FIRST FLOWERING

Gutterflower's first single, "Here is Gone," went to pop, rock, alternative AC, and triple-A formats March 5. Programmers say they were ready for some new Goo.

"We've been waiting on this for a while. I think a lot of people have," modern adult WLNK Charlotte, N.C., PD Neal Sharp says. "[The single] is pure Goos. It's a great record, and our listener will be excited. I'm [still] playing at least five records by them, [including] 'Iris,' 'Slide,' 'Black Balloon,' and 'Broadway.' No question people are ready for a new single."

The group's broad demographics signal good news for retailers as well. "We're really looking forward to that record because of their ability to cross formats and sounds and appeal to a wide crowd," says Storm Gloor, director of music for Amarillo, Texas-based Hastings. "People are hungry for them." (CATHY: HUNGRY?! IT'S LIKE I'M STARVING!! SORRY! LOL)

Len Cosimano--VP of multimedia for Ann Arbor, Michigan based Borders Books & Music--agrees. "This is going to be a big record for us," he predicts. "Our strengths is 35-54, but we do a good business with the college crowd, the 19- to 20- to 30-year olds. That's where we'll find them with this record."

"They rank fairly high in all demos between 12 and 44," Warner Bros. Executive VP Diarmuid Quinn says. "They'll lean a little more female than male. That's a function of pop radio, but they're still strong at rock and alternative."

Gutterflower marks the band's first project that will be handled by Warner Bros worldwide. (Previously, the band was signed to Warner Bros for North American and Japan and Third Rail/Hollywood for the rest of the world.) The biggest change for Goo Goo Dolls is that all of their activities are coordinated by a single outlet. "It's paced better than it's ever been," Rzeznik says. "EMTverything goes from one central point, so we can schedule things really nicely without killing ourselves."

Release dates for Gutterflower will be staggered worldwide to take advantage of the group's schedule. "We're in the thick of working out their constraints," Quinn says. "The promotional tour starts in the U.S., then Canada, then they'll do Europe and Japan."

The band--represented by the Atlas/Third Rail Management division of Mosaic Media Group--is now on that active promotional slate that will lead into a concert tour (booked by the William Morris Agency) that may last as long as 22 months.

"We have a crystal meth lab in our bus," Takac jokes about how the band endures its schedule. "Actually, being on tour is great fun, because your responsibilities are a lot less. On your day off, you can hang out with your pals. On your day off at home, you gotta clean the gutters and make sure the plumber gets there."

The album's push began with the group's Feb. 22 appearance at the Olympics in Salt Lake City (the band's "Slide" was also in Olympic commercials with skier Jonny Moseley), followed by a Feb 26 performance at the annual Rock the Vote gala in Los Angeles.

The video for "Here is Gone" will debut March 18 on VH1 and MTV. An MTV concert with the band will air the week of April 7.

The Goos are also part of a MuchMusic U.S. promotion called Class Dismissed. Fans enter by directing their own clip of "Slide," with the winner getting a concert by the band at his or her school. Additionally, Goo Goo Dolls will be artist of the month for AOL in April, DirecTV in May, and VH1 in June.

At retail, the group was slated to make an appearance--although not perform--at the National Association of Recording Merchandise Convention, which takes place March 8-12.

"We're running for president," Rzeznik explains. "We're shaking hands and kissing babies. I have no shame about going out and working hard for my record, because I want people to hear it, and I want to win. Any musician that says they don't want to win is either completely stoned or a fucking liar."

As they prepare to run the promo gauntlet one more time, Rzeznik and Takac--who formed the band in 1985 in Buffalo, NY--can hardly believe that 17 years has gone by since they started. Rzeznik says he supposes the day will come when they decide to go no further together as a band, but for now, Takac says things are just as they should be.

"All you can do is do what you're doing and keep asking yourself, 'Is this a) What I want to be doing, and b) Do I look like an idiot doing it?' If the answer to both questions is correct, on you go."