An Interview With
THE GOO GOO DOLLS
(this article was in the Wall paper last month)
Wall: When you went into the studio to record, did you have any
preconceptions about what you wanted the album to sound like?
Johnny: I think that you always have a plan, but it doesn't always come
out that way. Things sorta take on a different life of their own, but we
came very close in accomplishing what we wanted - to get more of a live,
spontaneous feel. I don't know if we got that, but I really love this
record, and I'm really looking forward to going back into the studio.
Wall: The band has a reputation as a great live act. Have you ever
considered doind a live album?
Johnny: We're thinking of doing something like that during the fall.
The songs definitely have a different feel and vibe live. That's what I
really want to capture on our next studio recording. Robby and I have
already started writing new material while on the road, which is
something we never did before.
Wall: What are some of the advantages of writing on the road?
Johnny: When I'm out on the road, I tend to get a little emotionally
jangled. Everyone's emotions run kind of hot. So I figure this time I'm
going to take advantage of that. Robby and I really want to write
together more, and it's easier to get together while out on tour.
Wall: Why are the lyrics on the new album so much more serious? Were
there any major occurreces in the last few years that changed your
perspective on life?
Johnny: I don't anything earth-shattering has happened. I just think
that there were things I had on my mind that I felt were OK to finally
talk about. It meant a lot to me not to have to constantly laugh at
myself. This time, I didn't want to sing about girls or any of that kind
of stuff.
Wall: Maybe it's because you're married now.
Johnny: It could be. My wife is a very stabilizing factor in my life.
She's really cool to understand what I do. She knows I'm certainly not
getting rich.
Wall: Not yet at least.
Johnny: Well, we're doing much better financially now. If we sold
millions of records, I wouldn't complain about it. But of course there
would be some idiot saying we sold out or something. But whatever. I
haven't changed what I do for anybody. If my music has changed, it's
because I've changed. It's because I want to explore different areas of
writing. Every time I go to do a record, I want to see some growth on
it. That's very important to me.
Wall: Were there any songs on the album that were troublesome to record?
Johnny: Yeah, actually the first single "Only One" almost didn't make it
on the record. We screwed around with it, changed the words a few times,
but just couldn't get the right feel for it. So we said, "Screw it."
But later, I found this old microphone in the studio, this RCA unit from
the 40's. We plugged that in and it sounded incredible. It gave the
vocals a real gritty feel. That's what the song needed. In retrospect,
I feel the song was a real departure for the band, and I'm very satisfied
with the way it came out.
Wall: Is there anyone in particular that teh lyrics in "Only One" are
directed toward?
Johnny: No, it was just about a fictitious local celebrity. Sort of a
neighborhood conglomeration of everyone that was too cool to let us be in
their little clique back in the late 80's. I happened to think about
that while writing for this album, and I remembered how angry I was baout
it then.
Wall: Were you at all disappointed that the video didn't get much MTV
airplay? It really should've been a Buzz clip.
Johnny: Well, it received more attention than any other video that we
did. But listen, I don't make videos for MTV and I don't pick singles
for MTV. We record the album and go out and tour, and tour, and tour,
and we try to keep it at a street level. I don't want to ever have to go
to anyone at the record company and beg them to have MTV do us a favor.
I don't want to get involved in any weird record company politics. I
want any success that happens to happen at an organic level.