Goo Goo Dolls

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tarting in Buffalo, N.Y., USA, Goo Goo Dolls featured a Grungy punk sound influenced by Cheap Trick, Lemmonheads and Descendents with the line-up of Robby Takac (bass; a former DJ), Johnny Rzeznik(vocals/guitar) and George Tutuska(drums) to debut in 1987 with a low quality eponymous debut album that failed to receive widespread international exposure. The follow-up, Jed (1989), featured an odd cover version of a reading of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Down On The Corner presented by guest Lance Diamond.

'Metal Blade' took over just as the band was finally gaining momentum with their punk rock infused heavy metal gaining new audiences to release of their third set, Hold Me Up (1990). It would take three years before they returned with Superstar Carwash (1993); an album that proved to be a transitional set that prepared them for their lift to the big time. Mike Malinin had now replaced George in time for the A Boy Named Goo (1995) set, a US 27 charter that featured the US 5 charting Name among its numbers. A Boy Named Goo became the first album in 'Metal Blade' history to achieve double-platinum status. The single Name was particularly successful on the record. This success, however, proved bittersweet, as the band found themselves in a legal battle with 'Metal Blade'. The band filed suit against 'Metal Blade', claiming they had not earned any royalties from their album's sales, which was attributed to a "grossly unfair, one-sided and unenforceable contract" which had been signed by the band in 1987. The two sides reached a settlement which had the band signed to 'Metal Blade''s distributing label, 'Warner Bros. Records'. Unlike many of their peers, such as Green Day or The Offspring, the Goo Goo Dolls failed to translate their success to the now saturated UK market despite having two more radio hits in the US taken from their Dizzy Up The Girl (1998).

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