No doubting No Doubt

Amy R. Spurgeon

COSTA MESA -- About 1,500 devoted fans mobbed Triangle Square late Monday

and early Tuesday when Virgin Megastore released pop band No Doubt’s

newest CD -- and distributed passes to an exclusive in-store performance.

The opportunity to see pink-haired pop icon Gwen Stefani, the group’s

lead singer, and her bandmates is a dream come true for those who love

the music. But there is fear it could turn into a public safety nightmare

for city officials.

The 45-minute show, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, will take place in

the food court at Triangle Square. More than 1,200 people are expected to

turn out for the mini-concert. Only those who camped out to buy the

band’s new CD will be admitted.

“There are a lot of steps being taken for this,” said Costa Mesa Police

Lt. Dale Birney. “This is not something that happens every day.”

The Orange County-based band -- which made it big in 1995, grossing more

than $15 million with its third album -- is expected to create quite a

stir. If necessary, as many as 60 security guards and police officers

will handle crowd control duties.

Interscope Records and Virgin Megastore are picking up the tab and the

two companies are also negotiating to rent the Pacific Federal Building

parking lot at 19th Street and Newport Boulevard to handle overflow

parking, said Ann Shultz, Costa Mesa’s assistant city manager.

“It seems like a positive thing. We’ve tried to be cautious,” said

Shultz. “It’s good for Triangle Square.”

As it turns out, it’s even better for fans who have waited almost five

years for No Doubt’s new album, “Return of Saturn.”

As a promotional tool, the first 1,000 people in line to buy the album

were rewarded with a red, plastic wristband -- a priceless commodity that

will admit them to Thursday’s concert.

The show will be the band’s only in-store performance to promote “Return

to Saturn.”

No Doubt will complete its U.S. tour this weekend in San Francisco and

then head to Europe.

Virgin Megastore’s very first customer, 19-year-old Gaiane Arzuyan of

Montebello, tasted sweet success at the stroke of midnight Tuesday when

she shelled out $14.99 for the new No Doubt CD.

Arzuyan sacrificed a day of college to be in line by 7:30 a.m.

“The owner was like, ‘What are you doing here this early? It’s at

midnight,’ ” Arzuyan said.

Each person in line had a story. Each was the band’s “biggest fan.”

Erin Trubey, 22, of Burbank, said she broke her sternum dancing in a wild

“mosh pit” at the band’s 1997 Anaheim Pond performance.

Many female fans gushed about their admiration of lead singer Stefani.

One “Gwen-a-be,” 25-year-old Gretchen Sturm, dyed strips of her blonde

hair pink in honor of Stefani.

“Gwen’s hot pink hair proves that she is more than just a girl,” said

Sturm, of Garden Grove. “And even at 30, she is still a trendsetter.”