NO DOUBT

Gwen Stefani and her family return to London home for Christmas after it was targeted by thieves

2009-11-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

Gwen Stefani and her family touched down in London today for the first time since their house was burgled.
The singer, her sons Kingston and Zuma, and husband Gavin Rossdale returned to their London home in Primrose Hill wrapped up against the cold.
They had flown in from Los Angeles and are spending Christmas in Britain this year.

Last year the family were in LA for the festive season, but Rossdale revealed: 'We alternate each year. Last year we stayed in the Los Angeles area, but now we're excited about having an old-fashioned, European holiday.'

Arriving in London: Gwen Stefani wheels sons Zuma (left) and Kingston through Heathrow Airport today
But it is the first time the family have been back to their London home since it was targeted by burglars in September.

The front door was smashed in and the flat they let to Dame Elizabeth Forgan, head of the Arts Council, was broken into while the No Doubt singer was on stage in Singapore.

At home: The family returned to their London flat for the first time since it was burgled in September

Christmas in London: The family will be spending the festive season in Britain

However the thieves were unable to break into the flat shared by Stefani and her family.
Today, the 39-year-old brought one-year-old Zuma and Kingston, 3, back to the apartment.
Rossdale, 43, who fronts rock group Bush, and Stefani, live in the top floors of the house. The rocker owns the freehold on the block.
Their neighbours include Jamie Oliver and his wife Jools and James Bond actor Daniel Craig.
Recently Rossdale revealed how much he loved being a father.
He said: 'Fatherhood is everything they say it is and more. I love it.'
He also admits Kingston has started to get an attitude, which is rubbing off on his younger brother.
He said: 'I never know what will happen with these two. Kingston is three and old enough to be developing an attitude, and Zuma at 15 months is learning from his older brother.'

Leaving LA: Gwen and husband Gavin Rossdale push their children through LAX airport before flying to England for Christmas

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Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, and sons Kingston and Zuma arrive at Heathrow airport

2009-11-30T03:59:00.000-08:00

Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, and sons Kingston (born May 26, 2006) and Zuma (born August 21, 2008) arrive at Heathrow airport. Gavin has a close hold of his guitar amp.

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale arriving at LAX with their sons Kingston and Zuma to catch a flight out of town.

2009-11-30T00:04:00.000-08:00

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale out for lunch at La Brea Bakery with their son Kingston.

2009-11-28T23:52:00.000-08:00

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale out for lunch at La Brea Bakery with their son Kingston. Kingston was getting angry at the paparazzi. Afterward they went and picked up their other son Zuma who was dressed as Santa Claus.

Singer Gwen Stefani, her husband Gavin take their son Kingston to see "How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" at the Pantages theatre in Hollywood

2009-11-28T23:43:00.000-08:00

Tony Kanal and his girlfriend Erin Lokitz leaving a theater in Hollywood.Los Angeles, California.

2009-11-28T02:50:00.000-08:00

Gwen Stefani and Tony Knal attnd the Launch Party For HUE By Kelly Wearstler At The Avalon's Oliverio Restaurant

2009-11-18T22:17:00.000-08:00

Gwen Stefani

Tony Knal and Erin Lokitz

Tony Kanal and Kelly Wearstler attend Launch Party For HUE By Kelly Wearstler At The Avalon's Oliverio Restaurant on November 18, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California.

Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal attend A Very Special Christmas Party At The Shriver's Benefitting The Special Olympics

2009-11-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

Singer Gwen Stefani and actor Mitchel Musso

Founder, A Very Special Christmas Vicki Iovine (L) and singer Gwen Stefani

(L-R) Singer Colbie Caillat, First Lady of California Maria Shriver, Founder, A Very Special Christmas Vicki Iovine, and singer Gwen Stefani

Singer Gwen Stefani, three-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci and husband Bart Conner

(L-R) Actor Mitchel Musso, Zach and Josh Carter of the Carter Twins, Chairman and CEO, Special Olympics Timothy Shriver, singers Colbie Caillat and Gwen Stefani, and musician Tony Kanal

Musicians Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani attend the MOCA NEW 30th anniversary gala events held at MOCA

2009-11-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

Musicians Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani attend the MOCA NEW 30th anniversary gala held at MOCA on November 14, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Gwen Stefani and Zuma: Park Playdate

2009-11-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Tending to her all-important motherly duties, Gwen Stefani was spotted out with Zuma at the Beverly Hills Park in Beverly Hills, California on Saturday (November 7).

Joined by a young helping hand, the No Doubt singer watched on as her growing baby boy crawled around on the grassy grounds during the day’s fun-filled outing.

The sighting comes as Gwen is currently holding down the homefront while husband Gavin Rossdale spent the weekend in Florida.

The Bush rocker happened to be in the Sunshine State for the Chris Evert and Raymond James Celebrity Tennis Classic Pro-Am at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.

No Doubt sues Activision over Band Hero

2009-11-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

Rock band No Doubt has filed a real-world lawsuit over its virtual role in the just-released Band Hero edition of the Guitar Hero video game series, claiming that the game has “transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act,” singing dozens of songs the group neither wrote, popularized nor approved for use in the game.

In a suit filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, the band alleges that Santa Monica-based Activision, the maker of the game, has far exceeded the contractually approved use of likenesses, or avatars, of band members Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young.

[Updated at 1:04 p.m.: “The band [members] are bitterly disappointed that their name and likeness was taken and used without their permission,” manager Jim Guerinot said today. “They agreed to play three No Doubt songs as a band.... Activision then went and put them in 62 other songs and broke the band up [and] never even asked.”]

[Updated at 2:25 p.m.: In a statement issued this afternoon, the company said: “Activision believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band members in the game and that this lawsuit is without merit.”]

The suit also charges that the game allows users to manipulate their characters to sing songs popularized by other pop music acts. No Doubt’s contract with Activision allowed the company to use the band’s music and likenesses in no more than three of the band’s own songs, the suit states. The game, which was released Tuesday, puts the group members’ images, collectively and individually, into more than 60 songs, “many of which include lyrics, contained in iconic songs, which are not appropriate for No Doubt and have not been and would not have been chosen by No Doubt for recordings or public performances.”

Specifically, the suit notes that through the game’s Character Manipulation Feature, Stefani’s image can be induced to sing the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women.”

“While No Doubt are avid fans of the Rolling Stones and even have performed in concerts with the Rolling Stones,” the complaint states, “the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes.”

It also states that bassist Kanal’s likeness can be manipulated to sing, in a female voice, one of No Doubt’s signature hits, “Just a Girl.”

“Activision has deceived and confused the public into believing that No Doubt authorized the use of its name and likeness for the Character Manipulation Feature of Band Hero and that No Doubt approves and endorses the appearance of its members individually performing songs that are wholly inappropriate and out of character for No Doubt,” according to the complaint.

[Updated at 2:25 p.m.: “Some of the world’s most popular and iconic artists have been featured in Guitar Hero as playable characters, and we are proud to count No Doubt among them,” Activision’s statement said. “Activision has a written agreement to use No Doubt in Band Hero – an agreement signed by No Doubt after extensive negotiations with its representatives, who collectively have decades of experience in the entertainment industry. Pursuant to that agreement, Activision worked with No Doubt and the band’s management in developing Band Hero…. Activision is exploring its own legal options with respect to No Doubt’s obligations under the agreement.”]

The suit states that Activision executives withheld disclosure of the character manipulation feature, and refused the band’s request to remove or disable it in conjunction with the No Doubt avatars after the band learned how they were being used. The complaint says Activision officials told the band that doing so would be “too expensive.”

[Updated at 1:04 p.m.: “Perhaps most disappointing is when Activision was made aware of the problem, rather than make a fix they admit was technically feasible, they made a business decision that both the time and money required to do the right thing were too much,” Guerinot said. “I guess they are developing the next level of the game: corporate Rock Hero.”]

The suit asks for unspecified actual and punitive damages, a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction and a permanent injunction against distribution of the game and for Activision to recall existing copies.

[Updated at 1:40 p.m.: In September, after Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain’s likeness was used in Guitar Hero 5, his widow, Courtney Love, and former bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic complained that the game placed him in front of other bands singing their hits. In that instance, Activision said the company had received written permission from Love to use Cobain’s likeness as a fully playable character. She subsequently Twittered that she had “never signed [off] on the avatar.”]

-- Randy Lewis

Photo: No Doubt's Gwen Stefani. Credit: Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/11/no-doubt-sues-activision-over-band-hero.html

Gwen Stefani And Her Kids At Coldwater Canyon Park(

2009-01-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

Singer Gwen Stefani and her two kids Kingston Rossdale and Zuma Rossdale at the Coldwater Canyon Park with their nanny in Beverly Hills, California.