Interview: Johnny Rzeznik on How “Iris” Saved His Career and Became an All-Time Classic

Up next iconic singer-songwriter Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls tells the story of one of the worst points of his life. Going through a Torrid Divorce, he had excessive Writer’s Block, and was on the verge of quitting his own band when he ran away to LA and hid away in a hotel… a major movie exec wanted him to write a song for the film City of Angels and poof--Inspiration struck! Then while composing it he broke 2 strings on his guitar, but he just kept playing and out fell a song... Called IRIS. He knew would be a hit… boy was it ever. 18 weeks at #1 on the airplay chart. He beat writer's block with perseverance. Years later he would play Iris in front of fifty thousand fans in New York when it starting pouring down rain. He was told to stop playing by the venue, afraid he risked electrocution. He kept playing making the song even more legendary. Then Taylor Swift asked John to play it with her live. All of these things have made Iris an all time classic. The way he came up with the title is hard to believe. Up next, it's the story of a classic from the man himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .