'It was so brutal': Gwen Stefani and No Doubt ex Tony Kanal reveal their breakup song Don't Speak still haunts them

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It's been 16 years since their iconic hit Don't Speak hit the charts, but Gwen Stefani and her No Doubt band mate Tony Kanal still find it hard to talk about their breakup.

Gwen, 42, wrote the song after Tony broke up with her, following a seven year relationship.

The pair now say it was an extremely difficult time for them as they had to perform the song every night together, with Tony calling the torturing experience 'brutal'.

No Doubt: Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal, centre, pictured in 2002, revealed that they found their break-up hard when in the band

No Doubt: Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal, centre, pictured in 2002, revealed that they found their break-up hard when in the band

Tony, 42, revealed to the Guardian that it wasn't easy for him to stand next to his ex-girlfriend on stage while she sang of the heartbreak he caused.

'Oh definitely. We were on tour for Tragic Kingdom for 28 months. We were going through the breakup, and in every interview we were talking about it so we were opening this wound on an hourly basis.'

'It was so brutal but I don't know how we made it through.'

Back on stage: Gwen Stefanie, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young are reunited once again for the first time since 2001

Back on stage: Gwen, Tony, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young reunited earlier this year for the first time since 2001

The pair have now long moved on from the heartbreak, and Gwen thinks it actually helped her become a better songwriter.

'Before I was really passive, all I cared about was being in love with my boyfriend. I didn't have any creative power, nothing.'

'But after the breakup I just started writing all these songs and suddenly I was: "Oh I think I'm really good at this!"'

It's all in the past: The former lovers are comfortable being on stage together at least

It's all in the past: The former lovers are comfortable being on stage together at least

Gwen now splits her time between Los Angeles and London, where she lives with her rock star husband Gavin Rossdale and their two boys, Kingston, six, and Zuma, four.

Even though Gwen and Gavin are both fronting rock bands, it appears Gavin isn't a major No Doubt fan.

'Oh he's never been a fan of what we do. He's more into dark, indie stuff,' Gwen said during the interview.

'But I'm not saying he doesn't think I'm amazing.'

No Doubt is set to release their first album since 2001, Push and Shove, next week.

True love: Gwen has found the one in husband Gavin Rossdale, seen here on a coffee run in Los Angeles earlier this week

True love: Gwen has found the one in husband Gavin Rossdale, seen here on a coffee run in Los Angeles earlier this week

 

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

16 years?? I am getting old ):

Click to rate     Rating   604

It's so nice to read only nice comments. When people don't have anything nice to say, they should say nothing - especially when it is to say people are too thin or too fat or looking older than their years, etc. = boring and useless comments.

Click to rate     Rating   126

Just dont make music like this anymore.

Click to rate     Rating   127

'reunited earlier this year for the first time since 2001'. Err, they did a tour in 2009...

Click to rate     Rating   88

Very good song from a timeless band!

Click to rate     Rating   160

LMFAO break up Gewn and Tony get back together Conspiracy anyone?

Click to rate     Rating   107

Yea that song is even hard to listen to. You can hear the heart-break.

Click to rate     Rating   215

If a song hurts, its a good song. Best break up song I've ever heard is 'Its cool, we can still be friends' by Bright Eyes. YouTube it. Painfully beautiful.

Click to rate     Rating   65

Love her in 'No Doubt', can't wait for the new album

Click to rate     Rating   91

I'm more bothered about the fact that she's wearing a bindi in the music video....

Click to rate     Rating   122

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