Goo Goo Dolls change their tune after two decades with new album Magnetic

AFTER more than two decades making music, Goo Goo Dolls lead singer John Rzeznik reveals that the trio took a different approach this time around.

Goo Goo Dolls

JOHN Rzeznik is a happy man these days, and given the success of Magnetic, the tenth studio album for the Goo Goo Dolls, itÂ’s easy to see why.

After more than two decades as a band, over 10 million albums sold and a catalogue of hits that have become ingrained in our pop consciousness, one would think the Buffalo boys had long ago discovered the winning formula when it comes to making music.

But Rzeznik, the lead singer of the trio, consisting also of bassist Robby Takac and drummer Mike Malinin, revealed they mixed things up with Magnetic.

"I decided I was actually going to enjoy making an album for once", Rzeznik tells news.com.au, referring to their 2010 album, Something For The Rest Of Us, which reflected plenty of personal turmoil and was "a really sombre affair."

"[Something For The Rest Of Us] was a really difficult one to make. We made a lot of mistakes and it was a constant battle with the record company", the 47-year-old frontman admits.

Determined to have fun with this one, the boys set out to create an album "with a light" that resembled the good place they have reached, both personally and as a unit.

"We'd never taken that approach before, we were always trying to fix something that was broken."

Inspiration for this one came from many sources. Takac and his wife have just had their first child, while Rzeznik is marrying long-time girlfriend Melina Gallo this year.

"She is a stabilising factor in my life, she's a great friend, a great partner. I feel a sense of security", Johnny says of his fiance.

"I decided I was going to write one song at a time. Usually I write 15 songs partially and then have to go back and clean them up."

"We finished one after the other and would then go somewhere else and work. We wanted to keep a free flow of fresh ideas by moving around", the rocker says of Magnetic, which echoes the bands' blue-collar Buffalo origins.

The new release puts the Goos on the road with Matchbox 20, with both 1990s pop-rock bands co-headlining throughout the US at the moment.

Rzeznik, who had only ever met lead singer-songwriter Rob Thomas once before, admits "it's the biggest tour of my band's career."

But which song on the new album is his personal favourite?

"Some days I like 'When The World Breaks My Heart', others I like 'Keep The Car Running'".

Sounds like an all-too-perfect ballad right there.