That is Flashback, the place we’re reminiscing about among the most iconic and obscure moments in alt-rock historical past. This week, we’re taking a look at when No Doubt lined Unhealthy Brains on MTV Seashore Home in 1996.
Through the early to mid-’90s, it felt as if the music trade had no different route to look however towards grunge. The once-underground artwork type had elbowed its method into the mainstream with fierce willpower, and succeeded with such power that there was little room for a lot else. Nonetheless, in that exact same period, behind an Anaheim Dairy Queen, 9 youngsters discovered one another by a love for ska music — the Specials, Insanity, Unhealthy Brains — and fashioned a bunch.
Their dedication from the begin to emulating and venerating Unhealthy Brains’ lead singer H.R. was so true that they named themselves after his trademark phrase, “No Doubt,” and wrote a tribute observe to the legendary frontman, identified for his musical prowess as a lot as unruly stage antics. The band, which might shift in lineup over time, finally settled on Gwen Stefani as frontwoman, a configuration that may cause them to a brand new degree of success with their third album, Tragic Kingdom, which featured iconic hits “Only a Woman” and “Don’t Converse.” Although they received awards for this album in “rock” and “pop” classes, their ska roots have been very a lot the inspiration of all they produced, and amid stated grunge pandemonium, No Doubt have been an influential energy in ska’s third wave — and arguably the twenty first century post-third wave, with their fifth album, Rock Regular, recorded in Jamaica, in addition to the current resurgence of their hit tracks on TikTok.
Learn extra: 20 bands that formed hardcore’s evolution, from Unhealthy Brains to Soul Glo
Whereas not all different bands have been incorporating the ska factor of Unhealthy Brains in such an on-the-nose method as No Doubt, the checklist of legends who’ve cited H.R. and the band as inspiration goes on advert infinitum. From Foo Fighters and Pharrell to Rage Towards the Machine and Inexperienced Day, the insightful mix of heavy metallic, hip-hop, and soul has confirmed to be an unparalleled champion in music historical past. Whether or not it’s within the thrashing stage presence or a surprisingly jazzy nü-metal rhythm, if one listens or appears to be like intently, the Unhealthy Brains stamp will begin to present. And typically, it’s not so arduous to seek out. Many of those bands have achieved covers, and some collaborations, with the beloved D.C. band over time — from Henry Rollins to Ice Dice to Lamb of God.
Nonetheless, there’s one cowl efficiency that stands out in our reminiscence, and it goes again to Stefani. Because the Anaheim group crossed over from enjoying in Stefani’s storage to successful Grammys, all of the whereas fielding the fast distaste the mainstream viewers had for his or her distinctive ska-pop-punk sound, they made a pit cease at MTV’s seaside home to carry out a canopy of Unhealthy Brains’ basic “Sailin’ On” from the M.O.M. compilation album. Although you’d be hard-pressed to discover a mosh pit like this one at a Gwen Stefani live performance nowadays, in bondage pants and a white tank prime, leaning into Tony Kamal, in a crispy white tracksuit — this is how we like to recollect her.
