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John Rzeznik
6,867 listeners (54,388 plays)
rock, singer-songwriter, alternative rock, disney, polish… see all
John Joseph Theodore Rzeznik (pronounced REZ-Nik), commonly known as Johnny Rzeznik (born December 5, 1965 in Buffalo, New York), is the guitarist/vocalist of rock band the Goo Goo Dolls.
Prior to the album A Boy Named Goo, his bandmate, Robby Takac was the lead singer. During the era of the album Superstar Carwash, they collaborated on several songs. Although Rzeznik transitioned into becoming the lead vocalist, both men still share the duties of writing songs for the band’s albums, and Takac still sings lead vocals on several songs.
Rzeznik has always been a fan of Fender guitars. He used many variations such as the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, and a “Halfcaster” (a Stratocaster cut in half). He used Guild acoustics as well. But as of late he seems to be experimenting the Gibson Les Paul guitars, and semi hollow body guitars. He also uses acoustic Taylor Guitars.
The last name “Rzeznik” (which, spelled ‘rzeźnik’, means ‘butcher’ in Polish) indicates his Polish ancestry — his parents (Joseph and Edith Rzeznik) are both immigrants from Poland. He has four older sisters (Phyllis, Fran, Glad and Kate), and often jokingly complains it’s “…one of the worst things that can happen to a man.” Unfortunately, his father died of alcoholism when Johnny was fourteen, and his mother the following year from heart problems. He got an apartment on his own and turned “punk”. He was the only punk at his school, Buffalo’s McKinley Vocational High School, where he was studying to be a plumber.
Prior to the album A Boy Named Goo, his bandmate, Robby Takac was the lead singer. During the era of the album Superstar Carwash, they collaborated on several songs. Although Rzeznik transitioned into becoming the lead vocalist, both men still share the duties of writing songs for the band’s albums, and Takac still sings lead vocals on several songs.
Rzeznik has always been a fan of Fender guitars. He used many variations such as the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, and a “Halfcaster” (a Stratocaster cut in half). He used Guild acoustics as well. But as of late he seems to be experimenting the Gibson Les Paul guitars, and semi hollow body guitars. He also uses acoustic Taylor Guitars.
The last name “Rzeznik” (which, spelled ‘rzeźnik’, means ‘butcher’ in Polish) indicates his Polish ancestry — his parents (Joseph and Edith Rzeznik) are both immigrants from Poland. He has four older sisters (Phyllis, Fran, Glad and Kate), and often jokingly complains it’s “…one of the worst things that can happen to a man.” Unfortunately, his father died of alcoholism when Johnny was fourteen, and his mother the following year from heart problems. He got an apartment on his own and turned “punk”. He was the only punk at his school, Buffalo’s McKinley Vocational High School, where he was studying to be a plumber.
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Goo Goo Dolls, Rob Thomas, Derek Daisey, Steve Wynn, Billy Corgan, Michael Stipe, Eels… see all
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efe_gallagher wrote:
Learn an important lesson Spirits, mah friend: LastFm won't merge anything, no matter how dumb the difference is =S
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Spirits wrote:
anyone know how to get staff to merge two artists cos this needs to be merged with johnny rzeznik
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- starshapedfruit tagged John Rzeznik with ‘alternative rock’ and ‘disney’. yesterday afternoon
- buckersss, bdl1989 and fallon_fallon added John Rzeznik to their libraries. Thursday morning
- Jagumir tagged John Rzeznik with ‘polish’. last month
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