Robby Takac was born September 30, 1964 in a small suburb outside of Buffalo, New York. He grew up in a tight family with his little sister, and got into punk and metal music at an early age. He had always aspired to be a radio disc jockey, which led to a degree in communications from Buffalo's Medaille University.

Robby plays bass guitar and sings forfront on many tracks for the Goo Goo Dolls. When he was 20, a cousing of John Rzeznik introduced the two, and a strong friendship was soon derived. In 1985, John, Robby, and George Tutuska formed the "Sex Maggots", but were forced to undergo a name change (the Buffalo News refused to print their ad with a name like Sex Maggots). Robby agrees with this, claiming "Sex Maggots" was "the only name I can think of more ridiculous than our current name". So they were given an hour to think of a new one. So, slightly intoxicated, they pulled an ad from a vintage comic book called True Detective for a toy called a "Goo Goo Doll". Robby more than occasionally groans, "If we had had fifteen more minutes…"

For two years, Robby possessed the forefront on vocals for the Goo Goo Dolls, but not long after convinced John to sing lead as well. He says of this, "I may have created a monster."

He is still one of the key elements in the band, although his opportunity to sing lead has dropped drastically since 1990's "Hold Me Up" (he sang six songs, almost half of the entire record), down to a mere four tracks on 1998's "Dizzy Up The Girl". All of us Robby fans can only hope he gets more time in the limelight for their next album (probably due out next year).

• Bio by Dusty