The Goo Goo Dolls have been selling out shows and rocking world tours since their start in the late 1980s. They will be hitting the Cuthbert Amphitheater on July 18 as part of their tour with Daughtry and the Plain White T’s.

The band, which is composed of frontman Johnny Rzeznik, vocalist and bassist Robby Takac and in its earlier years, George Tutuska on the drums, has sold over 10 million records worldwide. The group has held the number one spot on a variety of charts and has earned their fame through decades of continued passion and success.

“When I first started I was playing in front of a hundred sweaty guys with their shirts off  beating the hell out of each other,” Rzeznik said in a phone interview with the Emerald. “That was when I was a young indie rock star. It sort of changed as I grew up.”

As for this summer, Rzeznick had nothing but positive things to say.

“We’ve been having a really good summer just enjoying being out in front of people playing, it’s been really great,” he said.

The Goo Goo Dolls, a name chosen from an ad once seen in a magazine, have been nominated for several Grammys including Record of The Year and Song of the Year in 1998 for their popular record Iris, as well as Best Pop Performance in 1998 and Best Rock Performance in 2000. As of 2013, when they dropped their newest album, Magnetic, it became their fourth-consecutive album to hold a seat on the charts highly regarded Billboard Top 10 list.

Rzeznik, a talented witty guy with the typical rock-star twang shares his secret about how he prepares differently for his shows today than he did in the past.

“I make sure that I don’t get drunk first, and then I’m ready for action,” he said.

During his shows, Rzeznik admits that there are many things that are going through his head.

“Sometimes I try to look to the audience and get some inspiration from them, I like to play off the audience. I love when people talk to me from the audience, we can have a conversation together which generally winds up being pretty funny. But yeah, sometimes I’m thinking about doing my laundry,” Rzeznik said.

Their current tour has earned positive reviews as they have played old and new hits to please their dedicated fans. Rzeznik, who has now achieved musical veteran status, encourages young artists and those who view him as an idol, to follow their passion.

“Both faith and fear cannot exist in the same space so you know, don’t worry about tomorrow. Try to find your own voice — make sure you find your own voice,” he said. “And don’t worry so much about becoming a quote, un quote ‘star’, a celebrity. The world is littered with celebrities that are just absolutely useless, you know?”

The Goo Goo Dolls will be touring across the United States this summer, playing their rock beat and tunes to entertain their crowds with a blast from the past and a series of current favorites for all to enjoy. The Friday night concert will open its gates at the Cuthbert at 5:30 p.m. The concert will kick-off at 6:45 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $41.50 online or $47 at the door this July 18.