John Joseph Theodore Rzeznik

John with his guitar

My hero is lead singer/songwriter and guitarist for the Goo Goo Dolls. John Joseph Theodore Rzeznik was born on December 5, 1965, currently lives in Santa Monica, CA, and is on his Let Love In tour. He is heroic to me because he has been through a lot of history, and he inspires me to keep going and never give up on my dreams. His song writing is passionate and intimate. I remember when my family was fighting and all but over, and all I could think of were the words to "Better Days", “And you ask me what I want this year, and I try to make this kind and clear, just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days.” I can remember my dad and I listening to that song when we were all falling apart, and it helped calm me down. Johnny might not be Superman or George Washington, but he does bring hope to many people. When I look at all he’s been through, I really don’t have it as bad as he did growing up. Here’s why.

Johnny at the music awards in 2003

Growing up John lived in Buffalo, had four sisters, a caring mom, and an alcoholic dad. He barely spent time with his dad, Joe, because he was either at work or at a bar. John says he remembers one time his dad came home drunk on some nights and hit his family. His mom, Edith, inspired him to take up music. He started taking guitar lessons and learned how to play the accordion. He wasn’t into sports, so he said he had to find a way for girls to like him. When John was 14 his dad fell into a diabetic coma and died. He was too mad to grieve. It really hit his mom hard though. Almost a year later she died of a heart attack. “It was the most horrifying experience. I remember thinking where am I going to go,and what am I going to do? I had sisters, but they were only kids too. We had no other family.” His sister Phylis became his legal guardian. “So, at 17, I was on my own. With, a small monthly Social Security check from my deceased parents, I budgeted my rent, my grocery bills, my clothes. I was totally self - reliant, but I was also a total wreck - and it showed.”

Throughout high school he was punk, the only punk guy at his school. He would skip school and drink till he passed out. He was too young to learn from his father's mistakes. He then met bassist Robby Takac at Buffalo State College. In 1986 they formed the band known today as the Goo Goo Dolls. They started in vans with a mattress and playing in local tours trying to raise enough money just to buy their food. They put out four albums until they had their first hit “Name” in 1995 on the CD A Boy Named Goo. A few years later they hit big on their record Dizzy Up The Girl in 1998 with hits like “Slide” and “Iris”. Two albums later they are currently on tour with their new record Let Love In.

John, Robby, and Mike

Johnny is a hero to me because after all he’s been through, he didn’t give up and has learned many lessons. Let Love In is their inspirational album. I remember a time when I wanted to give up on guitar because I was getting tired of playing the same songs every day, and I couldn't find a way to write new songs with the little experience that I had. The first day that Let Love In came out my mom went out and bought it. I put it in the CD player and said to myself "I can't give up now. I've worked so hard to get where I am now and I guess I just got to comfortable with that." So I stuck with it and now I know a lot more.

His songs have gotten not just me, but a lot of people through hard times. “Sometimes you’ve got to go home to find yourself.” He said. That quote inspires me not as much as going home, but going back to where you began. The way I grew up is what I am going to carry with me for the rest of my life. “I just wanted to write something that brings hope.”

John also has helped with tragedies. He auctioned off his vintage car, and all of the proceeds went to Katrina reforms. He auctions off some of his guitars to go to certain programs. On their tour they are working with USA Harvest to get people to come to their shows and drop cans of food off to give to the people who need food. On a recent interview with VH1 he said that they raised about 2 million meals. That shows heroic traits by giving someone a meal who needs to eat and all they do is ask.

A hero can be anybody. They don’t have to be superman, they just have to care.