"TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS" August 1999
	GOO GOO DOLLS By:Patty Adams

	LATEST ALBUM: DIZZY UP THE GIRL
	HOMETOWN: BUFFALO,NY
	LUSCIOUS LINEUP: JOHN RZEZNIK (VOCALS GUITAR) ROBBY TAKAC (VOCALS  	
BASS) 	MIKE MALININ (DRUMMER)
	

 	SOUND BITE: You know this Grammy - Nominated band for the power 	
pop ballads "Iris" and "Slide" and for the best killer live shows. The 	
former punk rockers have come along way from their garage -- band punk 	days.

~~ What are your must have items when your on tour?
John Rzeznik: Protein powder, running shoes, books, CD's, headphones, pen, 
paper, and aromatherapy diffuser because hotel rooms are totally gross and 
disgusting and always smell really funky.
~~What's the best summer concert you've ever seen?
JR: The Police. The first time I saw their show, they played all of their 
songs way to fast. I always thought that was cool.
~~So you're not a purist who thinks the song sucks if it doesn't sound like 
it does on the album?
JR: No, I dig the different interpretations of the songs live. Definitely, 
our live show sounds nothing like the record, but I don't want it to.
~~Touring is certainly a cool summer gig. What was your worst?
JR: My first. I was 14 years old and working at Lincoln Playground in Buffalo 
for $2 an hour. One day the thugs in the neighborhood paid some kid a couple 
of bucks to take a crap in the pool and I had to clean it out. That was the 
worst! But I bought my first amp with the money I made so I can't complain 
too much.
~~Did you have any better luck with summer romances?
JR:When I was 24, I spent a summer working in a bar. I was really awkward and 
shy, so the job gave me an excuse to meet women. I met a girl wh used to come 
in with her boyfriend all the time. We just started talking, and we hit it 
off. It was really intense. After making out with her, I could still feel her 
on my lips after she'd gone.
~~If you could do anything you wanted on a summer day what would it be?
JR:I would go to the biggest amusement park I could find and ride all of the 
scariest rides twice. What's funny is I really don't enjoy that stuff, 
because when I was a kid, I was totally terrified of rides. It helps me get 
past my fears. I do that with a lot of things.
~~Like talking to girls?
JR:Yeah, I had to learn to accept rejection and believe in myself. I would 
psych myself up, saying, "Okay if this girl doesn't like you. it doesn't mean 
your ugly, it just means she's not into you. And then I'd use the baseball 
analogy. I'd say, "If you hit 3 out of 10 pitches (as in 3 out of 10 girls 
talked to you), then you're a star, so take it easy if she looks at you and 
says "Get away from me," "
~~If you could be known for one song which one would you like it to be and 
why?
JR: "Slide". I love that song. It's so stealth. I slipped some weird, heavy 
concepts into it that get past some people. Also I love the guitar solo in 
"Naked," 'cause I can't believe I pulled it off.