Music, Sex and Poetry

My producer Ken Allardyce, who engineered a couple of the Goo Goo Dolls records said one day: 'Johnny Rzeznik is gonna record lead guitar on your song Wild Flower'. 'Cool', I said, 'when'? 'Oh one day next week , 'great ',I said, and then my producer said 'the only thing is he is kind of sensitive when he is recording, maybe I can go up to the house and record him and you can come and hang after'!!! 'No way, he is a rock star he is not going to be nervous of me'. Of course I wanted to see Johnny record, 'Johnny is hot and super talented'!!! This was my chance to hang so I said no worries 'I ll be completely cool it will be great'. So the next week me, my sister and my producer drove up to Johnny s house in a secret location . When we first arrived he was as Ken had pointed out a little on edge, but that s talent, sensitivity comes with the territory; Johnny Rzeznik is a beautifully sensitive, creative character I instantly felt kindred. Singer-song writers are their own beautifully elaborate maze of recreation. The first thing he said to me was 'I dig your boots'. I was wearing these big 70 s platform boots, well I thought if he is digging my boots we are down, this is going to be a good recording session. He offered me a drink, I obliged because I thought it was part of the ceremony. Johnnie of course was the real deal, half raunchy rock star, and half boyish charm. I felt like I had an instinctive understanding of what inspires Johnny and what frustrates him. Of course talent like his is both undeniable and fragile it s his contradictions that make him so appealing it s the fact he is able to sing about his pain and passions in such a real way and he is such a romantic that gets us all hooked on listening. He said something very interesting the bigger you get the bigger the shadows that s cast behind you. Of course ever since the 1960 s music has become big business, and the struggle I guess for an artist like Johnny who started out in Punk Rock and has become a world-class rock star is to balance his creative integrity with commerce of big business music game. He seemed like a sweet artistic soul, a lover, a guitarist, and a great singer. He plugged his guitar in and started playing he was really talented. His playing was really raunchy yeah he was a wild flower man. The one thing I remember seeing in his house was a photo of the Rolling Stones and I was reminded of the roots of rock when he played raw, raunchy and as it comes. My producer and Johnny were obviously tight seemed like they d done lots of great recording sessions together. Ken is very nurturing and artists really appreciate that they feel safe. So Johnny gave Ken loads of raunchy riffs and everyone was really pleased especially me, and I said thanks a lot, Johnnie was extremely generous, extremely kind person. After we finished recording I sang some of my new songs and he sang some of his, it was great to hear some of his songs in their early stages, the melodies had his familiar flare and they were obviously gonna be hits; he said very modestly I think this is going to be a good one, he also said he liked my songs and we should write together sometime. Johnnie and I by this time were having a good time. Ken being the only adult said I think it s time to go so we said our goodbyes evidently the next day Johnnie phoned Ken and said :' I think she liked me!'