Back to Part I

Robby:  "Well we have this bizarre concept of trying to make good albums.  I don’t think a lot of people do that any more.  I know that sounds ridiculous, I don’t think that no one does, but I think a lot of people just write a bunch of songs and hope they have those two that are going to sell records for them.  And I don’t think we’ve ever really felt that way.  We’ve always tried to make sure that our records have gone enough interesting places that you could sit and listen to 40 minutes worth of music, which is really difficult I think, sort of."

RNW:  If its all the same, it would be really difficult.

Robby:  "You know, in this day and age, like I said, most of . . . I don’t want to offend any bands."

RNW:  Do you want me to stop the tape (laugh)?

Robby:  "No, you’ll get what I’m saying.  Like most bands have a couple of songs that are sort of unique from the record and very, very produced and very calculated.  And the rest of the record seems to be full of one sort of music.  That’s what I’ve noticed, so those records get boring, you know?  You want to take people on a - not to sound pretentious, too pretentious anyway - you want to take people on sort of a trip through your record.  A journey through your record so it remains interesting as does a book or a movie."

RNW:  Right, because your character and a little bit of who you are is going to be reflected in what you are putting out anyway. 

Robby:  "Exactly."

RNW:  So you’re kind of telling them your story  or someone else’s story?

Robby:  "Exactly."

RNW:  Okay, next question:  Lilly says "I’ve heard you say that you would change the band’s name if you could.  What would you change it to?"

Robby:  "I would change it to something other than Goo Goo Dolls."

RNW:  I liked Sex Maggots (the band's first name) myself, but that’s me, I don’t know.

Robby:  "I think that’s the only thing that we could have named it that was like, worse, actually.  You know, I mean we did take a step up.  Not too much but you know, we jumped up on the curb."

RNW:  I don’t know, I think that shakes people up.  There’s something to be said about that.

Robby:  "Yeah, well it did back then, I’ll tell ya."

RNW:  Jonie wants to know why it took so long for you to catch on in the mainstream.

Robby:  "I think in the first few records we made, they weren’t records that could have worked in the mainstream.  Actually these last three records we made, I don’t think could have existed in the mainstream that existed when we were putting out our earlier records.  I think we just sort of came around to where radio was coming around to, completely coincidentally, trust me."

RNW:  The mainstream is pretty much a moving target though, isn’t it?

Robby:  "Yeah, you can’t really say I’m going to do this sort of thing and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be successful, when it comes to the sort of world we try to live within, musically.  You know, we’re just making records, guitar records."

RNW:  "I don’t think hooks and singles really come into the song writing process, am I right?"

Robby:  "Well, the hooks do.  The hooks always have, but singles, we never wanted to pick a song on a record and say 'okay, we’re going to work on these two songs as singles.'  Then you tend to deny a lot of the record.  Songs that we put together for records in the past and we never thought would be singles became singles.  Like, what’s a good example?  Like "Long Way Down."  We never, ever thought that would be a single.  But it ends up being one, interestingly enough.  Cool song, but who would have known that radio would have played it?"

RNW:  You never know . . .

Robby:  "Exactly, that’s my point I guess.  All you can do is do what you do, and do it as well as you can."

RNW:  Amanda says:  "I’m sure a lot of things have changed for you since you became so successful.  What do you miss most about being a regular guy from Buffalo?"

Robby:  "I guess the thing I miss the most is, like I said, being able to have some stability.  I’m not complaining, because I think that’s a really rude thing to do when you are blessed with life like we have, but I will say that I think the thing I miss the most is being able to have that sort of physical relationship with people and your things, and your community and circle of friends and stuff like that.  I think that’s probably the toughest part.  All the traveling."

RNW:  Having a house and a dog?

Robby:  "Yeah, just the things that make you you."

RNW:  Summer softball league and such?

Robby:  "Yeah, or whatever.  Like, its funny, I carry a suitcase that I only use on days off.  It’s just full of the stuff I need to be me.  It’s cool.  I have all my little toys and all my little things that I like to have around my house and now I’ll take that suitcase and drop it in my new living room and on I go."

RNW:  Just a couple questions of my own now Robby - I’ve noticed that the last two times I have seen your shows the ticket prices have been really reasonable, allowing younger fans to participate a lot more.  Has this been a conscious effort on the part of the band?

Robby:  "Yeah, we never wanted to make things too expensive so obviously kids couldn’t come in.  But I think that along with Levi’s helping us out in the summer and MP3 helping us out on this trip, we’ve been able to keep the ticket prices down and still bring a big rock show to town."

RNW:  You’re pretty much unique in that respect.

Robby:  "You want to try to keep things reasonable and we do our best to do that."

RNW:  Tell me about this toy drive you are doing on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of December.

Robby:  "Sure, we’re collecting toys for three days and you get a signed 8x10 if you bring a wrapped toy (to one of these concerts in Buffalo, NY).  Once we collect all the toys, we’re going to leave half of them in the city of Buffalo for some kids there and then we’re going to, the Navy has offered to take half of them to Bosnia with us and we can help out some kids there who are probably in a pretty bizarre situation right now.  I would imagine it would be tough to be a kid over there right now."

RNW:  Absolutely.  Well, I know you need to be going.  I will be there tonight at the show.

Robby:  "Cool, do you have passes and stuff?"

RNW:  Well, I have interviews and I’m going to be photographing a couple sets.

Robby:  "Okay, so you’ll be back here."

RNW:  So, I’ll be hanging out and I have a little gift (a book) to bring you for taking the time to talk with me this afternoon.  I'll find you.

Robby:  "Oh, no problem.  I’m the short guy with the red hair." 

RNW:  Yeah, you’re the one I can never get a good shot of.  Every time I photograph you, you look like a sheep dog with your hair hanging in your eyes.

Robby:  "That’s groovy, that’s just the way I like it!"

RNW:  Okay, see ya. 

Robby:  "Later dude."

RNW:  Thanks, bye.

And there you have it . . . just another groovy day in the Rock n World! 

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Fan Speak:

Posted by Maria:
Robby is so amazing....this article really captures the true him!!!

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