"I do get nervous. If I don't have a guitar, I'm, like, a mess," the rock star told reporters in New York.

May 16 (UPI) -- He's been the lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls for 30 years, but John Rzeznik still gets nervous in certain situations.

Case in point: Reporters at a recent New York press day asked Rzeznik what song fans request most. "I thought it would have been 'Iris,'" he said, "But there is a song called 'Better Days,' which, actually, more people have listened to that song than 'Iris,' which I thought was really weird."

So he was coaxed to sing a few bars.

"No! I get nervous," he said. "I do get nervous. If I don't have a guitar, I'm, like, a mess."

The musician said that before performances he warms up his voice by singing vocal scales.

"And then I tell myself: 'No matter what the situation is, I'm grateful to be here. I'm lucky to be here. People paid money to come see me play, so go do a good show.' And, then, some nights I have to run out onto the stage because once you run out, you can't come back," he said. "Once you're out there, you can't come back. ... We have the best fans in the world."

Goo Goo Dolls released an EP called You Should be Happy, as well as a lyric video for its new song "Use Me," last week.

American Idol winner Phillip Phillips is joining the rock band on its Long Way Home tour from July through September.

"It's going to be an awesome tour. I'm excited to play with him. He's really great," Rzeznik said of Phillips. "I love his songs. I love his voice. I love his presence on stage. He has great energy."