Tom Dumont

Thomas M. Dumont (born January 11, 1968 in Los Angeles, California), as well as the rest of No Doubt, prepared their fourth album meticulously. "Return of Saturn" took just about two years to record; he told VH-1's Behind the Music, "There's so much pressure. If you don't take it seriously and do it right you look like a fool." To best show what got Tom to where he is today it seems best to go to the beginning.

Related Topics:
January 11 - 1968 - Los Angeles, California - No Doubt - Return of Saturn - VH-1 - Behind the Music

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The Dumont family lived in Irvine, California. As a young boy Tom listened to Disney compilation records. By grade school The Beatles were staple listening material. Tom's father, who played the piano, gave his son a guitar when Tom was 12. Tom practiced by strumming folk songs by the likes of James Taylor; he only stopped practicing ten years ago. By his teens heavy metal is what he craved. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and KISS were among his favorites. Along with his sister Tom Dumont joined the Orange County metal band "Rising". He was fine with the music scene until 1988. While practicing at "The Stomp Box" Tom looked at the help wanted advertisements. Tom quit the band gained interest in bands like Oingo Boingo and Steel Pulse. One week after leaving "Rising" a band caught his eye that was practicing at the same rehearsal studio, No Doubt. He auditioned after the band's original guitarist left and was invited to play a show for the band.

Related Topics:
Irvine, California - The Beatles - James Taylor - Iron Maiden - Judas Priest - KISS - Orange County - Rising - Oingo Boingo - Steel Pulse - No Doubt

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With Tom on board the ska influenced sound that was No Doubt was given a metal injection.This addition further distanced the band's sound from any one else playing in Orange County and he also solidified the guitar position. Crowd surfing and stage diving were the norm at No Doubt shows as well as the mosh pit. Tom was glad to be out of the metal scene. He said that "head banging probably originated when musicians could not put together that one song they needed so they banged their heads against the wall!" Then they began doing it when they played. Again, this is only a theory Tom came up with. Although he has never officially been invited into the band Tom has been with them ever since.

Related Topics:
Ska - No Doubt - Orange County

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He also brought a knowledge of how to write and compose new music after studying Music theory for 5 semesters at Orange Coast College. He, along with Eric Stefani (the band's co-creator), became a teacher in a sense for the rest of the band. When the band moved into a house on Beacon Avenue in Anaheim, he wrote a poem about being addicted to television. He took the poem to Eric Stefani. Eric put the poem to music and came up with the song "Trapped in a Box". The band put the song on their first album and made a video for it in Anaheim for a mere $5,000. The band toured in support of the album but it did not make a profit.

Related Topics:
Orange Coast College - Eric Stefani - Anaheim - Trapped in a Box

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When the first record did not sell too well the band, and Tom in particularly, didn't give up hope for fame in the future. They continued to tour endlessly and did some writing. What they came up with was "The Beacon Street Collection" and Tom's idea to record it own their own. Since Interscope Records, their label, gave up hope they had to find ways to get in recording studios and record songs without spending huge sums of money. They had written so many songs; which Tom contributed heavily to, that they had more than enough songs to release two albums. The second set of songs became "Tragic Kingdom" and they became an instant hit. When Eric left the band Tom took leadership in writing and composing responsibilities , although, it is a democracy in the band. That is everyone helps out a bit and they show off the collective effort in the final result.

Related Topics:
The Beacon Street Collection - Interscope Records - Tragic Kingdom

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When the first tour in support of "Tragic Kingdom" began "Just a Girl" was already a hit on KROQ. The media flocked to the bleached blonde female lead singer of the band, Gwen Stefani. This media attention grew worse when Spin promised a cover story for No Doubt but left the boys in the band out of the cover photo. Left steamed, the band nearly broke up. But Tom had a better idea. Why not confront the problem in the video for the ballad "Don't Speak". They did. The guys acted like they were upset with Gwen for being the media starlet that she was but there might have not been much acting on Tony, Tom and Adrian's part.

Related Topics:
Tragic Kingdom - Just a Girl - Gwen Stefani - Spin - No Doubt - Don't Speak

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Testament to their friendship No Doubt survived and toured straight through 1997. After leaving the road Tom returned to his home in Long Beach, California. With friend and No Doubt guitar technician/stage manager Donnie Spada, Tom rediscovered a love for surfing. The band was trying to write another album. Since Eric Stefani left, Tom Dumont and Gwen Stefani took major song-writing duties. The process may have been hampered by Tom leaving the house early in the morning to relax in the Pacific Ocean. He'd come back hours later and would work on the album for the rest of the day. Tom also collects old radios. Tom is a member and and proud supporter of The Surfrider Foundation. Surfrider protects the oceans and is celebrating their fifteenth anniversary in 2000.

Related Topics:
No Doubt - Long Beach, California - Eric Stefani - Gwen Stefani - Pacific Ocean - The Surfrider Foundation

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Tom is a great guy who will answer virtually anything for a fan. Recently confirmed, the song "Dark Blue" was conceived in Philadelphia. The song was written by Gwen and Tom about Gwen and her boyfriend. The music and everything about the song was concise while playing sound check at The Electric Factory in the city of brotherly love.

Related Topics:
Dark Blue - Philadelphia - The Electric Factory

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Tom is the self-proclaimed "nerd" of the band and takes it in stride. He admits he likes to wear collored shirts, "They're very Californian", he says. He has helped create the official band website and is the only member of the group who goes online regularly. Tom may be the new musical leader of No Doubt. He has quite a tough job as the band is under the microscope since making it big. When he gives up performing he wants to be a producer and discover new talent in the Orange County area.

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