Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik suffered such extreme writer's block after the success of 1995's multi-platinum Boy Named Goo that he actually sought therapy. Without it, the rock band's sixth album, Dizzy Up the Girl, may have never existed.
"I had to talk to a counsellor who deals with musicians and writers and artists," says Rzeznik. "All my confidence got blown out of the water."
After fronting the Buffalo, New York-based trio for a decade and releasing five albums, Rzeznik was almost paralyzed by success. It wasn't until he wrote "iris" (for the City of Angels soundtrack) that his creative juices started flowing again.
"I went and the saw the movie, and it really touched a place inside of me," Rzeznik recalls. "It was a real turning point. I really believe that 'Iris' was a gift. That song was sent to help me out."
And it did. "Iris" hit the top of charts just as Rzeznik, long time bandmate bassist/vocalist Robby Takac and new drummer Mike Malinin began recording Dizzy Up the Girl.
The band debated whether to include it on the album. "we didn't want it to look like we needed it to sell the record." Explains Takac. "But it was pretty obvious after the record started to develop that there wasn't a question as to whether or not there was another good song on the record, so it was fine to put it on."
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