When No Doubt take the stage together at Coachella in April for their first show in nine years Gwen Stefani predicts it will be “crazy.” The band’s singer and solo star told Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday night (Feb. 14) that she’s really looking forward to reuniting with her old mates bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young, even though she’s sweating learning all the band’s songs all over again.
“It’s going to be amazing. I’m so excited and I think what is going to be hilarious is I know what’s going to happen,” Stefani predicted. “I’m going to get on stage and look around and just start cracking up. It’s just going to be like riding a bike. We’re going to be like, ‘What are we doing? We’re in the future right now.’”
Stefani — who swooned onto the stage in a gauzy flower print silk jumpsuit with fluttering wings and a lace-up front and a blonde 1970s country queen bouffant hairdo — also revealed that the band has not even started rehearsing for the gig yet. And, in fact, she’s not even sure she knows all the lyrics to their songs. “I don’t remember them, no,” Stefani said. “Not at all. I think I’m going to have to learn like eight or nine.” She also accidentally revealed that the set list includes one of the first songs she ever wrote, “Different People,” from the band’s 1995 break-out album, Tragic Kingdom.
Stefani showed off a glittering new green gem ring Shelton got her for Valentine’s day and talked about the “magical” process of her hitting the studio with her husband to record their new country-tinged pop duet, “Purple Irises.” She said the track, which was originally supposed to be a solo single for her, turned into a duet when Shelton “made a little hint” that he wanted to be on it.
The couple then hit a stage flooded with purple irises to play the song, with Stefani swaying as she sang the swoony lyrics at Shelton as he strummed his acoustic guitar. “But if someone comes along and tries to love you like I love you/ Don’t know what I’d do, don’t wanna lose you/ If someone comes along and tries to take you, tries to make you/ Don’t let ’em change your mind,” they sang to each other on the chorus.
Watch Stefani talk No Doubt and perform “Purple Irises” below.