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| Full Name: John Joseph Theodore Rzeznik Born: Sunday December 5th, 1965 Parents: Joe & Edith Rzeznik (deceased- father to alcoholism, and according to john his mother died of loneliness Siblings: 4 older sisters (Phyllis, Fran, Glad & Kate) Marital Status: Divorced (Laurie Farinacci) Height: 5'9" Band Position: Vocals & Guitar Lives: California School Attended: McKinley Vocational High School (studied to be a plumber) & Buffalo State College Hobbies: Sky diving Musical Interests: The Cure, Depech Mode, The Damned, The Replacements John Rzeznik was born on Sunday December 5th, 1965, to Joe and Edith Rzeznik. Born into what john describes a as "tight knit working-class neighborhood," in Buffalo New York, he lived on the corner of Clark and Kent street, or as he and his sisters refereed to it as "Superman Corner." John's father divided his time between his job as a clerk at the post office and local bars. When his father did come home he would be drunk and depressed. "ANYONE WHO DOESN'T RELIZE ALCOHOLISM IS AN ACTUAL ILLNESS- NOT JUST SOME CHARACTER FLAW- NEVER MET MY FATHER"- JOHN RZEZNIK During John's childhood, his father had three heart attacks. He was a man in his fifties who, smoked, drank whiskey, was overweight, and a diabetic. " TO THIS DAY IF I SMELL WHISKEY ON SOMEBODY, IT SENDS SHIVERES DOWN MY SPINE"- JOHN RZEZNIK His mother, Edith, taught at Johnny's Catholic grade school, Corpus Christi, so he and his sisters could attend tuition free. John was first introduced to music at the age of seven, by his mom. He first played the accordion, and the electric guitar a few years later. " I WASN'T GOOD AT SPORTS AND I NEEDED A WAY TO MAKE GIRLS LIKE ME."-JOHN RZEZNIK. There was a serious phase in his parent's marriage when his father would use violence toward his mother. Once when John was fourteen, his father hit his mother and John hit him back so hard in the face that he fell to the floor. John's mother turned on him, and hit him for not respecting his father. " I HAD MORE THAN MY SHARE TO REBEL AGAINST SO I BECAME A TROUBLEMAKER"- JOHN RZEZNIK |
| John tried to get back at his father through vandalism and by stealing money from his wallet. John's life took a dramatic turn when he became a sophomore at Buffalo's McKinley High School. His father got pneumonia, fell into a diabetic coma, and died at 55. " MY SISTER WERE UPSET, BUT I WAS TOO ANGRY TO GRIEVE."- JOHN RZEZNIK As his family was still struggling to recover from his father's death, his mother (who was also overweight and a smoker) suddenly died at 53. " IT WAS THE MOST HORRIFYING EXPRIENCE. I REMEMBER THINKING, 'WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? WHERE AM I GOING TO GO?' I HAD MY SISTERS BUT THEY WERE JUST KIDS TOO."- JOHN RZEZNIK His oldest sister Phyllis became his legal guardian and found an apartment near Buffalo Sate College for John. At seventeen he lived by himself and received a small Social Security Check from his deceased parents. He became totally self-reliant. All through high school he was a punk, and was always skipping classes. He even showed up to gym class in combat boots so he wouldn't have to participate. " THREE OR FOUR NIGHTS A WEEK, I WOULD DRINK BEER UNTIL I BLACKED OUT. I WAS TOO YOUNG TO LEARN FROM MY FATHERS MISTAKES."- JOHN RZEZNIK During his sophomore year, John was introduced to people who were into the same kind of music he was, bands including The Clash, The Damned, Devo, Depeche Mode, and Sex Pistols. He began playing with them in garage bands. "MUSIC WAS THE ONLY THING THAT EVER REALLY GOT TO ME. IT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY HOOKED ME IN. I HATED SPORTS. I HATED PEOPLE WHO PLAYED SPORTS. THEY WERE ALL IDIOTS."- John Rzeznik After graduating from high school, his girlfriend at the time, Laurie Kwasnik, helped him to apply to Buffalo State College, but he dropped out after his freshmen year. That was when he met band mate Rob Takac and former drummer George Tutuska. By the time Johnny was 20, the goo goo dolls had a deal with Celluloid, a small label. " I WISH I COUDL TELL YOUNG MUSICIANS THAT A RECORD DEAL EQUALS SUCCESS, BUT IT DOESN'T."- John Rzeznik The Goo Goo Dolls didn't have a hit for nine years. " WE PUT OUT FIVE CD'S, WENT ON BRUTAL VAN TOURS AND DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO KEEP GOING."- John Rzeznik After hearing the 1995 hit, "Name", the music director for the movie,City Of Angels, asked the Goo Goo Dolls to write a song, which became "Iris." In 1998 the Goo's released a 6th album, Dizzy Up The Girl. I climbed the charts rapidly and the album became a double-platinum success in six months. |
| .: Pictures :. .: Robby's Bio :. .: Mike's Bio :. |