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==Biography==
==Biography==
===Origins and early music (1986-1993)===
===Origins and early music (1986-1993)===
The Goo Goo Dolls initially consisted of John Rzeznik (vocals, guitar), Robby Takac (vocals, bass guitar) and George Tutuska (drums). While Takac and Tutuska had been long-time friends in school, Rzeznik was playing in the band The Beaumonts, with Takac’s cousin.<ref>{{cite web | last = Morano | first = Scott | title =Goo Goo Dolls FAQ | work =www.musicfanclubs.org | publisher = | date =1996| url =http://www.musicfanclubs.org/googoodolls/misc/faq.htm#1 | accessdate = 2007-08-07 }}</ref> The three founded the band under the name Sex Maggots. However, when a club owner booked the band, he requested they change the name, as the local newspaper could not print their current name. The trio picked the current name out of a True Detective newspaper ad for a toy called a Goo Goo Doll.<ref>Rolling Stone Magazine, November 1999.{{Verify credibility|article|date=August 2007}}</ref> With Takac as their lead singer, the band released their first album, ''[[Goo Goo Dolls (album)|Goo Goo Dolls]]'' in 1986 on Mercenary Records, but was picked up in 1987 by [[Celluloid Records]], a larger record company. The band released its second album, ''[[Jed (album)|Jed]]'', in 1989 after moving to Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Goo Goo Dolls Biography | work =Contemporary Musicians | publisher =[[Thomson Gale]] | date =1996 | url =http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/goo-goo-dolls-biography | accessdate = 2007-08-07 }}</ref>
The Goo Goo Dolls are the best band that ever played!! and initially consisted of John Rzeznik (vocals, guitar), Robby Takac (vocals, bass guitar) and George Tutuska (drums). While Takac and Tutuska had been long-time friends in school, Rzeznik was playing in the band The Beaumonts, with Takac’s cousin.<ref>{{cite web | last = Morano | first = Scott | title =Goo Goo Dolls FAQ | work =www.musicfanclubs.org | publisher = | date =1996| url =http://www.musicfanclubs.org/googoodolls/misc/faq.htm#1 | accessdate = 2007-08-07 }}</ref> The three founded the band under the name Sex Maggots. However, when a club owner booked the band, he requested they change the name, as the local newspaper could not print their current name. The trio picked the current name out of a True Detective newspaper ad for a toy called a Goo Goo Doll.<ref>Rolling Stone Magazine, November 1999.{{Verify credibility|article|date=August 2007}}</ref> With Takac as their lead singer, the band released their first album, ''[[Goo Goo Dolls (album)|Goo Goo Dolls]]'' in 1986 on Mercenary Records, but was picked up in 1987 by [[Celluloid Records]], a larger record company. The band released its second album, ''[[Jed (album)|Jed]]'', in 1989 after moving to Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Goo Goo Dolls Biography | work =Contemporary Musicians | publisher =[[Thomson Gale]] | date =1996 | url =http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/goo-goo-dolls-biography | accessdate = 2007-08-07 }}</ref>


The band's third album, ''[[Hold Me Up]]'', was released in 1990 and featured Rzeznik as the lead vocalist on five tracks, including the single "There You Are" as well as the current concert favourite ''Two Days in February''. Despite being earlier dismissed as having too similar a sound to [[The Replacements]], as well as being embraced by local [[college radio]] and punk scenes, (playing such venues as [[CBGB]]) the Goo Goo Dolls' third release had incorporated elements of [[heavy metal]], [[pop rock]], and punk. In 1991, the song "I'm Awake Now" was recorded for the soundtrack of ''[[Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare]]'', the video for which featured a cameo of [[Robert Englund]] in character as [[Freddy Krueger]] and was played on the major video channels at the time.
The band's third album, ''[[Hold Me Up]]'', was released in 1990 and featured Rzeznik as the lead vocalist on five tracks, including the single "There You Are" as well as the current concert favourite ''Two Days in February''. Despite being earlier dismissed as having too similar a sound to [[The Replacements]], as well as being embraced by local [[college radio]] and punk scenes, (playing such venues as [[CBGB]]) the Goo Goo Dolls' third release had incorporated elements of [[heavy metal]], [[pop rock]], and punk. In 1991, the song "I'm Awake Now" was recorded for the soundtrack of ''[[Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare]]'', the video for which featured a cameo of [[Robert Englund]] in character as [[Freddy Krueger]] and was played on the major video channels at the time.

Revision as of 22:56, 24 September 2007

Goo Goo Dolls

The Goo Goo Dolls, also known as GGD, are an alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York by guitarist/vocalist John Rzeznik and bassist/vocalist Robby Takac.

Band members

Current members

  • John Rzeznik – guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals (1986-present)
  • Robby Takac – bass, lead vocals, backing vocals (1986-present)
  • Mike Malinin – drums, percussion (1995-present)

Former members

Biography

Origins and early music (1986-1993)

The Goo Goo Dolls are the best band that ever played!! and initially consisted of John Rzeznik (vocals, guitar), Robby Takac (vocals, bass guitar) and George Tutuska (drums). While Takac and Tutuska had been long-time friends in school, Rzeznik was playing in the band The Beaumonts, with Takac’s cousin.[1] The three founded the band under the name Sex Maggots. However, when a club owner booked the band, he requested they change the name, as the local newspaper could not print their current name. The trio picked the current name out of a True Detective newspaper ad for a toy called a Goo Goo Doll.[2] With Takac as their lead singer, the band released their first album, Goo Goo Dolls in 1986 on Mercenary Records, but was picked up in 1987 by Celluloid Records, a larger record company. The band released its second album, Jed, in 1989 after moving to Los Angeles.[3]

The band's third album, Hold Me Up, was released in 1990 and featured Rzeznik as the lead vocalist on five tracks, including the single "There You Are" as well as the current concert favourite Two Days in February. Despite being earlier dismissed as having too similar a sound to The Replacements, as well as being embraced by local college radio and punk scenes, (playing such venues as CBGB) the Goo Goo Dolls' third release had incorporated elements of heavy metal, pop rock, and punk. In 1991, the song "I'm Awake Now" was recorded for the soundtrack of Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, the video for which featured a cameo of Robert Englund in character as Freddy Krueger and was played on the major video channels at the time.

Superstar Car Wash was released in 1993 to significant media attention. The critical success and encouraging sales of the last album resulted in a larger budget from Metal Blade Records. The album was partially recorded in Metalworks Studio in Mississuaga, Ontario, which is where Rush had produced multi-platinum albums.[4] The single "We Are the Normal", which Rzeznik wrote with Replacements' frontman Paul Westerberg, received a major push toward college and independent radio, while its video was displayed on MTV's 120 Minutes program. "Fallin' Down" made it onto the soundtrack of Pauly Shore's hit film Son in Law.

Mainstream breakthrough and legal issues (1995-1997)

Shortly after recording the band’s fifth album A Boy Named Goo, George Tutuska was asked to leave the band after Rzeznik questioned his commitment. The band hired Mike Malinin and toured rigorously. The album sold modestly in this time, however it was not until the release of the single "Name" that the band experienced any commercial success. A Boy Named Goo became the first album in Metal Blade history to achieve double-platinum status. The success, however, was bittersweet, as the band found themselves in a legal battle with Metal Blade records. The band filed suit against Metal Blade, claiming they had not earned any royalties from their album’s sales, which was attributed to a "grossly unfair, one-sided and unenforceable contract" which had been signed by the band in 1987.[5] The two sides reached a settlement which had the band signed to the company’s parent company, Warner Bros. Records, under which the band released their sixth album, Dizzy Up the Girl, in 1998.[6] The undisputed success of "Name" marked a fundamental change in the band’s sound toward a more polished, commercial direction.

"Iris" and continued success (1997-present)

Rzeznik was approached to write a song for the City of Angels soundtrack, and the end product was "Iris", which propelled the band to stardom, as it stayed on top of Billboard Hot 100 Airplay charts for 18 weeks, and was nominated for three Grammys that year. According to interviews with Rzeznik, he was experiencing serious bouts of writers' block when he was approached to write a song for the City of Angels soundtrack, and, according to Rzeznik, he was on the verge of quitting the band days before he wrote the song that would launch the band to worldwide fame.

"Iris"'s solo publicity was only achieved by few songs before and little since. The song was included on Dizzy Up the Girl, and was among Top-Ten hits "Slide", "Black Balloon", "Broadway", and "Dizzy" from the same album. The new, polished sound garnered legions of new fans, many of whom had not followed the band before their mainstream success. Most Goo Goo Dolls concerts feature few, if any, songs the band wrote before 1995, reflecting the band’s more mainstream sound. Although the lyrics to "Black Balloon" are vague and unclear, as this is an essential aspect of Rzeznik's style of writing, the song, according to the lead-singer himself, regards drug abuse and the emotional consequences of indulging in them. It is widely believed that the song was written for Robby Takac's wife who was once caught up in drug abuse but who has fully recovered today; both refuse to state who the song is written for or about. In 2001, the Goos released their first ever compilation CD, What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce. Next, Gutterflower (2002)—with dark lyrical undertones from Rzeznik's divorce—achieved platinum certification, producing the hits "Here Is Gone", "Sympathy", and "Big Machine". On July 4, 2004, the band performed a free concert in their hometown of Buffalo, continuing through a deluge of rain that can be seen on the DVD released later that year. The DVD also contained a studio version of the Goo Goo Dolls' cover of "Give a Little Bit" by Supertramp. The single reached the top of the Adult Top 40 chart in 2005.

In 2006, the Goo Goo Dolls marked their 20th anniversary with their new album Let Love In, which included the studio recording of "Give a Little Bit" as well as other top 10 radio singles "Better Days," "Stay With You," and "Let Love In". With the their third consecutive single ("Let Love In") from the album, the Goo Goo Dolls hit a record 12 Top 10 hits in Adult Top 40 history, beating Matchbox Twenty and Sheryl Crow. The Goo Goo Dolls plan to release another single from Let Love In, "Without You Here", as well as a song from this July's Transformers movie called "Before It's Too Late", originally titled "Fiction". To promote the new single, the Goo Goo Dolls performed "Before It's Too Late" at both The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 8, 2007, and again at The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on June 22, 2007.[7] In July 2007 the band discussed their career as a whole and gave a live performance on A&E's Private Sessions. Rzeznik has stated that after the release of "Without You Here" and their summer tour with Lifehouse and Colbie Caillat, the band will return to the studio to begin work on their next album, their ninth overall.[citation needed]

April 13, 1996 and July 4, 2004 were proclaimed "Goo Goo Dolls Day" in their hometown of Buffalo, New York.[citation needed]

Also, according to Robby Takac, the band will release a greatest hits album entitled Goo Goo Dolls: Greatest Hits Volume 1 this coming fall, and have plans to release a "career retrospective collection" in the near future.

Notable people involved with the band

  • William Howell was the uncredited A&R scout who helped sign the band to Metal Blade in 1987.
  • Artie Kwitchoff was the original manager of the band up to the Metal Blade years. Currently, he is a club owner and concert promoter for Funtime Presents. "Artie" (off of Jed) includes a recording of a prank phone call to Kwitchoff concerning the breakup of the band.
  • George Tutuska, was the drummer for the Goo Goo Dolls from 1986 to New Year's Eve 1994. He was dismissed and replaced by Mike Malinin. John initially quit the band since he could barely stand to be in the same room with George, but Robby convinced him to rejoin and he fired George. Currently, George plays for the Buffalo celtic rock band Jackdaw.
  • Paul Westerberg lead singer of the band The Replacements co-wrote the song "We Are the Normal" for the album Superstar Car Wash.
  • Lance Diamond is a Buffalo, New York entertainer who has played live with the Goo Goo Dolls on many occasions, as well as recorded with them on the tracks "Down On the Corner" (off "Jed"), "Never Take The Place Of Your Man" (off "Hold Me Up"), "My Girl", "Do You Believe", and "Bitch".
  • Nathan December was the touring backing guitarist for the Dizzy Up the Girl tour.
  • Dave Schulz was the touring keyboardist for the Dizzy Up the Girl tour. He is currently working as a producer and session player in Los Angeles.
  • Greg Suran was the touring backing guitarist for the Gutterflower tour. He is currently working as a session player in Los Angeles.
  • Jason Freese was the touring keyboardist/saxophonist for the Gutterflower tour; he is now on tour with Green Day.
  • Paul Gordon was keyboardist from July, 2004 to January, 2006. He is also guitarist and keyboardist for B52's.
  • Brad Fernquist is the touring backing guitarist for the Let Love In tour.
  • Korel Tunador is the touring keyboardist/guitarist/saxophonist for the Let Love In tour.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

For all albums, the peak position on the Billboard 200 chart [10] and the RIAA certification [11] are provided where applicable.

DVDs and Videos

Singles

Year Title U.S. Billboard Charts [12] U.K. Charts [13] Album
Hot 100 Mainstream Rock Modern Rock Hot AC Hot Adult Top 40 Top 75 Singles
1991 "There You Are" - - 24 - - - Hold Me Up
1991 "I'm Awake Now" - - - - - - Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
1993 "We Are The Normal" - - 5 - - - Superstar Car Wash
1995 "Only One" - 21 36 - - - A Boy Named Goo
1995 "Flat Top" - 38 - - - - A Boy Named Goo
1995 "Name" 5 1 1 5 2 - A Boy Named Goo
1996 "Naked" - 8 9 - - - A Boy Named Goo
1996 "Long Way Down" - 7 25 - - - A Boy Named Goo
1997 "Lazy Eye" - 9 20 - - - Batman & Robin
1998 "Iris" 9 8 1 22 1 26 Dizzy Up The Girl
1998 "Slide" 8 4 1 - 1 43 Dizzy Up The Girl
1999 "Dizzy" 108 13 9 - - - Dizzy Up The Girl
1999 "Black Balloon" 16 28 13 - 3 - Dizzy Up The Girl
2000 "Broadway" 24 - 38 - 5 - Dizzy Up The Girl
2002 "Here Is Gone" 18 29 21 - 3 - Gutterflower
2002 "Big Machine" 64 - - - 10 - Gutterflower
2003 "Sympathy" 115 - - - 10 - Gutterflower
2004 "Give A Little Bit" 37 - - 5 1 - Live in Buffalo: July 4th 2004
2005 "Better Days" 36 - - 17 3 - Let Love In
2006 "Stay With You" 51 - - 32 6 39 Let Love In
2006 "Let Love In" 101 - - 28 9 - Let Love In
2007 "Before It's Too Late (Sam and Mikaela's Theme)" 86 - - - 9 - Transformers: The Album

Official music videos

  • "There You Are"
  • "I'm Awake Now"
  • "We Are The Normal"
  • "Only One"
  • "Flat Top"
  • "Name"
  • "Naked"
  • "Long Way Down"
  • "Lazy Eye"
  • "Iris"
  • "Slide"
  • "Dizzy"
  • "Black Balloon"
  • "Broadway"
  • "Here Is Gone"
  • "Big Machine"
  • "Sympathy"
  • "Give A Little Bit"
  • "Better Days"
  • "Stay With You"
  • "Let Love In"
  • "Before It's Too Late (Sam and Mikaela's Theme)"

References and notes

  1. ^ Morano, Scott (1996). "Goo Goo Dolls FAQ". www.musicfanclubs.org. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  2. ^ Rolling Stone Magazine, November 1999.[unreliable source?]
  3. ^ "The Goo Goo Dolls Biography". Contemporary Musicians. Thomson Gale. 1996. Retrieved 2007-08-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ "Superstar Car Wash". www.cduniverse.com. Retrieved 2007-08-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Want Label to Forget Their Name". www.rollingstone.com. December 2, 1996. Retrieved 2007-08-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Lawsuit Coming to a Head". www.rollingstone.com. April 12, 1997. Retrieved 2007-08-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Transforming Experience?". www.ultimate-guitar.com. May 4, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ After signing with Metal Blade Records in 1987, the band's self-titled debut album Goo Goo Dolls was re-released under the revised title of First Release by their new record label. The albums Goo Goo Dolls and First Release are both identical, except for different cover artwork.
  9. ^ "The Goo Goo Dolls to Release First-Ever Greatest Hits CD". www.marketwire.com. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
  10. ^ USA Billboard Albums Billboard.com
  11. ^ RIAA Certifications RIAA.com
  12. ^ USA Billboard Singles Billboard.com
  13. ^ UK Top 75 Singles ChartStats.com

External links

Main sites

Interviews

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