No Doubt star Tom Dumont reveals Parkinson’s struggle ahead of band’s reunion
90s legends No Doubt are about to reunite after years - but one member of the band has shared a serious, secret health condition.
No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont has revealed his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease ahead of the legendary ska band’s residency at the famous Sphere in Las Vegas.
In a video posted to social media, the 58-year-old musician said after experiencing symptoms a few years ago, doctors found he had early-onset Parkinson’s.
“So a number of years ago, I was experiencing a number of symptoms. (I) went to my doctor, I went to a neurologist, and I did a whole bunch of tests, and I was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease,” Dumont said.
“It’s been a struggle. It’s a struggle every day.”
Dumont said the symptoms had not affected his ability to play music and he would be on stage with singer Gwen Stefani, bassist Tony Kanal and drummer Adrian Young for the band’s shows in Las Vegas that kick off on May 6.
“The good news is, I can still play music. I can still play guitar. I’ve been doing really well,” he said.
The guitarist’s video coincided with World Parkinson’s Day over the weekend. He said he had been inspired by others living with the disease, including actor Michael J. Fox, who was tagged on the Instagram post.
The No Doubt star, who joined the band in 1988, said he planned to share further videos to educate people on the disease to further awareness.
“I’ve just been very inspired by so many people who have come out to talk about their health issues on social media and that sort of thing. I think it helps erase some of the stigma, and it raises awareness, obviously, and awareness is really important, for prevention and for research,” he said.
According to Parkinson’s Australia, the disease occurs when brain cells that produce dopamine are damaged or lost, affecting movement and other functions.
The risk increases with age, but genetics and environmental factors also play a role. Symptoms vary and progress differently for each person.
Dumont said he had been loving the nostalgia trip of rehearsing their catalogue and combing the No Doubt archives of photos and videos ahead of the Sphere residency with 18 shows booked during May and June.
Revisiting old memories had made him grateful for the musical life the band’s fans had afforded him.
“The last couple of months, getting ready for the No Doubt sphere shows, it’s been very fun looking through old footage and looking at old photographs and relearning old songs and rehearsing and creating all the video stuff for the screens of the Sphere,” he said.
“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, and it’s thanks to our families and our friends and listeners, and everyone who’s come to our shows over the years.”
Neil Diamond, who stepped back from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018, will release a new album Wild at Heart next month.
The record completes a trilogy of record he made with famed hitmaker Rick Rubin, following on from 2005’s 12 Songs and 2008’s Home Before Dark.
