Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
“In 2026, founding members Johnny Rzeznik and Robby Takac are set to mark 40 years of making music together.”
Goo Goo Dolls on Nearly 40 Years Together: ‘We Still Keep Each Other in Check’
After almost four decades of performing side by side, Goo Goo Dolls founding members Johnny Rzeznik and Robby Takac admit their bond comes with a dose of “tough love.”
The pair, who have led the band since its 1986 formation, say that part of their longevity comes from finding unusual ways to work through conflict. “John and I will actually slap and punch each other to let the frustration out,” Takac, 60, told Billboard. “Looking back, it’s funny… it just turns into slap fights. But we’re never trying to hurt one another.”
Despite their clashes, Takac emphasized that their connection runs deep. “We love each other. John and I even shared a bedroom for years — platonically, of course. That’s just the way we came up. Everyone has their moments — me, him — but at the end of the day, we grab a cup of coffee, talk it out, and move forward.”
Currently, Rzeznik and Takac are out on the road with their Summer Anthem Tour, leading up to the release of their new EP Summer Anthem on Friday, Aug. 22. The band was originally formed in 1986 with drummer George Tutuska, who left in 1995. The current lineup features Rzeznik, Takac, guitarist Brad Fernquist, drummer Craig Macintyre, and multi-instrumentalist Jim McGorman.
This year also marks 30 years since the release of their breakthrough album A Boy Named Goo, which included the hit “Name.” The record gave them their first taste of mainstream success. “We learned what it was like to be a priority for a major label. We were working nonstop — 20-hour days, sometimes visiting six to eight radio stations in a single day,” Takac recalled. “I couldn’t imagine doing that pace again. It doesn’t feel like 30 years ago; it feels like another lifetime.”
Even though the band isn’t hustling at that same intensity anymore, they’ve experienced a resurgence thanks to younger fans discovering their music. Their 1998 ballad “Iris” was recently featured in Deadpool & Wolverine and the band also performed at Stagecoach 2025, bringing in one of their strongest waves of interest yet. “We haven’t seen numbers like this at any point in our career,” Takac admitted.
