Robby Takac can tell you some stories! A founding member of the Goo Goo Dolls in the 1980s, he was there in those rough and tumble, hard rock early days and evolved with the band to produce some of the most heard alternative rock numbers of the 1990s. In fact, the band’s song “Iris” was ranked #1 on Billboard’s “Top 100 Pop Songs 1992–2012” chart.
While Robby and longtime Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik work on a new album, it seemed it was the right time for them to dive into the archives and compile and produce an anthology of rare cuts and seldom heard live performances—the album is called Rarities and it provides some very revealing glimpses into songs that we’ve all heard many, many times.
Robby joins me to discuss the tracks on this new compilation, but we also talk about those heady Goo Goo Dolls days when it seemed the Dolls’ music was inescapable whenever you spun a radio dial. We discuss the good and bad elements of the algorithms that keep their fingers on our collective pulses and we track the path of one of the most successful rock and roll bands of the late 20th century.
While I’ve been fortunate to have John Rzeznik on the program, it’s now Robby’s turn to dish and give us a glimpse inside the modern day machinations of the Goo Goo Dolls.
Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.
