The Goo Goo Dolls

From their humble beginnings as a cover band in upstate New York to their mega-star, GRAMMY®-winning breakthroughs of the '90s, the Goo Goo Dolls were one of a handful of acts whose endless string of hits helped define the term "alternative rock". Kick off with the band's hit acoustic ballads "Iris" (which featured on the City of Angels movie soundtrack) and "Name". Trace the band's progression from punk to power-pop, in Next Steps.

Goo Goo Dolls front man Johnny Rzeznik has a way with penning great songs seemingly effortlessly, whether he's composing a droll punk rant (check out "Up Yours" from 1989's Jed) with his partner/bassist Robbie Takac, a jangly pop tune, or a beautiful ballad. With their big hooks and bright choruses, these songs inevitably linger in our memory. Seek out iTunes originals (and a live stunner) among our Goo Goo Dolls Deep Cuts.

Late-arriving fans will find it hard to believe that the Goo Goo Dolls started out as a goofball punk band. But even then, Johnny Rzeznik's melodies and the band's livewire performances stood out. And when the Goos turned down the guitars and turned up the tunefulness, they remembered to bring the gorgeous melodies along with them. A 2004 live version of "Iris" positively glows with emotional power.

If you go with a name like the Goo Goo Dolls (which admittedly was tons better than the original choice, the Sex Maggots) then you'd better be good. And so they have been — in a big way. Over 20-plus years and a fistful of stellar albums (not to mention a bunch of key soundtrack placements for songs like "Long Way Down" and "Sympathy"), the Goos have emerged from their hometown of Buffalo as a rare breed of rock band, one that hardly ever falters in its quest to craft and perform songs with substance, keen imagination, and heartfelt intensity.