tragic Kingdom ’s best, with ska and pop elements, ascending drums and a deliciously bitter Stefani who sneers, "Now you’re the parasite."

<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }</style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PiBX-ESFDF0' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

The consummate song about Kanal and Stefani's relationship, of course, is "Don't Speak." Originally, Dumont told Complex , Eric wrote most of it. Only after working on it together as a band was it elevated to a rock ballad with Spanish guitar, with Gwen rewording the lyrics to reflect what was happening in her life. It took on even more meaning as No Doubt was blowing up and Stefani began receiving significantly more attention than her bandmates—the simmering tension of which is played up in the song’s music video . The song’s popularity—and, to a larger extent, the album’s—made it challenging to keep revisiting the breakup each time they did press, Kanal said . But, he added, "The fact that we got through all that stuff and we persevered through all that is a real testament to our friendship. I think it’s also a testament to how much the band means to us. We didn’t let it break us up as a band, and we just kept going and it made us stronger."

<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }</style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TR3Vdo5etCQ' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Tragic Kingdom is widely considered a breakup album, and it is, but the heartbreak also extends to more than just Stefani and Kanal. The band faced so much tragedy in their formative years, starting with suicide of co-founder John Spence in 1987 when they were only a year old. Spence shared vocal duties with a then-bashful Stefani and was a charismatic frontman who did backflips on stage. Days before No Doubt were to perform at the Roxy Theatre, a gig they hoped would be their big break, he shot himself. The Roxy was announced as the devastated band’s final show. They reunited a month later because, Stefani told Interview , it’s what Spence would have wanted. The unreleased song, " Dear John, " pays tribute to their friend.

And then there was Eric’s exit. While it set No Doubt on their course, it rattled their confidence emphatically. It was traumatic, Dumont said . "We were just a group of friends who were really tight, and we had our band for years. Our band just got rocked with this intense, personal stuff." And, Stefani admitted , it almost made them give up. "We were sitting there saying to ourselves, ‘O.K., we are 26. We’ve been doing this for eight years. Maybe we should finish up and get adult lives now.’ Then the record came out and people thought it was good, which was really weird, because we were always the dork band from Anaheim." "The Climb," a psychedelic slow burner that alludes to overcoming obstacles, is one of Eric’s two solo offerings to Tragic Kingdom— the other being the freaky title-track, which describes a dystopian Disneyland and Walt’s cryogenically frozen tears as dripping icicles—and has emerged as a fan-favorite over the years.

<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }</style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/G0E1khrhE3c' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

But while No Doubt’s early years may have been flooded with drama, plumbing the depths of it helped them find their voice. Collective agony cultivated the strength of their bond and dug into an honest narrative about navigating loss that is not only powerful, but universally relatable. We all experience pain. It’s an intrinsic part of the human experience. And we tend to relate to art that, even if ever so slightly, taps into our grief because it expresses it in a way that we perhaps exactly can’t. It hits a nerve. And that’s deeply comforting—which is arguably why Tragic Kingdom continues to endure in the powerful way that it does: yes, it’s poetic, gorgeously dynamic, and sounded fizzy and fresh against the band’s radio contemporaries. But it’s also a symbol of hope in the wake of tragedy.

"Hack The Planet!" An Oral History Of Hackers' Soundtrack & Score

Photo: Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

7 Incredible Sets From Coachella 2024 Weekend 1: Doja Cat, No Doubt, Raye & More

With a weekend full of surprise guests, exciting reunions and breakout performances from first-time performers, this weekend in Indio was one for the books. Read on for seven of the top performances at the first weekend of Coachella 2024.

While every headliner at last year’s Coachella held some sort of historical cultural significance, Coachella 2024 ’s roster instead represented a series of graduations from opening slots and side stages to top-tier main stage titan status.

Friday featured Lana Del Rey , whose sole previous Coachella performance was at the Outdoor Theatre in 2014. Saturday was capped by Tyler, The Creator appearing for the third time in Indio (his last appearance as runner up to Haim and Beyoncé on the main stage in 2018). And on Sunday, Doja Cat occupied the uppermost spot after her penultimate main stage appearance in 2022.

Yet Coachella Weekend 1 this year’s attendees got astronomically more bang for their buck than they counted on, due to a surprise-guest-heavy lineup. The bulk of those special moments came from  A-list talent, from Billie Eilish with Lana Del Rey to Olivia Rodrigo with No Doubt , Justin Bieber joining Tems , Kesha with Reneé Rapp, most of the Fugees performing alongside YG Marley, Will Smith performing "Men in Black" with J Balvin … the list goes on. 

When all was said and done, the diversity, quality and impact of the weekend’s performances were tremendous. Even without elite bonus appearances, there were plenty of performances — quite a few of them newcomers, recent buzzbands and imminent breakthroughs — that made this year’s Coachella more than worthy of an early accolade for one of the first-rate fests of 2024. Read on for seven of the best sets from Coachella 2024.

Faye Webster Thrills Loyal Fans With Supreme Confidence

Underneath the shaded canopy of the Mojave Tent, Faye Webster held her sprawling audience in the palm of her hand during her Coachella debut on Friday. Deafening cheers rang out at the start of every song, which seemed to infuse the 26-year-old singer/songwriter with a level of energy unparalleled up to this point in her career.

Webster deftly worked her way through 11 tracks, each one received with wild cheers from fans, who sang with such gusto that they often nearly overpowered her own vocals. The crossroads of her confidence and creativity fully manifested during closing tune "Kingston," which saw her pausing to let the audience belt out the remainder of the line, a beckoning gesture that exuded self-assuredness. 

Notably, three of six new songs ("Wanna Quit All the Time," "He Loves Me Yeah!" and "Lego Ring") from her recently released fifth album Underdressed at the Symphony were live debuts. The fact that Webster saved them for Coachella showed a clear intention to ensure the set was extra special. Beyond any shadow of doubt, she succeeded. 

Lana Del Rey Taps Billie Eilish, Jon Batiste & Others For Standout Friday Set

With her notoriously downtempo demeanor, Lana Del Rey wasn’t the obvious choice for a Friday headlining spot on the main stage, but when all was said and done, her 20-song set delivered plenty to position her as a standout performer. 

Dressed in an elegant baby blue gown, her entrance — a slow ride on the back of a motorbike through the lanes of the crowd all the way to the stage — worked wonders to build excitement. And her first three song choices, a shortened version of "Without You" (not performed since 2014) and two more gems from the vault — "West Coast" (debuted 10 years ago to the day at her first Coachella appearance) and her superb cover of Sublime’s "Doin’ Time" — signaled her intention to make this show a truly special occasion (neither of the latter two tunes have appeared on a setlist since 2019).

From there it was a parade of hits culled from her robust catalog, as the GRAMMY-nominated singer waltzed her way across the expanse of a fairytale palace stage production, at several points venturing up flights of stairs to a towering terrace. Four of her 10 albums feature production from Jack Antonoff (who played with Bleachers on Saturday), so it was unsurprising when he took the helm of the white grand piano toward the end for a strikingly serene duet with a hologram Lana on "Hope is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me to Have — But I Have It."

Jon Batiste (who performed his own set on Saturday) also assisted on piano for an alluring take on "Candy Necklace," but the pinnacle moment arrived during performances of "ocean eyes" and "Video Games" alongside surprise guest Bil l ie Eilish . Sitting side by side atop a balcony, the two harmonized through much of those tracks, and the occasions when Lana sat back to let Billie sing several sections solo were absolutely arresting. The two superstars stared adoringly at each other throughout, clearly just as awe-inspired by the unprecedented collaboration as the audience, which erupted with rapturous applause that rivaled the decibels of the set’s glittering fireworks finale.

Raye Races Toward Superstardom During Emotional Debut

After just one song of Raye’s Saturday afternoon performance, there was no question that her Coachella debut would be remembered as one of the most striking in recent years. The British songwriter and chanteuse, who shattered the record for most wins and nominations in a single year at this year’s BRIT Awards, poured every ounce of her soul into her 45-minute set. The crowd inside the Mojave tent hung on every note and went absolutely berserk all the way from the sultry intro of "The Thrill is Gone" to gloriously anthemic closer "Escapism."

Backed by a powerhouse band of eight backup singers, three string players, four brass aces and the standard guitar, drums and bass, each song was a showstopper. Without question, the most impactful moment came on "Ice Cream Man," which deals with her own experience with sexual assault and rape.

"I want you to know it’s not an easy song to sing," she started. And before she could continue, the audience released a loud roar of support, to the point that the singer shed tears. When she composed herself, she continued, "But it’s important to be loud .. and to be brave. This allows me to be loud about something I’ve been quiet about my entire life. I am very f—ing strong."

That moment — which culminated into a big band-style belter that evoked the power of Amy Winehouse and Billie Holiday — likewise drew tears from many in the audience. Further, it defined Raye as an artist destined for superstardom on the merits of genuine talent, an infinitely infectious spirit, and incomparably hard work ethic. To that end, it should be no surprise she’s the songwriter behind tunes from GRAMMY-winning artists including Beyoncé , no big deal. 

Sublime Revives Their Definitive Sound Alongside Jakob Nowell

Though many were referring to Sublime’s Saturday afternoon appearance on the Coachella main stage as a "reunion" in the days leading up to the festival, new frontman Jakob Nowell — son of the band’s deceased original singer Bradley Nowell — made it abundantly clear that wasn’t precisely the case.

"My name is Jakob Nowell and this is Sublime," he said following the conclusion of opening song "April 29, 1992," gesturing toward the beloved Southern California ska-punk band’s surviving members bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh.

Read more: Sublime's Jakob Nowell On Leading His Father's Legendary Band & What To Expect At Coachella

His resistance to co-opt his dad’s legacy was admirable, which was an issue for some when Rome Ramirez joined Wilson and Gaugh in 2009 to form Sublime with Rome , a chapter that ended for those original members when Gaugh left the band in 2011 and Wilson subsequently exited in February. With all the pieces in place, the next hour played out as a fantastically fun alliance of old and new.

Jakob sounded strikingly like his dad during most moments, though he asserted his own spin on the classic sound by adding a hardcore-esque growl at various points in the set. Among the 14 songs, they revived early-era material that hadn’t been played live since the mid '90s, including "Date Rape," "Badfish" and "Doin’ Time." One cut, "Romeo," had not been performed live since 1988. The band likewise included tunes that Bradley never got to perform from the band’s final self-titled album, including some of their biggest commercial successes. Tracks such as "What I Got" and "Santeria" were sung by thousands, a chorus oozing with celebratory mass catharsis. 

By the end, there could be only one conclusion: the most definitive version of a revived Sublime has arrived and, should they choose to continue on, they’ll be received by fans with open arms. 

No Doubt Snatches Headliner Status During Jubilant Reunion

Though the reunion of No Doubt was billed as the runner-up to Tyler, the Creator’s Saturday night finisher, it’s absolutely valid to argue that the beloved Southern California outfit — playing their first show since 2015 — was the evening’s true headliner. The eye-popping expanse and unerring enthusiasm of the audience (the largest of the weekend), combined with the group’s sheer joy and explosive energy, drove the feeling home.

Every member of the core group — bassist Tony Kanal , guitarist Tom Dumont , drummer Adrian Young and frontwoman Gwen Stefani — emanated pure exultation, wide grins plastered permanently on their faces. Stefani was especially fired up; after the band powered through five treasured tracks — including opener "Hella Good" (performed at the end of long catwalk), "Ex-Girlfriend," and "Different People" (featured for the first time since 2009) — the singer stopped to address the sea of screaming fans.

"Wow … you showed up to Coachella Saturday night 2024 to see No Doubt play together on this stage for the first time in nine years. Are you crazy?!" Stefani said. "If I could just somehow explain the amount of love [we feel] and how much I wanna slap the s— out of you guys tonight!"

The sentiment was meant endearingly, but every song did hit intensely. In particular, a rendition of "Bathwater" featuring special guest Olivia Rodrigo — as hyped as Stefani with her never-ending spinning and bouncing antics — left a lasting mark. For old school fans, the Return to Saturn single was a special treat, and with Rodrigo in the mix, it elicited equal exuberance from younger audience members.

For the finale of the 16-song setlist, the band fulfilled the promise of euphoric nostalgia with a hard-hitting trio of tracks off 1995 breakthrough third album Tragic Kingdom : "Just a Girl," "Don’t Speak" and "Spiderwebs." The timeless tunes incited a sudden surge of fans toward the stage, and one would’ve been hard pressed to spot anyone not participating in the jubilant singalongs. It was a moment of multi-generational unity and unbridled joy — unquestionably unforgettable, and hopefully just the precursor to a triumphant new era of No Doubt.

Olivia Dean Enters the Stateside Festival Scene With Humbling Authenticity

Watching the first few moments of British neo-soul singer Olivia Dean’s Sunday afternoon performance in the Gobi tent, you’d never know this was her first American festival appearance. And what an incredible debut, at one of the States’ most prestigious festivals with only one album under belt (2023’s Messy ) to boot. The 25-year-old stunned with utmost finesse and confidence, working the stage like a long-established diva and immediately eliciting rapturous applause after each of the first two songs, "OK Love You Bye" and "Echo."

While it can sometimes be off-putting when an artist introduces every song with a tidbit explaining what it’s about, this method had the opposite effect for Dean. Her context made each moment feel intensely personal, and the audience reaction was overwhelming. One of many tunes with a distinctly Motown bop, "The Hardest Part," was prefaced with the remark that it "recently changed [her] life," and spoke to the process of overcoming grief. After the final note was sung, she received a deafening standing ovation, prompting her to endearingly cover her face in response. And there was so much power in her anecdote before "Carmen," a tribute to how her grandmother made everything possible for her. 

"My granny came to London when she was 18 … had never been on a plane … left her life behind and had my mom, and my mom had me," she said, already being drowned out by cheers before the final remark: "This song is for my granny and anyone brave enough to move and any immigrant in the crowd right now."

As she wrapped up her short set with the bewitching single "Dive," the sun broke through the clouds, illuminating her with the loveliest natural spotlight to complement a performer who already naturally, effortlessly shines on her own.

Doja Cat Exudes Total Command & Flawless Flow For Sunday Finale 

It cannot be overstated: Doja Cat’s fest-closing performance on the main stage was a visionary masterpiece, and the strongest headlining set of the first weekend. That wasn’t certain from the stripped-down beginning moments when the GRAMMY-winning singer/rapper appeared on a circular b-stage mid-audience, dressed in a hazmat suit and encircled by a black and yellow biohazard pattern.

But excitement built steadily as she bombastically delivered opening song "ACKNOWLEDGE ME," which, even in an abbreviated format, lived up to its title and created a palpable air of anticipation. From there, she strutted back toward the main stage via a connected catwalk, meeting briefly in the middle with South African quintet the Joy (set to release their self-titled debut album on June 21) offering up fiery raps amidst the group’s arresting a cappella .

Shortly after, Doja appeared on the main stage dressed in a knee-length platinum blonde weave, flanked by an army of dancers who all wore matching getups covered in the same synthetic hair. The effect when they all converged, their movements completely in sync, created an optical illusion of one enormous hairy creature moving across the stage to punctuate the ferocity of "Demons." 

That was just the first taste of a breathtaking series of visual sequences over the course of the 70-minute show, each profoundly enhanced by cinematography that created the effect of watching a top-quality music video on the main stage’s massive screens. If you witnessed the camera work during Beyoncé’s Homecoming show back in 2018 or Rosalía’s production in 2023, you’ll understand the aesthetic. 

Other key moments when the video work was utterly astonishing arrived during the live debut of "OKLOSER" (one of five first-time song features) where the previously smooth camera went rogue, shakily weaving through the gang of dancers to create the effect of maneuvering through a chaotic house party; again during "Attention" as the lens wove through dancers in fur coats wielding Cruella de Vil-inspired cabrioles until it settled on Doja at the end of the line; and finally during closing track, "Wet Vagina," where Doja and her dancers rolled and writhed (in perfect choreographed unison) on the b-stage filled with brown mud, the sequel ending in a stunning birds-eye shot. 

Backtracking a few moments earlier, maybe the most jaw-dropping production element came on "WYM Freestyle" in the form of a giant T-Rex skeleton following Doja down the catwalk while flames erupted from the stage behind her. The precise reason for that wasn’t evident, but it certainly boosted the ferocity of her raw rap delivery.

The unending visual feast only served to amplify Doja’s already flawless flow. She never missed a vocal mark, whether singing or rapping. She didn’t even once pause to banter with the audience, creating the effect of total focus and command. Big bonuses: 21 Savage materializing mid-set to serve up "n.h.i.e.," Teezo Touchdown’s cameo on "MASC" and A$AP Rocky (who likewise performed with Tyler, the Creator on Saturday) swooping in for "URRRGE!!!!!!!!!!" before Doja dazzled with super-hit "Paint the Town Red."

When all was said and done, Doja Cat more-than-earned her graduation to festival headliner, and while she’s already set for an arena tour this year, she’s clearly destined to stun at stadiums not far in the future. 

Coachella 2024 Weekend 1 Recap: 20 Surprises And Special Moments, From Billie Eilish & Lana Del Rey To Olivia Rodrigo With No Doubt

Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Weekend 1 of Coachella 2024 is a wrap, and the internet can’t stop talking about it. Here are 20 surprises and special moments from Coachella so far, including inspired team-ups, wackadoo moments in the clutch, and much more.

It may be hard to believe, but Weekend 1 of Coachella 2024 is already over. Clearly, time flies when you’re having fun — particularly when beholding the world’s leading artists, convened in the Indio desert in California.

If you weren’t there, the festival was filmed, of course. You can enjoy Coachella from the comfort of your own home, sans-sunburn, undrenched with champagne.

As you survey Coachella’s sold-out first weekend, read on for 20 performances, debuts and moments that surprised and touched us from Coachella Weekend 1.

Lana Del Rey's Headlining Set Brought Out GRAMMY Winners Billie Eilish, Jon Batiste & Jack Antonoff

After rolling deep up to her desert set on a fleet of motorcycles for her Friday performance, Lana Del Rey infused her iconic sad-girl pop persona into every facet of her Gatsby-esque performance.  Her headlining set also included some special GRAMMY-winning guests: Jon Batiste and 2024 Producer Of The Year Jack Antonoff both accompanied on piano, while Billie Eilish joined her idol on stage for duet performances of "Ocean Eyes" and "Video Games." Sharing a moment with her hero on stage at the end of the set, Eilish declared, "This is the reason for half you bitches’ existence, including mine.”

Tyler, The Creator Brings Out Childish Gambino, A$AP Rocky, Kali Uchis and Charlie Wilson

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rolling Stone (@rollingstone)

Saturday's main stage event kicked off with a ruckus 80-minute set by creative magnet Tyler, The Creator , who transformed the stage into an ever-changing desert scene to host fellow performers.

First up, Childish Gambino hit the stage to perform a duet of "Running Out of Time," before A$AP Rocky joined for a performance of two tracks, "Potato Salad" and "Who Dat Boy."

Tyler admitted he once saw both as rivals, but now considers them friends. Kali Uchis also returned to the desert stage with Tyler for a quick appearance as well as legendary singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson , who made an unexpected appearance to accompany Tyler on a laid-back version of "EARFQUAKE." 

No Doubt Made Their Grand Re-Entrance (With Olivia Rodrigo!)

.body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } No Doubt electrified Coachella with their first performance in nine years , featuring all original members and a blend of eclectic hits that defined their career. Their memorable reunion set highlighted their timeless appeal and was punctuated by a surprise appearance from pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo for a duet performance of No Doubt classic, "Bathwater." Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Show Up To Support Ice Spice And Jack Antonoff's Bleachers The Queen of Pop, Taylor Swift herself, showed up on Sunday with her boyfriend Travis Kelce among the crowds to support her friends: producer and Bleachers band member Jack Antonoff and Eras tourmate Ice Spice .  Will Smith Joined J Balvin For The “Men In Black” Theme .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } What slap? Last year, Will Smith appeared at “A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip Hop” as one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. And at Coachella 2024, the world was treated to another throwback, as he and four-time GRAMMY nominee J Balvin performed the immortal theme to Men in Black . Doja Cat Brought Out A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and Teezo Touchdown GRAMMY winner and 19-time nominee Doja Cat turned in a performance heavy on rap — and also puppet dinosaurs. As per the former, A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and Teezo Touchdown touched down, collaborating with Doja on “Urrrge,” “N.H.I.E.,” and “Masc,” respectively. Ice Spice Previewed A New Song Onstage Something’s stirring in Ice Spiceworld. At Coachella, she wowed with her live debut of a new song that sampled Sean Paul ’s 2005 track “Gimme the Light.” (She closed out with “Think U the Shit (Fart).”) As reported earlier in April , Ice Spice is going to make her acting debut in Spike Lee ’s new movie High and Low , starring Denzel Washington .  Peso Pluma Made His Coachella Debut ¡Corridos tumbados de por vida! In the wake of his big wi n at the 2024 GRAMMYs — Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano), for GÉNESIS — Peso Pluma lit up Coachella 2024 with that signature fusion of folky guitar ballads and modern hip-hop, with special guests including Becky G and Arcángel . Lil Uzi Vert Previewed A New Song Onstage Ice Spice wasn’t the only act to preview new material at Coachella 2024. Enter four-time GRAMMY nominee Lil Uzi Vert, who performed a hypnotic and — again — unnamed track, one that seemed to be tailor-made for Coachella. A Mini-Fugees Reunion Went Down (Thanks To YG Marley) Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are no strangers to reigniting the Fugees spirit onstage — they did so at Essence Fest 2022, while GRAMMY.com was reporting on site . This time, they kept it in the family; during Hill’s son YG Marley’s set, both Fugees came out, playing classics like “Killing Me Softly.” (The embattled Pras wasn’t present.) Blur Announced This Was Their Last Performance Together .tweet-container iframe { width: 100% !important; } .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } Social media is currently abuzz at the allegedly unresponsive audience for Blur — but what’s a viral, out-of-context clip supposed to prove, anyway? Whatever the case may be, after their rollicking set, Damon Albarn and company declared that the Britpop icons were entering another hiatus. Bizarrap Brought Out Shakira .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella)

Mega-watt Argentine producer Bizarrap brought his BZRP Music Sessions to the Coachella stage and included a surprise appearance from superstar Shakira .

Shakira and Bizarrap won the Latin GRAMMY for Song Of The Year at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs for "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53," a featured track on her fresh-out-the-trap album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran . 

Billie Eilish Threw A Special “Billie & Friends” Party & Hyped Up The Crowd With The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella)

After surprising fans during Lana Del Rey 's Friday set, Billie Eilish treated fans and special guests to a preview of her new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft at the Do LaB Stage on Saturday night.

The previewed songs were well-received by an enthusiastic set of attendees who were introduced to yet-to-debut tracks "“Lunch,” "L’Amour De Ma Vie," and "Chihiro." 

"Yo Gabba Gabba!" Showed Up To The Aquabats’ Pool Party

Christian Jacobs, lead singer of the Aquabats, co-created the "Yo Gabba Gabba!" TV show — and the colorful cast of costumed characters showed up to their pool party! This marks yet another example of ska picking up at Coachella — see the transcendent No Doubt and Sublime performances.

Sublime Made Their Coachella Debut With Jakob Nowell

As you may have read , Sublime are back, against the odds — not with Rome, but with Jakob Nowell , original Sublime frontman Bradley’s son. (It must be said: Bradley died at 28, ending the band’s original run; as he takes the guitar and mic, Jakob himself is 28.)

Speaking of the guitar — he wielded his old man’s, in an emotional and electrifying set that proved these songs’ durability and beyond.

Vampire Weekend Brought Paris Hilton Onstage To Play Cornhole

.body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } Life imitates Mad Libs! The beloved indie rockers are out promoting their new album, 2024’s Only God Was Above Us — and who better to cheerlead than the one and only Paris Hilton, to play the classic bean bag game with the crew? Dom Dolla Brought Out Nelly Furtado .body-text { max-width: inherit; } .body-text strong > a { font-weight: 600; } View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella)

Dance/electronic sensation Dom Dolla returned to Coachella for a charged set featuring festival first-timer Nelly Furtado who joined to perform their GRAMMY-nominated track, "Eat Your Man."

Furtado gave her all during the rousing performance, a testament to the duo's synergy after Dom Dolla brought the singer out of a six year hiatus to work together on the song.

Sky Ferreira Made A Surprise Appearance With Kevin Abstract

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stereogum (@stereogum)

If Sky Ferreira seems like an unlikely candidate to belt out a Lady A hit, think again. The singer/songwriter brought newfound heft to the five-time GRAMMY winners’ classic hit, “Need You Now,” with Kevin Abstract.

Does this foreshadow a reappraisal of the country mainstays’ catalog? Once the dust settles re: the ska revival, we’ll have that conversation.

Kesha Showed Up To Rock With Reneé Rapp (And Diss A Certain Disgraced Rapper)

“Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy ,” Kesha once rapped, in her inescapable 2009 hit “Tik Tok.” Well, that didn’t age well, and Kesha knew that. So she changed “P. Diddy” to “me” — and if that’s just going to be the official lyric now, that’s fine by the music industry. Reneé Rapp, of Mean Girls fame , bolstered her.

Mac DeMarco Joined Forces With Lil Yachty

Mac DeMarco’s been a savvy chameleon at this stage in his career, prioritizing brainy collaborations over typical album release cycles.

He has two songwriting credits on Yachty ’s game changing 2023 album Let’s Start Here , and during Yachty’s performance, he showed up to perform two of his song songs: “On The Level,” from 2017’s This Old Dog , and “Chamber of Reflection,” from his decade-old album Salad Days .

Additional reporting by Nina Frazier.

10 Must-See Artists At Coachella 2024: Skepta, The Last Dinner Party, Mdou Moctar, Cimafunk & More

Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for No Doubt

No Doubt’s Coachella Comeback: A Night Of Nostalgia With Olivia Rodrigo As A Special Guest

No Doubt's triumphant return to Coachella, marking their first show in nine years, electrified the desert with a dynamic performance that spanned their eclectic hits and featured a surprise appearance by Olivia Rodrigo.

On the first Saturday of Coachella, No Doubt made a striking comeback on the festival's main stage for their first performance together in nine years. 

Originating from Anaheim, California in 1986, the band is celebrated for their eclectic sound that defies easy categorization — from the ska-punk vibrancy of their early days to the polished pop anthems that later defined their career. 

Their big breakthrough album, Tragic Kingdom, was released in 1995 and propelled them to fame with hits like "Don't Speak" and "Just a Girl," which dominated the Billboard charts for 16 weeks. 

Featuring all original members — Gwen Stefani , guitarist Tom Dumont , bassist Tony Kanal , and drummer Adrian Young — No Doubt's Coachella performance was a tribute to their iconic past and a reminder of their beloved eccentricity. 

The standout set was filled with unbeatable stage presence, surprise guests, and showcased the band's timeless appeal nearly four decades into their career. Known for blending introspective brooding with a uniquely sardonic edge, the band has significantly influenced a generation of complex female artistry. Highlights from the performance, including Stefani's magnetic stage presence, heartfelt interactions with fans, and a surprise appearance by Olivia Rodrigo , underscore their palpable appeal and lasting influence on contemporary music. 

Read on to discover five key highlights from their hotly anticipated return at Coachella during their 'Weekend 1' set:

Gen Z And OG Fans United As One

As fans converged on Coachella's main stage for No Doubt's set, the diversity of the audience was immediately apparent. Younger fans, clad in social media-ready outfits inspired by Gwen Stefani’s iconic style (some even recreating her most iconic looks) braved the evening's brisk winds. 

Despite challenges, the alleged bad modern concert etiquette was not apparent, especially after Stefani's call for a return to old-school concert vibes before performing a “Simple Kind of Life.” 

“Let’s do this old school!” Stefani said as she confessed missing the days when fans would belt out all the lyrics at the top of their lungs without much care in the world. It was a sentiment that quickly resonated through the audience and a moment that not only bridged generational divides but also highlighted No Doubt's broad and enduring appeal. 

The Night Was Full Of Nostalgia

Outside of the fact that frontwoman Stefani is allergic to aging, for a group returning after nine years performing together, No Doubt’s stage presence was just as powerful as their past, dynamic performances.  

“There’s no f—king comparison!” Gwen Stefani roared during “Underneath it All,” capturing the intensity of the moment as she dropped to her knees, rhinestones sparkling on her eyebrows and a smile breaking through. 

Read more: GRAMMY Rewind: Watch No Doubt Accept Their GRAMMY Award For “Underneath It All” In 2004

The band's passion burned just as brightly when they were playing local college gigs in Orange County. There was no sign of awkwardness or a single misstep as Stefani showcased the same brilliance of her early days as a burgeoning musician.

She shared the spotlight seamlessly. As Dumont delivered a guitar solo during “Different People,” Stefani playfully skipped and ran across the expansive stage, never missing a note. 

No Doubt has always transcended nostalgia, yet they embraced their history at Coachella. Stefani dressed to the nines in a plaid, avant-garde outfit while background videos played personal and rehearsal footage from the '90s, evoking a simpler time for the group. Stefani appeared barefaced in a plain white tee, bouncing around a beat up truck in a video that explained the band's origins and showed the magnetic charisma that manifested a star turned supernova.

Olivia Rodrigo Made A Surprise Appearance

Right before Stefani took a brief water break, she flashed a mysterious smirk to the crowd. 

As the introspective track “Bathwater” thrummed to life, a brunette donning a glittering “I [love] ND” tank top emerged, her face turned from the audience. The murmurs quickly escalated into screams, particularly from the younger fans, signaling the arrival of pop starlet Olivia Rodrigo. Matching Stefani in energy and presence, Rodrigo proved a formidable presence on stage, trading verses and singing in duet through the chorus, their performance culminating in a sweet embrace. 

No Doubt’s influence on Rodrigo's music is palpable. After all, tracks like Rodrigo’s “Get Him Back!” and No Doubt’s “Bathwater” are cut from the same mascara-stained cloth — each with a poetic, vengeful twist. They were just girls! Living in captivity! The revenge? Being able to put into song the diabolical conditions of womanhood, while allowing themselves to truly feel — whether it be anger, delusion, or plain pettiness. 

The Band Members Have A Bond

No Doubt’s historic return to the stage elevated the entirety of the Coachella-going experience, setting a standard and outshining the majority of the other acts. Throughout their performance, the admiration they had for one another became increasingly evident. 

From Stefani frequently calling out “Tony! Tony!” to (Tony) Kanal during the set’s adlibs to the end of their set when the group remained locked in a hug for several moments, the group was clearly overjoyed to be back together again. Before exiting the stage, Stefani leaped onto the back of Young while she excitedly kicked her feet, as though in protest of having to leave. 

A Coachella backstage supervisor working onsite during their rehearsals candidly confessed that he was taken by the band's natural chemistry. During soundcheck, he stated they were so intrinsically confident and overjoyed about their performance it seemed as though they had never stopped performing with one another. 

They Showed Deep Gratitude For Their Fans

There was nothing but gratitude on display from each and every member during the festival set. After almost every other song Stefani would belt an “I love you!” to the crowd. 

During an experimental instrumental-only tribute to ska-pop, Kanal ran across the stage with a huge smile, at-the-ready to riff back-to-back with members of the group. 

“Indio, put your f—king hands up!” Stefani commanded the crowd as they gleefully complied. Then, as smoke filled the air under the brilliantly shining crescent moon, she celebrated the group coming together for the first time in nine years. 

“Isn’t this so crazy?” Stefani yelped during her performance for “It’s My Life.” “This is our life! Singing I love you!” 

It was an epic return for No Doubt as a band and Stefani as their fierce leader, showing up to Coachella naturally, just a girl . A girl who loves to sing, rile up the audience in a fierce sing-along, and remind everyone that self-acceptance is all their music has ever been about. 

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

GRAMMY Rewind: Watch No Doubt Accept Their GRAMMY Award For “Underneath It All” In 2004

Ahead of No Doubt’s highly anticipated reunion at Coachella on April 13 and 20, revisit the last time the band was on stage at the GRAMMYs together — the moment they won Best Pop Performance By A Duo/Group at the 46th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Right before their hiatus in 2004, No Doubt had one last hurrah with a win for Best Pop Performance By A Pop Duo Or Group With Vocals for "Underneath It All" at the 46th Annual GRAMMY Awards .

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind , travel back to when they took the stage to accept their award presented by Mathew Perry together.

Drummer Adrian Young began by praising their families, loved ones, and the citizens of Drapers, Jamaica, for "showing us how to have a good time and relax while recording music" Then, bassist Tony Kanal took a turn at the microphone thanking their team, management company, and label, Interscope Records.

Frontwoman Gwen Stefani closed out the speech by acknowledging "Underneath It All" co-writer, David Stewart of Eurythmics ; her then-husband, Gavin Rossdale , who inspired the track; and, of course, the fans for "letting us stay alive as a band for all these years."

This Saturday, No Doubt will reunite again (they took a second hiatus in 2015) for a premiere performance on the Coachella stage. 

Press play on the video above to watch No Doubt's complete acceptance speech for their "Underneath It All" win in 2004, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.

• 1 Welcome To The Tragic Kingdom: No Doubt's Masterpiece Turns 25
• 2 7 Incredible Sets From Coachella 2024 Weekend 1: Doja Cat, No Doubt, Raye & More
• 3 Coachella 2024 Weekend 1 Recap: 20 Surprises And Special Moments, From Billie Eilish & Lana Del Rey To Olivia Rodrigo With No Doubt
• 4 No Doubt’s Coachella Comeback: A Night Of Nostalgia With Olivia Rodrigo As A Special Guest
• 5 GRAMMY Rewind: Watch No Doubt Accept Their GRAMMY Award For “Underneath It All” In 2004

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Tragic Kingdom

By Jill Mapes

Trauma / Interscope

March 15, 2020

In the mid-1990s, when alternative was the new pop, there were all sorts of subgenres duking it out for dominance. The success of grunge put everything from Bush to Blind Melon on the radio, but perhaps the most curious alt offshoot to emerge in one corner of the mainstream was the ska revival. The third-wave ska scene ran the gamut from Reel Big Fish’s cornball, horn-driven antics to Less Than Jake’s emo-tinged losercore to Rancid ’s gritty take on the Specials to Sublime ’s frat-boy-and-420-friendly strain, not to mention the peppy breakthrough of longtime stalwarts the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. But there was no ’90s ska figure quite like Gwen Stefani , the movement’s Dickies-clad poster-girl turned culturally roving ’00s hitmaker turned People Magazine staple. There is also no pop star origin story quite like hers.

At the urging of Gwen’s keyboardist brother Eric, the Stefanis performed at a school talent show in their native Anaheim, California in the mid-’80s. Their song of choice was “ On My Radio ,” the 1979 hit by the two-tone ska band the Selecter. Gwen wore a homemade dress that resembled one worn by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music , her favorite musical. Showtune theatrics and Selecter singer Pauline Black (who mixes a hyper-feminine chirp with an operatic warble) would go on to influence Gwen’s early vocal style, and set her on the path of pursuing hybrid sounds and aesthetics.

In 1986, Gwen and Eric formed a band alongside John Spence, their classmate and co-worker at the local Dairy Queen. Spence, whose go-to response—“No doubt!”—gave the group its name, shared vocal duties with Gwen and served as her gruff-voiced foil. They were just kids in love with the way British bands like the Selecter, Madness, and the Specials made everyday frustrations feel lively, and they were trapped in sunny Orange County, the home of Disneyland and suburban punk ennui. No Doubt played the house-party circuit, quickly found a local following, and picked up members, including bassist Tony Kanal, who would soon start dating Gwen in secret. But tragedy struck when, in 1987, Spence took his own life. It was the first of three destabilizing events that would change the course of No Doubt, a band forever defined by its interpersonal drama.

After trumpet-player-turned-co-vocalist Alan Meade exited No Doubt, Gwen was ready to front the band on her own. By 1990, the lineup was solidified with fan-turned-drummer Adrian Young, local metal guitarist Tom Dumont, and a robust horn section. Their popularity around Southern California clubs and colleges grew until finally, they caught the eye of Interscope A&R Tony Ferguson. In 1991, he brought famed record executive Jimmy Iovine to one of No Doubt’s shows, where “Jimmy told someone, ‘That girl will be a star in five years,’” recalled Gwen (and corroborated by Iovine) in a 1996 SPIN cover story . Over the next five years, Gwen would go from singing two-tone covers and her brother’s originals for devoted local crowds, to zig-zagging the globe with her own tales of heartache and rage. She would have to lose the two men closest to her first.

No Doubt’s debut for Interscope, a 1992 self-titled LP, was mostly ( but not entirely ) devoid of hooks, and partially informed by Eric’s cabaret flair and goofy sense of humor (they gave away kazoos at the album release party, if that explains anything). Poor sales made Interscope hesitant to dive right into a follow-up, and the label took a stronger hand in guiding the group’s sound, namely with producer Matthew Wilder. Eric didn’t like that, and over time he isolated himself from the band, despite practice being held at his house. After he quit in 1994 to work as an animator on The Simpsons , the other members took over songwriting duties on the album that would become Tragic Kingdom . Right around the same time, Kanal called it off with Gwen, after seven years together.

Gwen had never really written her own lyrics, but it helped that she was suddenly filled with pain and confusion. She was, in many ways, a girl with traditional values: In interviews from this era, she marveled at the fact that she got famous instead of starting a family, and her songs sometimes yearn for a “ simple kind of life .” But this is perhaps not the impression you’d get from the initial wallop of Tragic Kingdom , featuring one of the decade’s fieriest opening four-song runs, all of which were singles: “Spiderwebs,” a new-wave rafter-shaker about a girl screening her calls; “Excuse Me Mr.”, a dramatic ska-punk number about a girl confronting a dude who’s avoiding her; “Just a Girl,” a fun-but-menacing-sounding hit about a girl just trying to live; and “Happy Now?”, an ever-shifting rock song about a girl chiding her ex. The point was made: girl mad.

Following the surge of third-wave feminism in the early ’90s, the mid-’90s became the peak of the “angry white female” era in rock and pop. It was a time when feminized aggression—from Hole and riot grrrl to Liz Phair and Alanis Morissette —was suddenly perceived as being on-trend, as if women haven’t been furious forever. Stefani, girly tomboy ultra, arguably benefited from this kind of branding, even while she maintained the fun, energetic personality that led Courtney Love to dub her a “cheerleader” and others to call her the “anti-Courtney Love.”

Lead single “Just a Girl” was Gwen’s bridge to planet angry. Upon its release in September 1995, it became a theme song for any girl fed up with living in a boy’s world—with the emphasis once again being on girl . Spice Girls would soon turn “girl power” into a full-on marketing technique, but “Just a Girl” was some kind of magic middle-ground in the context of ’90s pop-feminism: sassy, addictively sweet and sour, yet still accessible. Dumont’s indelible looping riff adds a taunting feeling, while the lyrics leave interpretation conveniently ajar with lines like “I’m just a girl/So don’t let me have any rights.” Never has Stefani’s vocal style—with its forays into babydoll voice and its breathless, swooping belts—felt more intentional as a performance technique meant to amplify her message. “Just a Girl” is not a subtle song, but what it’s doing is quietly masterful: The sarcasm subverts the underlying victimhood in a sneering way, but victimhood is also something girls (particularly white or privileged girls) quickly understand as a tool for getting what they want.

Gwen’s Tragic Kingdom -era pain was incandescent because it felt off the cuff, uninhibited, and barely removed from its cause. You saw that up close in “Don’t Speak,” the breakup ballad that pushed No Doubt’s success over the edge, topping the Billboard airplay chart for 16 weeks. Starting in late 1996 and continuing for much of 1997, flutters of Spanish guitar and angelic whispers of “hush hush, darling” were inescapable; for those listening across radio formats or watching MTV at the time, the song’s ubiquity reached “if I hear this one more time…” levels. But people also could not look away from the saga of Gwen and Tony, SoCal ska’s Stevie and Lindsey . Every night they’d hit the stage and seemingly be forced to relive their split through “Don’t Speak,” a song musically at odds with nearly everything in their upbeat catalog.

Not every song on Tragic Kingdom is overtly about the breakup or the frustrations of girlhood—this is ’90s California ska, after all, a few mostly positive chillers are required. But the album tracks skew cheesy, especially now. Ska bands of the era would sometimes show off their funk chops with a disco cut on their LPs, but No Doubt’s take, “You Can Do It,” is plagued by fake disco strings and a guitar jangle that borders on musical clip art. “Different People,” a brass-and-keyboard-led ska track about how the world is big and diverse, has the tension of a child’s picture book, and the depth of one too. Eric’s musical-theater-strikes-back closer “Tragic Kingdom” is cringeworthy in highly specific ways: the sampling of theme-park announcements, the egregiously drawn-out tempo changes, the fact that it seems to be about how evil Walt Disney is. (Besides, on an album like this, the most tragic of kingdoms is actually Gwen and Tony’s love story, not the suburbia surrounding Mickey’s castle.)

The rush of energy you get from Tragic Kingdom ’s opening run is enough to keep the album within spitting distance of the ’90s canon, emblematic of a specific time and place. Other highs include sixth single “Sunday Morning,” where the seasoned band easily finds the pocket with nimble, driving percussion, reggae rhythms, and overdubbed harmonies. “End It On This,” one of the only songs credited to Dumont, Kanal, and both Stefanis, is low-key pummeling: Gwen, in all her high-low vocal glory, recalls the last kiss with Tony while the band fires on all cylinders. Every player gets to show off a little with their “thing,” but Dumont is the secret all-star: His tough opening riff sets the song into intricate lockstep. Dumont, much like fellow unlikely-’90s-rock-star Rivers Cuomo, was a Kiss fan and longtime metalhead; you can hear that in his guitar hooks, which lent Tragic Kingdom a fizzy edge.

If Weezer were politely challenging the post-grunge alternative landscape with moves copped from the Cars , No Doubt were more like Blondie : a band that came out of a distinct regional punk scene, hit it big with a hybrid new-wave sound, and faced both adoration and criticism largely centered around its platinum-blonde singer. This last factor became a central tension in the narrative of No Doubt once Tragic Kingdom began its long ascent up the charts (it was a diamond-seller by the decade’s end). There was this recursive interview cycle where the band would discuss how Stefani was always the solo cover star, which said magazine would also do; then the band would complain about that in their next interview. They portrayed the meta “photographer singles out Gwen” plotline in the “Don’t Speak” video , and to an extent did it themselves on the album cover, where Gwen poses in front offering up an orange while the guys scatter in the desolate grove behind her.

But Gwen’s solo career was always more a question of when . After Tragic Kingdom ’s follow-up, 2000’s new-wave coming-of-age Return of Saturn , Stefani struck out on her own with duets alongside techno star Moby and rapper Eve , which suggested she was defined less by a specific sound than a particular attitude. It would take years, well after she appropriated Japanese Harajuku street style and scored more hip-hop hits , for people to recognize the pattern: the Orange County girl with a bindi between her Chola eyebrows had always been borrowing from other cultures and using it to form her identity in messy ways. Taking its cues from two-tone, where Jamaican rhythms met a punk point of view, Tragic Kingdom was only the beginning for Gwen. Back then, she was just an It Grrrl full of contradictions, pulling a little from everywhere and figuring out where to land.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Pitchfork. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Tour Archive: 1997

• Facebook Facebook logo
• Instagram Instagram logo
• Spotify Spotify logo
• YouTube YouTube logo

Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt

Album Reviews 1995 Albums , 2015 Reviews , Album Reviews by Ric Albano , American Artists , California Artists , No Doubt 2

Buy Tragic Kingdom

The group was formed in 1986 by keyboardist Eric Stefani , with his sister Gwen occasionally joining in on backing vocals when they practiced in their parents’ garage. Bassist Tony Kanal later joined after catching one of the band’s early shows and began a (initially) secret relationship with Gwen. In early 1988, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young joined No Doubt, rounding out the band’s long-standing lineup. Impressed by the group’s rabid live following, No Doubt was signed to a multi-album deal by Interscope Records in 1990. However, the group’s initial two releases, their 1992 self-titled debut and the self-produced The Beacon Street Collection failed to gain widespread success.

Producer Matthew Wilder was brought on board to produce Tragic Kingdom . The album included recordings made over a two and a half year period between March 1993 and October 1995, with recordings made in nearly dozen studios in and around Los Angeles. This album would also be the last to feature Eric Stefani, who was the primary composer of the material on the first two albums. After Eric officially left the band in 1994, most of the other group members stepped up to co-write the new material.

The opener “Spiderwebs” starts with a steady reggae show piece with some brass before it quickly changes into a more frenzied and rock-oriented ska groove. Dumont’s crisply squeezed guitar chords and Kanal’s thumping bass lines accompany a steady beat by Young. Released as a single, the song reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. “Excuse Me Mr.” features a more frenzied ska riff and is especially entertaining during the bridge section where a frantic drum shuffle is accompanied by honky tonk piano and some fat brass. This song was originally composed as an acoustic folk song but the recording was lost in a studio accident, causing the group to re-write and re-record a punked-up version. “Just a Girl” features a wild sounding guitar riff accented by slight bass and steady hi-hat fused drums through the intro and verses and, later on, Eric Stefani adds a soaring synth lead over the ever-intensive rhythms. The lead single from the album, the song charted twice in the Top 40, eventually peaking at number 3. The lyrics, written by Gwen Stefani, tell of her own experiences dealing with female stereotypes;

Take this pink ribbon off my eyes, I’m exposed and it’s no big surprise / Don’t you think I know exactly where I stand, this world is forcing me to hold your hand…”

“Happy Now?” is a more vocal and lyric driven track with strong guitar riffing and chords. This is one of several tracks which lyrically deal with Gwen Stefani’s recent breakup with Kanal, after a seven year relationship. “Different People” features strong rudiments and a great animated bass line, while “Hey You!” has a unique and excellent arrangement with a heavy sixties vibe brought on by the overt sitar and harpsichord as well as the more subtle structuring of the rock groove. “The Climb” is a dramatic blues song written by Eric Stefani and it features cool penny-whistle organ parts under the verses with several guitar textures by Dumont. The song goes through several trans-formative sections and a long ending dissolve where each musician gets to add bits of embellishment in turn. Following the standard ska of “Sixteen”, a drum shuffle fades in along with a driven bass which makes it closer to pure reggae with heavy rock guitars and dynamic, dramatic vocals.

The album’s first and only ballad, “Don’t Speak”, offers one its most indelible moments. The song starts with Eric Stefani’s slow, rocking electric piano in verses but breaks into jazzy acoustic choruses complete with a later excellent flamenco acoustic lead by Dumont. Slight use of strings and brass are just enough to bring out the emotions without getting overly sappy, shining the spotlight on Gwen Stefani’s vocals, which are best at their very best on this album. The song would go on to become the breakthrough single. received tremendous airplay, and helped elevate the album as well as previously released singles. It would also go on to be nominated for Song of the Year at the 1998 Grammy Awards.

Coming down the stretch, Tragic Kingdom features more entertaining tracks such as “You Can Do It”, which is funky, seventies style soul with heavy brass, disco strings, wah-wah guitar and rounded bass patterns. “World Go ‘Round” returns to the upbeat reggae with horns and Hammond organ and plenty of brass, while the closing title song is a strong and steady, guitar and vocal driven rocker which is set up like a theatrical mini-suite complete with horn sections and a rapid fingerboard guitar lead. The best of this lot is “End It on This” (which should have been the album closer). This last, great song on the album has a definitive new wave feel with rapid guitar riffs and bass notes accented by melodic piano patterns. The choruses feature especially potent keyboards and bass which work together to give a feel of rapid melodic motion. The song then steadies into a traditional guitar lead section before an intense and fantastic outro section.

Following Tragic Kingdom ‘s release and success, No Doubt embarked on a an extensive tour which lasted about two and a half years. A 1997 performance from this tour was recorded in the group’s home city of Anaheim and released as a  Live in the Tragic Kingdom DVD. The band would not follow-up with another studio album until Return of Saturn was released in 2000, a half decade after Tragic Kingdom .

Part of Classic Rock Review’s celebration of 1995 albums.

Related Posts

Album Reviews

Diamonds In the Coal by The Badlees

Street Survivors by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Human Touch & Lucky Town by Bruce Springsteen

"Don't Speak" by No Doubt | River of Rock September 28, 2017 @ 9:01 pm

[…] by Eric Stefani & Gwen Stefani Produced by Matthew Wilder Released on the album Tragic Kingdom in October […]

"All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix | River of Rock September 29, 2017 @ 8:50 pm

[…]     No Doubt website Buy Tragic Kingdom Review of Tragic Kingdom […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Manage Account

No Doubt Commemorates 25th Anniversary of ‘Tragic Kingdom’: ‘It’s Bittersweet’

No Doubt's Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, and Adrian Young all posted tributes to 'Tragic Kingdom' on the album's 25th anniversary.

By Ashley Iasimone

Ashley Iasimone

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Pinit
• + additional share options added
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Email
• Print this article
• Share this article on Comment
• Share this article on Tumblr

No Doubt ‘s Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, and Adrian Young all posted tributes to Tragic Kingdom  on the album’s 25th anniversary on Saturday (Oct. 10).

Tragic Kingdom , which was released on Oct. 10, 1995 and featured breakout singles including “Just a Girl,” “Spiderwebs” and “Don’t Speak,” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in Dec. 1996, more than a year after its release.

See latest videos, charts and news

“I can’t believe it’s been 25 years, in some ways it feels like yesterday, in some ways it feels like a distant dream,” Dumont wrote on Instagram , where he shared a long note and a group photo taken in Honolulu, Hawaii, in October 1995.

He recalled joining the band in 1988, releasing their first album in 1992 and starting to work on Tragic Kingdom in 1993 while they were in college.

“What I remember most is that despite the challenges, it was a very creative and magical time,” he said. “Gwen, Adrian, Tony and I had real chemistry as bandmates and collaborators, and we discovered our voices as we wrote & recorded those songs together. I appreciate the friendships and camaraderie we shared in those years. We were passionate about our music, and the fact that Tragic Kingdom has touched so many people around the world is beyond what I could have ever imagined.”

Trending on Billboard

“Sometimes great things fall apart, which is a shame,” said Dumont. “Yet here we are, 25 years later. It is what it is, & I keep trying to make peace with that. I’m especially grateful to all those who helped us along the way, and most of all to those of you who enjoyed Tragic Kingdom and came out to the shows over the years. I’d love to do one more No Doubt tour, but it feels like that ain’t gonna happen. It’s bittersweet. In any case, what great memories, thanks all.”

On her own Instagram account , Stefani shared another old No Doubt snapshot and simply wrote, “thanks for 25 years.”

“We had no idea what was going to happen when we were writing these songs,” Kanal wrote on his post about the group’s classic album. “Through all of the fun and challenging times, we were just a group of friends on a mission to express ourselves musically. Sometimes It felt like it was us against the world but our love for our band got us through it all.”

“Every part of this album was real as f—,” he said. “The writing, the recording, the touring, the shows, doing press. All filled with joy, rawness, discovery, excitement, heartache, exhaustion, gratification and beauty. No amount of time that passes will diminish the things we accomplished and experienced together.

“To everyone that embraced Tragic Kingdom and made it a part of their lives, you have my never ending appreciation and gratitude. You guys are incredible. You gave us the fuel to continue creating, keep playing, write more songs and release more albums. Happy 25th Tragic Kingdom to us all,” he said to their fans.

Young agreed in his social media tribute to Tragic Kingdom : “25 years ago today, we released Tragic Kingdom. We had no idea that our lives were about to dramatically change as a result. Thank you to those who have shared this crazy and spectacular ride with us! Knowing that this record has touched so many of your lives makes the recognition of this day that much more special!”

Look back at Billboard ‘s track-by-track review of Tragic Kingdom , which was originally published in honor of another milestone, its 20th anniversary.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about?

Get in the know on.

Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Billboard Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

optional screen reader

Charts expand charts menu.

• Billboard Hot 100™
• Billboard 200™
• Hits Of The World™
• TikTok Billboard Top 50
• Song Breaker
• Year-End Charts
• Decade-End Charts

Music Expand music menu

• R&B/Hip-Hop

Culture Expand culture menu

Media expand media menu, business expand business menu.

• Business News
• Record Labels
• View All Pro

Pro Tools Expand pro-tools menu

• Songwriters & Producers
• Artist Index
• Royalty Calculator
• Market Watch
• Industry Events Calendar

Billboard Español Expand billboard-espanol menu

• Cultura y Entretenimiento

Honda Music Expand honda-music menu

Tragic Kingdom Tickets

Tragic kingdom concert tickets.

Get Tragic Kingdom tickets now to see an amazing performance live by a great entertainer. Pop-Rock music has an emphasis on recording craft and songwriting and not as much emphasis on attitude. Beginning in the 1950s as an alternative to rock and roll, early iterations of pop-rock were influenced by doo-wop and rock-and-roll arrangements and styles. Many traditionalists prefer rock and roll to the more slick, commercial production of pop-rock. 

Some refer to the music as power pop with a similar sound and lyrical content. Pop-rock music has been very commercially successful using elements of rock music. Many describe it as an upbeat variety of rock music. The term pop comes from the early twentieth century referring to popular music. In the 1950s, it began to be referred to as a specific genre typically aimed at youth and young adults. It is frequently characterized as a softer alternative to rock and roll. Get your Tragic Kingdom tickets today!

Tragic Kingdom Ticket Prices

There is a multitude of variables that affect Tragic Kingdom ticket prices. These include the length of the tour, the capacity of the arena and if it’s a sold-out tour. Ticket prices are also impacted by where you are seated and if you’re looking to purchase floor seats, lower level next to the stage or an upgraded VIP package.

How much are Tragic Kingdom tickets?

The average price of a Tragic Kingdom concert ticket is around $97 per ticket. If you’re looking for cheap Tragic Kingdom tickets, you’ll find better prices for cheap tickets in the upper levels furthest from the stage. Discount tickets that are farthest from the stage will typically be under $49. If you are looking for premium seating or VIP tickets, you can expect to pay over $150 per ticket in most cases.

Tragic Kingdom Tour Dates & Concert Schedule

Tragic Kingdom tour dates vary from year to year. In most cases, tours tend to be 6-12 months but can extend over multiple years especially if it is a final tour. Tragic Kingdom concert schedule will typically have 25-50 tour dates.

There also can be a performance at music festivals across the country including Coachella , Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo Music Festival. Bonnaroo is held in Manchester, Tennessee. Coachella is held at Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California and Lollapalooza in the United States is held at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. It's easy to find seats to Tragic Kingdom tour when you shop with us. Shopping with TicketSmarter even makes it easier to get into the venue. Our mobile transfer Tragic Kingdom tour tickets let you skip past the box office line and head right for your seats.

When do Tragic Kingdom tickets go on sale?

Typically, Tragic Kingdom concert tour tickets go on sale 4-6 months prior to the performance and sometimes even a year in advance. Once the tour dates and concert schedule is announced, you can check our event calendar to find your perfect date and venue. Tragic Kingdom concert tickets will typically be available within 24-48 hours of a tour announcement. There is never a need for a presale code. Why wait for the public on sale when you can secure your seats today.

Tragic Kingdom Seating Chart

The seating capacity will vary depending on the venue utilized for the tour or festival. With large festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza , you can have upwards of 100,000 concertgoers per day. For most large-scale arenas like T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the seating capacity is around 20,000 seats. Just a few of the luxury seating options include suites, box seats and VIP concert tickets. Most festivals will include general admission and lawn seating.

Safe and Secure Tragic Kingdom Ticket Purchasing

TicketSmarter’s worry-free ticket-buying experience ensures that you'll always find great deals on authentic concert tickets to see your favorite performers live. We've worked hard to turn TicketSmarter into the safest place to buy Tragic Kingdom tickets. We back up this promise with our low price guarantee and 100% ticket guarantee, both of which assure your entry into your concert at a competitive price.

100% Tragic Kingdom Ticket Guarantee

All TicketSmarter pop/rock concert tickets are 100% guaranteed. Verified customers rate TicketSmarter 4.6/5.0 stars, so you can order with confidence knowing that we stand behind you throughout your Tragic Kingdom ticket buying experience.

• Frequently Asked Questions
• 100% Guarantee
• Corporate Partners
• Charitable Partners
• TicketSmarter vs. Competitors
• Hotel & Travel Deals
• Exclusive Discounts
• Students & Graduates
• In the News
• Privacy Policy
• Don't Sell My Information
• Accessibility
• COVID-19 Update & FAQ

Ticket Smarter ® creates no claim or credit for images featured on our site unless otherwise noted. All trademarks belong to their respective owners and all visual content is copyrighted to its respective owners.

Moscow Metro Tour

• Page active

Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case).