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Goo Goo Dolls Johnny Rzeznik Gets Snubbed by Sting

John M. Heller, Getty Images

Over a nearly 25-year career, the Goo Goo Dolls have met their share of rock stars. With the band still going strong -- their latest album, 'Something for the Rest of Us,' recently debuted at No. 7 on the charts -- frontman Johnny Rzeznik reveals to Spinner that their longevity may be due to the lessons he's learned from some of these celebrity encounters, even if they were less than memorable.

"We opened for the Stones. It wasn't like we were hanging out with them all the time, but you get to talk to Keith Richards every day," Rzeznik recalls. "That was really amazing to see one of my heroes from probably one of the first albums I ever listened to be that humble and cool. It just really amazed me because I worked with 'rock stars' that were just pains in the ass."

What kind of stuff did he talk about with Richards? "They always had some 90-year-old blues guy sitting in their dressing room playing the guitar or something, and he was talking about drinking. That's really one thing I remember," Rzeznik says. "He was saying, 'This is vodka and orange soda -- this isn't drinking. Jack Daniel's, that's drinking.'"

As for the pains in the ass, one rocker stands out. "I met Sting once and I didn't know what to say to the guy, so I said, 'I really love your band. You guys were a huge influence on us musically,'" Rzeznik recalls. "And he looked at me and said, 'Don't blame me.' I was like, 'Wow, you're a real d---.'"

As disappointing as that encounter may have been, Rzeznik learned from it. "I talk to young bands all the time and I get guys' CDs all the time. They want to talk about what to do in the music business. I love taking the time to talk to them and to impart whatever knowledge I have, my experience to them," he says. "You don't want to be that guy."

'Something for the Rest of Us' is available via Warner Bros.

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Barbie Doll

John Rzeznik surpasses sting in talent and kindness and remains humble. Way to go Johnny!

January 28 2013 at 12:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Freedom O. Speech

All life encounters are for better or worse...it is a crap shoot in many cases. Like flipping a coin- it is either heads or tails...but at least you know were you stand:) Unless you are in a batman movie, named harvey Dent, then you create your own luck w/ a double-headed coin...not a bad idea actually:)
Keep up excellent works-- GGD rocks and do not ever believe otherwise...
Love u4u:)

July 18 2012 at 11:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sue

Sting continues to be a douche, this time with a 12 year old fan via @ThatEricAlper http://dld.bz/UTjJ

Sting just seems so full of himself like Bono...

April 04 2011 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patricia Evert


Sting rates right up there on the list with that big-mouth Bono and that whiner, Kanye. Their egos have always out-weighed their talent--their most heart-felt performances being when they sing their own praises! Too bad that Sting couldn't recognize a gentleman & a true professional when he met John Rzeznik...he was probably too busy checking out his own reflection in his money clip!

February 10 2011 at 12:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cal

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! John Rzeznik is the worst. I am so happy this article comes up on the first page of a google search for him. If I were Sting, I'd be offended too.

October 08 2010 at 4:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to cal's comment
Mello

So, cal, I suppose you simply Google searched him for the lulz? Whether or not you like him or not, that *was* a dick move on The Sting's part. Way to look like a professional.

February 01 2011 at 5:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kay

thats a true musician right there. sting can put that in a juicebox and suck it. johnny seems like an awesome guy.

September 17 2010 at 10:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rhonda

Johns a doll..and the article is GREAT. Sting sounds like a real winner..ha!
ps. Get The CD! Its Wonderful... :)

September 16 2010 at 3:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Leon

Brilliant! Sting 1 goo goo dolls 000

September 16 2010 at 8:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Paul

Sounds like Sting was just being funny. Sometimes people can't grasp the British sense of humour, and that was probably the case here.

Having said that, I wouldn't want to take any credit for The Goo Goo Dolls, either!

September 15 2010 at 12:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ally

Sad to hear that Sting is such a jerk. His music career isn't exactly soaring these days so I can't even see a reason why he should be so arrogant. It's really nice of John to take the time to impart advice to other musicians especially the young ones who are just starting out.

September 15 2010 at 1:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply