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The Goo Goo Dolls consists of band members Johnny Rzeznik, Robby Takac, and George Tutuska. The trio was formed in 1986 under the name Sex Maggots. Because local newspapers were unable to print the name, the band promptly changed their name to the Goo Goo Dolls after a toy called a Goo Goo Doll. The Goo Goo Dolls began recording right away and soon released their self-titled debut album in 1986 on Mercenary Records. Shortly after their first release, The Goo Goo Dolls were picked up by larger record label Celluloid Records and released their second album, entitled Jed, in 1989.
When the Goo Goo Dolls began recording their third album in 1990, they decided to feature Johnny Rzeznik on lead vocals instead of Robby Takac as on the first two releases. The group's third release, Hold Me Up, was a big hit on college radio and was greatly influenced by heavy metal, pop rock, and punk rock. Because of their great success on Hold Me Up, the Goo Goo Dolls' record label granted them an increased budget for their fourth album, Superstar Car Wash, which was released in 1993. Because of the work that was put into Superstar Car Wash, the album received a huge amount of media attention.
After hitting the mainstream with Superstar Car Wash and their fifth studio album, A Boy Named Goo (1995), the Goo Goo Dolls went on to release several more successful albums including Dizzy Up the Girl (1998), Gutterflower (2002), Live in Buffalo: July 4, 2004 (2004), and Let Love In (2006). The Goo Goo Dolls' newest album is Something for the Rest of Us.