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Johnny RzeznikMusician, guitarist of the band 'Goo Goo Dolls'
Date of Birth: 05.12.1965
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Johnny Rzeznik
Johnny Rzeznik is a musician and guitarist best known as a member of the band 'Goo Goo Dolls'. He was born on December 5, 1965, in Buffalo, New York. Rzeznik grew up in a Catholic family and was the youngest of five children of Joseph and Edith Rzeznik. He faced a difficult childhood as his father died at the age of 54 due to complications from alcoholism when Rzeznik was only fourteen. A year later, his mother passed away from a sudden heart attack. At the age of sixteen, Rzeznik found himself orphaned and was taken care of by his four older sisters.
Discovering Music
During his challenging teenage years, Rzeznik found solace in music and realized his passion for it. He started playing the guitar and delved into punk rock. In 1986, while studying at a vocational school to become a plumber, Rzeznik formed a band with his cousin Robbie Takac. This band eventually evolved into 'Goo Goo Dolls'. Prior to this, Rzeznik had also played with Robbie in another band called 'The Beaumonts'.
The Goo Goo Dolls
Initially called 'Sex Maggots', the band consisted of Robbie Takac on bass guitar, Rzeznik on vocals and guitar, and George Tutuska on drums. However, they later changed their name to 'The Goo Goo Dolls' after their manager expressed concerns about the negative connotations associated with their original name. The band's first album was released under the label 'Celluloid' and attracted the attention of 'Metal Blade', a bigger record company. They subsequently signed a contract with 'Metal Blade' and released several albums under their label.
Success and Personal Life
In 1990, Rzeznik met his future wife, model Laurie Farinacci, who happened to be from Buffalo as well. They got married in 1993. Despite consistent airplay on the radio, it was not until 1995 that 'The Goo Goo Dolls' achieved their first major hit with the album 'A Boy Named Goo'. The album featured the acoustic ballad 'Name', which became a huge commercial success and helped the album achieve platinum status.
After the success of 'A Boy Named Goo', Rzeznik experienced a creative block and struggled to replicate the band's success. However, in 1997, the band signed a contract with 'Warner Bros. Records' and was asked to write a song for the soundtrack of the movie 'City of Angels'. Inspired by the film, Rzeznik wrote the song 'Iris', which became the band's biggest hit and their signature song. Both the movie and the song achieved immense success, with 'Iris' spending a record-breaking eighteen weeks at the top of the 'Airplay Chart'.
Following the success of 'Iris', 'The Goo Goo Dolls' released the album 'Dizzy Up The Girl', which included four more top-ten singles. The album sold over three million copies. In 2002, Rzeznik went through a divorce, which significantly influenced his songwriting. The band's next album, 'Gutterflower', showcased a darker lyrical tone compared to their previous record.
In May 2008, Johnny Rzeznik was inducted into the 'Songwriters Hall of Fame'.
