Two years ago, No Doubt was one of the standout acts at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The ’90s-era ska-punk superheroes drew a huge crowd to Coachella’s main Saturday night stage, reuniting for the first time in nearly a decade for what was considered to be one of the best sets in recent memory.
Now, on the cusp of a hotly anticipated residency in Las Vegas, one of No Doubt’s founding members is going public about a previously unknown struggle with early onset Parkinson’s disease.
Tom Dumont, a Southern California native and longtime member of No Doubt, announced his diagnosis in an Instagram Reels video on Saturday, April 11. Dumont says that “a number of years ago” he began to struggle with a series of symptoms, and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s after receiving “a whole bunch of tests” from various doctors, including a neurologist.
“It’s been a struggle, it’s a struggle every day,” Dumont said of his diagnosis. Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that affects movement, and can grow over time to include general tremors, mobility issues and slurred speech. Other celebrities commonly associated with Parkinson’s include actor Michael J. Fox, musician Ozzy Osbourne and boxer Muhammad Ali. There is currently no cure for the disease.
No Doubt is currently working on another round of shows, this time at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The extended residency begins in early May and runs through June.
Wearing a plain white t-shirt in the direct-to-camera video, Dumont remained somewhat stoic but not unhappy, saying that the work of building out No Doubt’s Sphere show — particularly the historical and visual aspects — has been “very fun.”
“It’s kind of made me think about how grateful I am for the life I’ve gotten to lead as a musician all these years,” Dumont said. “And it’s thanks to our families and our friends and listeners, and you, and everyone who’s come to our shows over the years. Thank you.”
Dumont promised to follow up his video reveal with more commentary on “what Parkinson’s entails” and his ongoing treatment at a later date. For now, he said he is moving ahead with his role in the band, which includes playing all of the shows at the Sphere.
“The good news is, I can still play music,” Dumont said. “I can still play guitar. I’ve been doing really well.”