The album that almost wasn't: No Doubt's 'Tragic Kingdom' at 30 defies industry doubts

"It's been 30 years since No Doubt's "Tragic Kingdom" was released - the album that launched the Anaheim band into mainstream success, introduced the world to Gwen Stefani and sold over 10 million units, making it certified diamond according to the Recording Industry Assn. of America. "It was a remarkable moment in time, just working with the band and seeing what actually happened when everybody was on the same page," Paul Palmer, the co-founder of Trauma Records who released the album, says."

""I'm proud to have been a part of a legacy moment such as 'Tragic Kingdom,' but at the same time, my connection to that time and the amount of work that went into the making of it, we never knew for a moment that it was going to take on the implications that we're talking about right now," says Matthew Wilder, singer of the 1983 hit single "Break My Stride" and the producer of "Tragic Kingdom.""

"Interscope Records, the band's original record label, had been unsuccessful in trying to set the band up with several producers, including Albhy Galuten of Bee Gees fame. In 1994, Wilder was tapped by Interscope's A&R representative, Tony Ferguson, to produce the album. At the time, the band was composed of Stefani on vocals, her brother Eric on keyboards, Tom Dumont on guitar, Tony Kanal on bass and Adrian Young on drums."

Tragic Kingdom was released thirty years ago and propelled No Doubt from Anaheim into mainstream success, selling over 10 million copies and earning RIAA diamond certification. The album earned a Grammy nomination and launched Gwen Stefani as a prominent vocalist. The creation involved setbacks, internal strife and moments when the project nearly did not come together. Multiple producer pairings failed before Matthew Wilder was chosen in 1994; Wilder worked with the band in Anaheim, refining songs in a garage setting and encouraging broader musical direction. Interscope's A&R decisions and Wilder's production produced a landmark 1990s record.

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