Quotes from John Rzeznik

If people are spending money to hear us, they better go home happy.

I got into alternative rock in the early 80s, bands like Husker Du and The Replacements. Bob Mould's playing was a huge influence. It was very heavy with a lot of open tunings, which was great because I played in trios, so I used open tunings to get a fuller sound.

I wasn't present for my own life for a long time. I wasn't there; I wasn't in my relationships; I wasn't in my band; I wasn't in my soul - I was disconnected from all of it. I would let myself live in a miserable situation forever, mostly of my own making. I made my own misery and made the people around me miserable.

I made a deadline for myself that if I wasn't earning a living being a musician by 'A Boy Named Goo,' I was going to get back to school, get a degree, and go on with my life - and enjoy the memories I had.

I'm one of those guys who always has that kind of underlying anxiety kind of always creeping around in the background.

The scary part of alcoholism and addiction and that is until a person is ready to stop, they're not gonna, and there's nothing anyone can do. There's nothing anyone can say or do. And the unfortunate part is sometimes people die because of that.

I get nervous around famous people.

The first record we made in three days. We literally stayed up for three days making the first album. It was crazy, crazy, crazy for us to do that. We couldn't believe anyone would give us a record deal. I look back on that record fondly but with just the slightest bit of a cringe.

Everyone goes To L.A. to be noticed. I went there to be completely invisible.

There's a lot of shiny, pretty objects out there that when you actually touch them, they just fall apart. And it's like, you need to be authentic, you need to be yourself.

I like Valentine's Day. It's fun.

I'm one of these guys who always feel like the outsider, you know? I'm always longing to be part of something, you know?

Punk was key to the early part of me playing guitar. I was really into melodic punk-rock. I related to punk more than Lynyrd Skynyrd or Yes or Van Halen.

I wouldn't start writing songs like 'Name' all the time just because I thought that's what people wanted to hear. I'll write a song in the same vein because it's what I want to write.

I think the work is always personal. This album differs. It seems to be a lot more positive. It seems to have a certain amount of optimism about it.

There's a certain vibe in my hometown; Buffalo is a city that has no illusions.

I don't want to raise someone who feels entitled.

I write about everyday people, everyday lives.

And I'd give up forever to touch you. Cause I know that you feel me somehow. You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be and I don't want to go home right now. And all I can taste is this moment and all I can breathe is your life, when sooner or later it's over, I just don't want to miss you tonight.