Tony Kanal
Tony Kanal | |
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Kanal performing on stage with No Doubt. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Tony Ashwin Kanal |
Born | Kingsbury, London, England | August 27, 1970
Origin | Anaheim, California, United States |
Genres | Rock, reggae, ska, pop |
Occupation(s) | Musician, producer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Electric bass, keyboard, saxophone |
Years active | 1987–present |
Website | www |
Tony Kanal (born Tony Ashwin Kanal; August 27, 1970) is a British-born American musician, record producer and songwriter. Kanal is the bassist for the American rock band No Doubt. His musical work outside of the band includes producing and songwriting with artists such as reggae singer Elan Atias and No Doubt bandmate Gwen Stefani, among others.
Biography
Early life
Kanal's father Gulab and his mother Lajju are from India and are Hindus.[1][2] His parents emigrated from India to London, England, where Kanal was born. While most of his early years were spent in London, Kanal and his family also spent brief periods living in Toronto, Canada, and Munster, Indiana, before eventually returning to London. At age eleven, he was taken by his family once again to the United States, where the Kanal family settled in Anaheim, California.[1] There, his parents opened a store named "Kanal's Gifts and Fashion".[3]
Music career
Kanal's father suggested that Kanal learn to play the saxophone since it was the former's favorite instrument, so he bought one for Kanal.[2] Kanal later learned how to play the bass from his schoolmate Dave Carpenter.[1] After seeing one of third wave ska band No Doubt's early shows, he joined the band as its bassist.[4] Kanal stated that his parents were ultimately supportive of his decision to pursue a career in music; however, they had wanted him "to go into a safe profession" and often reprimanded him for devoting so much time to music, sometimes at the expense of school.[5]
Kanal enrolled at California State University, Fullerton to major in psychology.[1] In October 1991, No Doubt began recording with producer Dito Godwin. When Interscope Records began turning songs down, No Doubt did it on their own. Over two years they recorded ten songs and released it independently.
When No Doubt went on hiatus, Kanal began a career behind the mixing console. In 2004, Kanal produced three songs for the soundtrack to 50 First Dates. Also in 2004, Kanal produced and co-wrote three tracks on Gwen Stefani's first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.. Kanal then produced Elan Atias's debut album, Together as One, which was released in June 2006. Kanal again worked with Gwen Stefani for her follow-up solo album The Sweet Escape, released in 2006. He has created several remixes, including ones of Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" and Gang of Four's "Ether". Kanal produced the song "Rent" for the ska punk band Pepper's 2006 album No Shame.
In 2008, he collaborated on two songs titled "Sober" and "Funhouse" with Pink for her album Funhouse and also sang back-up on "Crystal Ball". In late 2009, Kanal co-wrote and played bass for a song of former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt's debut solo album.[6] Kanal also contributed on track seven of Weezer's 2010 album Hurley. He received co-writing credit for the song "Smart Girls". In 2010, Kanal co-wrote, produced, and performed bass on the track "Kiss You Up", recorded by Barbadian artist Shontelle for her sophomore album, No Gravity.[7]
No Doubt reunion
With Stefani promoting her second solo album, No Doubt began initial work on a new album without her[8] and planned to complete it after Stefani's tour was finished.[9] In March 2008, the band started making posts concerning the progression of the album on their official fan forum. Stefani made a post on March 28, 2008 stating that songwriting had commenced but was slow on her end because she was, at the time, pregnant with her second child.[10]
Manager Jim Guerinot said the yet-untitled album is being produced by Mark "Spike" Stent, who helped produce and mix Rock Steady. Between Stefani's pregnancy and recording, No Doubt did not tour in 2008, but Guerinot promised, they plan to hit the road hard in 2009 for their first full-fledged band tour in nearly five years.[11]
No Doubt announced on their official website that they would tour in the summer of 2009 with Paramore, The Sounds, Janelle Monáe, Bedouin Soundclash, Katy Perry, and Panic! at the Disco. while finishing their upcoming album, which is set for release in 2010.[12][13]
In 2009, No Doubt made an appearance on the television series Gossip Girl, playing a fictional band called "Snowed Out" in the episode "Valley Girls".[14] They performed their cover version of the Adam and the Ants song "Stand and Deliver".[15]
Personal life
During a party where No Doubt performed in mid-1987, Stefani tried to kiss Kanal when the two went for a walk.[16] Kanal initially rejected her, later commenting, "It was pretty much an unspoken rule that nobody dates Gwen...almost like a bunch of brothers and our sister."[17] He gave in, and the two began dating secretly. The band was suspicious of them, warning Kanal against dating her, but he denied the relationship.[16]
While the band was working on its third album Tragic Kingdom, Kanal broke up with Stefani. She later explained that he was feeling "claustrophobic" in the relationship since he did not have any previous experience being in one. She stated that the break-up "took ages" because the two were close friends and Kanal did not want to hurt her. After the break-up, he offered to leave the band, but Stefani replied that she wanted him to stay.[16] Many of the songs on that album were written by Stefani about the breakup, most notably the hit "Don't Speak" [2]. Many years later, Stefani co-wrote her hit song "Cool" about their relationship as friends for her 2004 debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.[18]
Kanal is married to the American actress Erin Lokitz.[19] On September 15, 2010 they announced they were expecting their first child. On January 24, 2011, they welcomed their first daughter, Coco Reese Lakshmi Kanal.[20]
Kanal is a vegan and supports Farm Sanctuary.[21]
Musical equipment
Kanal has endorsed Yamaha basses which he runs through Gallien-Krueger heads into Ampeg cabinets.[22]
Basses
- Yamaha BB1 600 used 1987 to 1996
- Yamaha BB3000 4 String Model
- Yamaha BB3000 5 String Model
- Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay
- Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 5
- Fender Standard Jazzbass
- Fender Kingman Acoustic Bass
Keyboards
MOOG Phatty (new/heybaby/settle down)
Amplification
- Gallien-Krueger 800RB Heads
- Gallien Krueger Fussion 550 Head
- Ampeg SVT 8x10 Cabinet
- past cabinets prior to staying with the Ampeg 8x10
-peavey 1810 -Hartke 410xl and 115xl
Other
- Ernie Ball Poly Straps
- Samson Wireless Unit
- Korg DTR-1 Tuner
- Ernie Ball Strings on his musicman
- GHS boomers on his yamaha
Discography
- No Doubt
- 2012: Push And Shove (Interscope Records)
- 2004: Everything in Time (b-sides, rarities, remixes) (Interscope)
- 2003: The Singles 1992-2003 (Interscope)
- 2001: Rock Steady (Interscope)
- 2000: Return of Saturn (Interscope)
- 1995: Tragic Kingdom (Interscope)
- 1995: The Beacon Street Collection (Interscope)
- 1992: No Doubt (Interscope)
References
- ^ a b c d Bharadwaj, Supriya. "Bassist Tony Kanal Performs at Grammy's". India-West, volume XXII, issue 16, page B1. February 28, 1997.
- ^ a b Rockwell, Teed. "There's 'No Doubt' He's Indian". India Currents, volume 12, issue 1. April 30, 1998.
- ^ Strauss, Neil. "No Doubt's Anniversary Party". Rolling Stone. January 31, 2002. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
- ^ "No Doubt". Behind the Music. VH1. April 9, 2000.
- ^ Sheddy, Shell. "No Doubt about Success". Masala, volume 11, issue 5, page 36. December 31, 1996.
- ^ "Kimberly Wyatt's Sky Songs Playlist"
- ^ Beacon Street Online: Tony Produced & Co-Wrote "Kiss You Up"
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer and Richard, Yasmine. "No Doubt - Minus Gwen - In Early Stages Of New Album". MTV News. May 12, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan."Stefani: No Timetable For No Doubt Reunion". Billboard. December 12, 2006. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
- ^ "new album". NoDoubt.com. 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
- ^ "Gwen Stefani Says No Doubt Are In The Studio 'Every Day,' Working On Album Expected In 2009". MTV.com. 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
- ^ "2009 Tour". NoDoubt.com. 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
- ^ "News : No Doubt Announces 2009 Summer Tour". No Doubt. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
- ^ "News : Gossip Girl Appearance Announced!". No Doubt. 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2009-03-17). "No Doubt Say They 'All Agreed' On 'Gossip Girl' Song - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
- ^ a b c Heath, Chirs. "Snap! Crackle! Pop!". Rolling Stone, issue 759. May 1, 1997.
- ^ "Gwen Stefani". Hello!. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani's Song About Tony Kanal To Be Her Next Single". MTV News. June 21, 2005. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ Collis, Clark. "Holla Back". Entertainment Weekly, issue 909. November 22, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ No Doubt homepage "Tony + Erin = Coco". No Doubt Blog January 25, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ "Tony Kanal, Bassist "No Doubt"". Veg TV. 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
- ^ [1][dead link]
External links
- 1970 births
- Living people
- American rock bass guitarists
- English emigrants to the United States
- English rock bass guitarists
- American people of English descent
- American musicians of Indian descent
- Musicians from California
- No Doubt members
- People from Anaheim, California
- People from Kingsbury
- English expatriates in Canada