GOO GOO DOLLS FACTS:
Members: Johnny Rzeznik, Robby Takac & Mike Malinin
Genre: Punk Music / Alternative Rock Music
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
Albums: Goo Goo Dolls, Jed, Hold Me Up, Superstar Car Wash, A Boy Named Goo, Dizzy Up the Girl, What I learned About Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce, Gutterflower, Live in Buffalo: July 4, 2004, Let Love In
Hits: "Name", "Slide", "Iris", "Here Is Gone"
Other: Rzeznik performed duet with Avril Lavigne at New York’s "Fashion Rocks!" concert
Although the Goo Goo Dolls started performing in the mid-80s, it was not until the break out success of 1998's "Iris" that the Buffalo-based rock band experienced widespread acclaim. Since then, they have earned 17 top-10 hits with songs such as "Slide" and "Black Balloon" and have sold over 9 million albums in the United States.
The Goo Goo Dolls formed in 1986, when front man John Rzeznik teamed with bass player Robby Takac and drummer George Tutuska and the band released their first album a year later. Due to a disagreement, Tutuska left the band in 1994 and was replaced by Mike Malinin.
After a decade of flirting with commercial success, the Goo Goo Dolls released their triple platinum album Dizzy Up the Girl, which was responsible for five top-10 hits. Their signature song still remains, "Iris," as it launched them into superstardom. The song was the title track for the movie City of Angels, and Rzeznik claims that he wrote the lyrics in a mere five minutes. The song received Grammy nominations for record of the year, song of the year and best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals, and remains a classic even 12 years later.
The tremendous popularity continued after Dizzy Up the Girl when they released Gutterflower in 2002. While it seemed nearly impossible to match the success of the previous album, Gutterflower came close. The album was certified gold and reached number four on the Billboard charts. The three singles released from the album were successful as well, especially "Here is Gone," which climbed to number three on the Adult Top 40.
The 2006 album Let Love In saw a bit of a drop off in sales compared to their previous to releases, but it still produced a bevy of hits that gained significant play on the radio. "Stay With You," "Better Days" and their cover of Supertramp's "Give a Little Bit" were all relatively popular with listeners.