Gabriel “The Gun” Gonzalez, the original trumpet player for No Doubt, tragically died in a motorcycle accident on September 12 in Hermosa Beach, California. He was 57. His passing was confirmed by a representative to SPIN.
Born on July 11, 1967, Gonzalez was a first-generation Cuban American who began playing the trumpet in high school. He attended Loara High School in Anaheim, California, where he was a classmate of Gwen Stefani and her brother Eric.
Gonzalez co-wrote some of No Doubt’s early songs when the band was known as Apple Core. Although many of these tracks remain unreleased, some made it onto the band’s second album, The Beacon Street Collection. He is credited with co-writing the third track, “Total Hate 95,” and also contributed to the song “Paulina” from the band’s debut self-titled album.
Gonzalez’s passing is a significant loss to the No Doubt family, following the death of co-vocalist John Spence, who took his own life at age 18 during the band’s early years.
Beyond No Doubt, Gonzalez was active in the ska scene, lending his trumpet skills to bands such as Save Ferris, Kingston A Go-Go, The Skeletones, and The Untouchables. He is survived by his three children.
In one of his final Instagram posts on July 12, 2024, Gonzalez shared footage from No Doubt’s first televised performances.
