Featured Band: GOO GOO DOLLS

This resilient Buffalo garage band formed in 1986 and got its start playing on the local club scene there. Johnny Rzeznik (vocals, guitar), Robbie Takac (vocals, bass) and George (drums) released their first independent album, Power, in 1987 and began building a local fan base. In 1988 they released Jed, on the L.A. indie label Metal Blade, creating a critical buzz that included raves from the Los Angeles Times ("a blast of school's-out exuberance") and Rolling Stone ("thrash-packed pop and well-articulated rage").

It was only a matter of time before the group began attracting major label attention, and in 1991 they released Hold Me Up under Metal Blade's distribution deal with Warner Bros. Virtual non-stop touring and a track ("I'm Awake Now") on the Nightmare on Elm Street 6 soundtrack further bolstered their national following.

Another strong showing, Superstar Car Wash, came out on Warner Bros. in 1993. Musician magazine said the album marked " a quantum leap over their thrash beginnings, a move akin to the Replacements breakthrough records Let It Be." Despite the critical kudos, however, the Goo Goos remained on the fringes of the mainstream.

Their breakthrough came in 1995 with their third Warner release, A Boy Named Goo. The album, produced by Lou Giordano (Pere Ubu, Husker Du, Smithereens), contained the hit ballad "Name," their first foray into American Top 40 radio.

The Goo Goos went on a brief hiatus in the mid-'90s to iron out some wranglings with their record label and to make some personnel changes; longtime drummer George was replaced by Mike Malinin. During this time the Goo Goos contributed tracks to numerous soundtracks, including Ace Ventura 2 (1995), Tommy Boy (1995), Twister (1996), Son in Law (1996) and Batman and Robin (1996).

But by far their biggest soundtrack payoff came in 1998 with the multi-platinum ballad "Iris," which appeared in the film City of Angels. The single shot to No. 1 on the Billboard charts and its accompanying video became an MTV mainstay. The band finally earned the "next big thing" status that had been eluding them throughout their decade-long career. "Iris" was included on the triple platinum "Dizzy Up The Girl" which included Top-Ten hits Slide, Black Balloon, Broadway and Dizzy.

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 gold certification, producing the hits "Here Is Gone", "Sympathy" and "Big Machine." On July 4, 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 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.

On November 13, 2007, the Goo Goo Dolls released a greatest hits album entitled "Greatest Hits Volume One: The Singles", which includes a new version of "Name" and a remix of "Feel The Silence" by Michael Brauer as well as a second greatest hits album "Greatest Hits Volume Two: B-sides & Rarities" containing b-sides, rarities, and a live performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre from their "Let Love In" tour.

On July 2, 2008, the Goo Goo Dolls released a new single called "Real" to select iTunes stores, while it was released on the AT&T USA Olympic Team soundtrack to the remaining iTunes stores on August 8, 2008, coinciding with the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

source: http://www.biggeststars.com/g/goo-goo-dolls-home.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goo_Goo_Dolls

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