Goo Goo Dolls: Hard Work and Inspiration

Goo Goo Dolls band is a musical trio that has been creating music since 1986. Their musical style has been difficult to identify due to the fact that they have moved from scrappy punk to hard-core pop. Today’s members of the band are Jhonny Rzeznik (vocalist and guitarist), Robby Takac (Vocalist and Bassist) and Mike Malinin (drummer). Jhonny and Robby are founders of the band, but Mike began in 1995 when he took the place of George Tutukas, former drummer who was with the band from 1986 till 1994. Lance Diamond, Nathan December and Dave Schultz have also played with Goo Goo Dolls in some opportunities.

Originally, the name of the band was Sex Maggots. Nevertheless, a promoter who had booked them encouraged them to change it for something more appealing. One day while looking a magazine, they saw and ad for a Goo Goo Doll. They liked the name and took it for their band. Regarding their musical style and influences, they identify themselves with late 70’s and early 80’s metal and punk, and bands such as KISS, Ramones, Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode among others.

At present, Goo Goo Dolls has released 10 albums: Goo Goo Dolls (1987), Jed (1989), Hold Me Up (1991), Superstar Carwash (1993), A Boy Named Goo (1995), Dizzy up the Girl (1998), What I Learned about Ego, Opinion, Art  & Commerce (2001), Live in Buffalo (2004) and Let Love in (2006). The album A Boy Named Goo was a really important one due to two main reasons. The album fully expressed what Goo Goo Dolls is and wants to project, and it was the first commercial success after nine years of hard work. The next album Dizzy up the Girl and the song Iris (part of City of Angels’ soundtrack) was a success.

Goo Goo Dolls is a band with good music that has worked very hard to succeed in a really competitive industry. Thus what can be the key of success? What about doing the music they like and writing songs that come from their own inspiration… That has really worked.