Biography Tony Kanal is of East Indian decent. He was born in Kingsbury, England. There he lived until his parents, Gulab and Leena, moved to Yorba Linda, California in 1981. Yorba Linda is most famous for being the home of former President Richard Nixon. Beyond that, it was a quiet Southern California town.

When Tony was 15 he met a fellow saxophone player Eric Carpenter at band camp. Despite not being totally enthused about going to the field early in the morning, it was requirement to play in the Anaheim High School jazz band. After band camp, Eric had the oppertunity to play bass guitar in the jazz band ;but instead, lent Tony his bass as Eric's brother Dave taught Tony the instrument. Tony stayed in the jazz band for the next few years.

Eric and Dave knew about a show where a friend of their's ,named Chris Webb, was the drummer for the second act in a fourteen act show. So they went to Fender's in Long Beach and brought Tony with them. Tony who had always had an interest in Prince(Tony even wore purple to the "Purple Rain Tour" show he went to) and hip-hop was about to change tune. He decided that night that ska and, in particular No Doubt, was an interest for him. He learned that Chris Leal, the band's bassist, could not continue being in the band because he couldn't play a live show and that a new bassist was needed.

A few weeks later Tony showed up at the Stefani's house ready to audition. He wore baggy pants and Mexican sandals. After two songs he was in the band. But that was not all, Gwen Stefani who sang back up soon fell for him. Gwen took a walk with Tony after a show in June of '87; she asked him if he was gonna kiss her. Gwen remembers Tony telling her that they couldn't date because they were in the band together. He gave her a quick kiss to satisfy her and went back to their friends. Tony gave in and told Gwen that they'd go out but they had to keep it a secret. Tony told VH-1's Behind The Music, "It was pretty much an unspoken rule that nobody dates Gwen. You know, you had her older brother in the band and he was real protective. It was almost like a bunch of brothers and our sister." Gwen and Tony held their love from the band.

Tony was and is a perfectionist. While keeping the secret from the rest of the guys he also tried his managerial skills and became the band's manager after a while. There's a quick anecdote, that Tony was such a perfectionist that he tried licking self-adhesive stamps while sending out mail once. After John Spence committed suicide Tony and Gwen came clean and told the band what was going on behind their backs. Eric was shocked. He wondered how the band would survive through anything that might happen between them. It was time now that Tony asked Gwen to go to his Senior prom.

In May of 1988 Tony helped his friend Eric Carpenter join the band. Alan Meade was contemplating leaving the band and after Eric and Chris Webb helped get Tony into the band Tony returned the favor. Eric was No Doubt's second and last saxophone player. Tony helped the band with manager duties and they opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the summer of 1988. Michael Blazary, otherwise known as Flea, helped the struggling but still growing band. He produced two demos for No Doubt that helped land them a record deal with Interscope.

In October of 1991 No Doubt hit the studio with help of producer Dito Goodwin. The band knows now it was not their best work but they were just that much excited to finally have a record of their own. The band toured in support of the album and never gained recognition outside the West Coast. But, it was a time where Gwen and Tony were almost inseparable. They had the same interests and were discovering what being on the road meant to their freedom. They returned home where they played to packed shows when they got the chance.

When Interscope began turning songs down No Doubt did it on their own. Over two years they recorded ten songs and released it independently. They sold the record, named after where much of the work was done, at their shows and their following grew. The Beacon Street Collection is a cult favorite and arguably the best work No Doubt has done. One song on the record takes a shot at Interscope. Snakes insinuates that Interscope is a lying, cheating snake. At the time it was written it's probably how the band felt. Tony may have taken it hardest since he was the band's manager. After hearing some of Beacon Street Interscope gave No Doubt the go ahead to start work on another album.

1994 was a traumatic year for the band. Eric left the band to become a full-time artist for "The Simpsons". It was also the year Tony had enough. He broke up with Gwen. He told her he needed space. Gwen was devastated. She began writing deeply personal lyrics. Sometimes Gwen would write about Tony while they were not that far away from each other. Most of Tragic Kingdom are relationship songs about Gwen and Tony. Songs such as "Hey You", "Happy Now?" and the song that took them around the world, "Don't Speak". Interscope released the album on October 10, 1995. Now relieved of his manager duties, Tony and the rest of the band toured the world. And toured they did; they spent two and a half years on the road. Tony saw his ex-girlfriend meet a new boyfriend, appeared on national TV performing and even went to India.

Tony told Kurt Loder of MTV a shower story, "It's a good shower story. I was taking a shower after we'd gotten home from this two-year tour, back at home in L.A., and "Happy Now?" was on the radio. And the DJ came on at the end of the song and goes, "All right Tony, take that!" And it was just such a surreal moment, you know. So I scrubbed even harder."Tony bought his own house and spent time during the "Return of Saturn" recording sessions renovating it.

After returning home from a year of touring in support of Return of Saturn Tony spent some time in Jamacia. When he returned to California he was a changed man. He was more mellow and gained a renewed interest in dancehall/reggae music. Even though the band may have played reggae backstage after show in 2000, this new interest took a stronghold on Tony. He insisted the band to think about cutting another album. After the tamultuous two and half year recording process that was Return of Saturn, the band decided to let go of the rules that made that record so hard to make. It was a liberating experience.

After making some demos in California No Doubt traveled to Jamacia. They hung out in the afternoon and recorded at night. Tony gladly took direction from dance hall greats like Steely and Cleevie as well as Sly and Robbie. The lessons Tony learned about playing dancehall bass guitar paid off; what No Doubt recorded in the homeland of Bab Marley could be Tony's best work to date. After a short stop in London the band prepared to release thier fifth studio album.

In November of 2001, No Doubt was invited to open for U2. The band opened 13 shows in U2's 2001 Elevation tour on the West Coast. After No Doubt played a set of a mix of greatest hits and Rock Steady tunes the band would return to te floor to watch U2's set. Tony was right in the middle of the action freaking out when Bono took the stage. On December 11, 2001 Rock Steady was released. With the first single

Tony is basically a normal guy. Tony is still single and admitted he's gone cruising for girls a few times. Tony and Gwen are still friends thru all their trials and tribulations. They have come to have a mutual respect for each other. He wore Adidas jump suits in the mid 90's; he also has about 50 gas station attendant shirts at last count. It seems all the guys in the band want to make a statement and divert attention away from Gwen and Tony tries to do it with his fashion. Recently he's been wearing different message/band T-shirts; nothing real flashy, although he did wear a Union Jack shirt in Boston to see if the crowd would react(remember the Boston Tea Party). He loves to play live in a front of adoring fans; it's what the band lives for and how they have kept together for more than 10 years. Tony is the glue that keeps the band together; the quiet voice who knows that this fame will not last and wants to make sure the other members realize that. His instrument, the bass guitar, is what brings the music of No Doubt together.

Credit: nduniverse.com