Temple Of Goo Vs. Sean Hampson: The Q&A Session

Dear Temple Of Goo readers,

Prepare yourselves for the most epic fight you’ll ever witness. No stone will be left unturned. No secrets will remain hidden from view.

Joking.

Today, we do something a little different and more mindless. Keep reading if you wish to discover a little bit about the dude in charge of this very blog, and the other dude who helped nurturing it.

A few months after the Temple Of Goo officially began its journey, I was contacted by an individual from Canada who offered to share some of his material. One of the main focus of this blog is to provide a safe shelter for like-minded Goo Goo Dolls fans who wish to connect. By like-minded I mean people who are somewhat aligned with the Temple Of Goo’s philosophy, which in a nutshell is about discussing / enjoying the older incarnation of the band before they made it big in the late 1990’s. One way of doing so is also through live concerts of those past eras.

It happened that Mr. Sean Hampson, the aforementioned individual, had quite a lot of such releases that wanted to share with other fans, but never found a way of doing so.

The blog’s and Sean’s interests aligned, and a collaboration took place, one which lasted for several months until Sean’s material had all been posted on the website.

Throughout those months, me (the site’s founder) and Sean would often engage in chat conversations and talk about several topics, including (of course) stuff about the Goo Goo Dolls. At a certain point, we also discussed about the idea of doing a Q&A session and publish it on the blog. Well, the time for that has finally arrived.

In the Q&A, we detail a bit about ourselves and mostly express our opinions about numerous aspects regarding the Goo Goo Dolls. You can consider this a way of having our readers read a little more about ourselves, in the eventuality they wish to know more about the people operating behind the scenes.

The format is quite simple. I provided a number of question, Sean did the same. We both answered our own questions and the other person’s. That’s it.

Before continuing, make sure to check Sean’s dedicated category. You will be able to find all of his precious contributions neatly organized in chronological fashion. Furthermore, if you have other questions for us you would like to get answered, just drop them in the comments section below.

I hope you will enjoy this little project of ours. A website is more than information being spread out and diffused. It is an amalgamation of human interrelations and sometimes even clashing of opinions. After more than a year of dedicated service, both Sean and I believe it is now time to reveal a bit more about us, that is (some of) the individuals operating the wheel.

Enjoy the reading!

• HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THE BAND AND WHAT GOT YOU HOOKED UP TO IT?

Temple Of Goo: Well, I never heard of them before Iris was released. I actually liked the song but did not think much of it. Then, Slide became a second single and I was like: “This is interesting. Cool tune”. I didn’t even buy the CD for Dizzy Up The Girl, but rather the cassette as I wanted to save money. Listened to the album and liked it a lot, especially the first and fifth song. Then, a few days later I went to the music store and bought the only other Goo Goo Dolls CD they had: Superstar Car Wash. Needless to say, I was already hooked after the third song. What really got me completely hooked was discovering their previous works. Enjoyed a lot every album before Dizzy and realized this was the perfect band for me. As I was discovering them, I kind of got the feeling I had heard the band before somewhere… Then, something clicked. There was that amazing song I heard on the Nightmare On Elm Street 6 (A movie I watched a lot as a kid), but never got to know who sang it. The lead singer’s voice sounded like this band. I took the VHS and played the final credits, and realized I’m Awake Now was actually performed by them. I was like: “Wow, this must be a sign or something”.

Sean Hampson: My best friend from high school introduced me to the band. He had Hold Me Up on cassette around when it came out and I had heard some songs but I was mostly oblivious to good taste with music back in 1991. He was home from University one year in 94 with a mixtape he made for me and Just The Way You Are and Cuz You’re Gone were on it. It was one of my earliest memories of really listening to the lyrics of a song and those songs blew me away. Musically, it was everything I’d been waiting to hear and just didn’t know it. I went out and bought what I could find, but all they had was the cassette soundtrack for the movie ‘Son In Law” and Fallin’ Down was on it, so that had to do until the following week when I finally got my hands on Hold Me Up and Superstar Car Wash. I was instantly hooked. Shortly after that I got the first album and Jed from the greatest movie and music store that used to ever exist, Media Play in North Tonawanda, NY. (that place was unreal!) I bought everything I could find after that…Singles, cassettes or CD, “Freddy’s Dead: the final nightmare” soundtrack..I was all in. It’s funny that I remember most of the places I bought all of that stuff too.

• WHICH SONG DO YOU THINK HAS A SPECIAL MEANING IN RELATION TO YOUR LIFE?

Temple Of Goo: Girl Right Next To Me, because I relate to the lyrics in terms of relationships with the opposite gender, and past experiences in general

Sean Hampson: I would say three different songs have special meaning to me, all for different reasons.. Just The Way You Are, Road to Salinas, I’m Addicted. I’ve always felt that Just The Way You Are is the national anthem of the Goo Goo Dolls and I still feel that way. Road to Salinas is a punk rock masterpiece, lyrically and musically. I’m Addicted was the song that stuck when I heard the first album. Getting to hear it live twice in my lifetime makes it an all time fav, but it always has been.

• WORST SONG THE BAND EVER WROTE?

Temple Of Goo: Well, I haven’t had the courage to listen to their Christmas album yet, so maybe their worst song is in there. As far as the ones I have heard, I never liked Up, Up, Up… I get the feeling it was a tune Robby himself didn’t want on the album, as it is so musically unrelated to the rest of the CD. They probably put it in there because they wanted the latter to at least feature a given number of songs, I guess…

Sean Hampson: I did get a chance to hear bits of the Christmas album, and you can probably imagine what I thought of it. But as far as the worst song they’ve written, I would say Slide, but I don’t think it’s a poorly written song. I personally just can’t stand it. It changed the tune of that band forever. When they released it as a single, I knew then things were going to change drastically. But back to the question…Okay how about this? No Way Out is my least favorite written song because nobody really knows what the lyrics are. But, hot damn, I love that tune!

• THE ONE SONG BOTH FANS AND NON-FANS SHOULD LISTEN TO, AND WHY?

Temple Of Goo: Like I mentioned before, I think “Do You Believe In Him?” is an hidden gem. Powerful, energetic, emotional… Brilliantly sung and conceived. I love the duet between Lance and that girl. I also love the bridge and guitar solo, which I compare to the Superstar Car Wash ones, that features in my opinion their best interludes.

Sean Hampson: Fans and non fans should listen to at least three songs from every one of the first four albums just to get a taste of how they used to play. Recommended essential listening? Different Light, Just the Way You Are, Cuz You’re Gone, Road to Salinas, Laughing, String of Lies, Hey, Slaughterhouse, There You Are, You Know What I Mean, Another Second Time Around, Love Dolls, So Outta Line…..you get the idea.

• YOU ARE A DIRECTOR WITH UNLIMITED BUDGET AT YOUR DISPOSAL. PICK A SONG AND CREATE A VIDEO FOR IT

Temple Of Goo: In my video for “On The Lie”, the band is singing in front of a burning house. We get to see scattered snippets of a couple in their 50’s arguing inside the (non-burning) house. They yell at each other, throw stuff at each other, wrestle, etc… At a certain point, the male is seen pouring fuel on the furniture and setting it on fire. The music video ends with the band members leaving their instruments on the ground and walking toward the burning building, entering it. I believe the song was inspired by real events. Maybe John read the story on a newspaper.

Sean Hampson: Honestly , I really don’t like music videos. So, anything live from a Hold Me Up era show would be perfect. The only videos I ever really liked were We are the Normal, but I’m not as crazy about that song as most fans are. The other two were obviously There You Are, which is fantastic, and Only One which is a good video for what it is .. the band rocking out. Plus Johnny’s wearing the same Lance diamond show shirt that I own. Nice!

• DESCRIBE THE PERFECT ALBUM YOU’D WANT THE BAND TO RECORD

Temple Of Goo: Well, in my perfect Goo Goo Dolls album the band would return to their garage rock roots. A mixture of the sounds and overall melody structures from Hold Me Up and Superstar Car Wash would be ideal. I would love a new album with a powerful ballad, a couple of John-Robby duets, energetic electric guitars accompanied by their acoustic counterparts when needed, and less-universal lyrics. In terms of producers, I would love to have them produced by my favorite professional, that is Ed Rose.

Sean Hampson: Much like you I want them to get back to their roots just once. I’ll never understand how a three-piece band that sounded so full can sound less full with three or more musicians in the band now. That’s what always blew me away about the Goo Goo Dolls, how tight and full they actually sounded for three guys. I want to hear that one more time in all its Glory. I’ll even take another ballad if they can balance it out with the loud and fast too. Options

• HOW MANY CONCERTS DID YOU ATTEND?

Temple Of Goo: Sadly, none. I never had the chance to go because I was always busy with something. I am not in the USA, I must wait until they get somewhat close to me. One time I was actually sent to Philadelphia for work, and they were playing two hours away from where I was. I could have made it because I was supposed to clock out at 5pm and the concert was at 8pm, but my co-worker got sick that day and I decided to stay close to him in case he would need help.

Sean Hampson: And for question number seven, I’ve seen them seven times. All on A Boy named Goo tour, and one Dizzy show, backstage passes too.

• DESCRIBE SOMETHING YOU LIKE AND SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT THE BAND

Temple Of Goo: I like their live shows because they are very good with instruments and execute their songs in a way that always respects the studio takes. I don’t like the overall musical direction they took after Gutteflower was released, which I think it’s too radio-friendly and with a play-it-safe mentality mainly aimed at keeping the money flowing in, and the label happy. Back in the day, they would take higher risks and obtain higher rewards musically. Hopefully Chaos In Bloom is a message saying they are now willing to return to their original sounds…

Sean Hampson: What do I not like about the band? A lot. Johnny is the front man and tries too hard to be something he’s not. When he can’t hit the notes, he sticks the microphone to the audience to do it for him. It’s a rock and roll cliche that works if you’re an old school pro front man, but when I see him do it now it just seems like, “Shit I can’t do it . So now, Everyone!” And Robby is my guy. To think what that band would have become if he had stayed the front man. For me personally, his newer songs have not gotten stronger over the years. And of course it’s because I absolutely adore the old stuff. Watching him play Laughing, Different Light, and Road to Salinas acoustically during the pandemic gave me chills. To sum it up, they don’t make music that sounds different anymore. Period. That’s what I really don’t like… I’m never surprised.
What do I like about the band? The inspiration they gave me the minute I heard their music. They gave me one of the greatest weeks of my life and made a dream come true. The good far outweighs the bad. Res ipsa loquitur.

• HAVE YOU INTRODUCED THE BAND TO YOUR FRIENDS? HOW DID THEY REACT?

Temple Of Goo: Honestly, I did it only at the beginning when I discovered them. Nobody knew them. I made cassettes with what I thought was a potential greatest hits release and distributed them among friends. Overall, they liked the songs, especially the ones with a harder-rock signature. I remember one guy going crazy over “Cuz You’re Gone”. When Gutterflower was released, I kind of stopped mainly because mp3’s were becoming popular, and people were more inclined to use the internet to find stuff on their own, rather to rely on someone else’s opinions.

Sean Hampson: I have introduced Goo Goo dolls to more people than any other band I listen to. The problem is that it ends up becoming me defending them. After seeing and singing with them, I was at college and I would not stop talking about them. I would tell anyone who would listen, “You don’t understand, they’re not just the band that plays Name. I mean, you got to hear this other stuff too.” And the people at school would bust my balls because the Goos had just been on Beverly hills 90210, and I had no come back for that. I thought it was lame too, but I understood they had to pay the bills. But most of the people I introduced Goo Goo Dolls to prefer the older stuff over the new by a wide margin. Like you, those days of making mix tapes and CDs are over, but I used to do it all the time and anything pre-95 usually went on to a mix for somebody. Songs like All Eyes On Me or Big Machine made it on a few here and there. I actually prefer Gutterflower over Dizzy up the Girl, song for song. Both albums have songs that have not aged well though. I guess I was still trying to find the best in them because I knew the end was near.

• WHAT IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE SONG?

Temple Of Goo: Believe it or not, it’s actually not a Goo Goo Dolls song. My all-time favorite song is “Twilight Creeps” by Crooked Fingers. It’s a ballad with a dreamy mood. I love everything about it and have listened to it countless times. “Why does everybody always act so tough, when all anybody wants is to find a friend?“

Sean Hampson: If I have to pick one song it would probably have to be Just The Way You Are. Hold Me Up is tattooed on my forearm for a reason! But my favorite non Goo song would be The Fly by U2. That song changed me too. I knew what that band already was, but when I heard that song I was blown away by the lyrics and the swagger of the whole thing. Some bands can do a complete 180 for the better and U2 did that with the that tune. And those shades…I swore one day I’d have those fly shades Bono used to wear and now I’ve got four pairs of them. “Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief. All kill their inspiration, and then sing about the grief.” Genius. Hold me up indeed.

• YOU’VE GOT THE DELOREAN TO GO BACK IN TIME. WHAT LIVE ERA OF THE BAND DO YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE THE MOST?

Temple Of Goo: Well, it’s no secret because I have mentioned it in a few posts in the past. Definitely the Superstar Car Wash era, but I’m most interested in the year before and after it was released, for reasons I have explained in those posts. In a nutshell, those were transitional years where I think lot of stuff has happened which had a profound influence on the band’s sound and overall mentality.

Sean Hampson: Obviously for me it would have been anything during the Hold Me Up tour. Perfect world? Jed and Superstar Car Wash as well.

• WHEN WAS THE MOMENT YOU FELT THAT THE BAND HAD MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN INTO MAIN STREAM POP MUSIC?

Temple Of Goo: For me it was when Let Love In was released. I considered Dizzy Up The Girl a rock album and Gutterflower its dark, louder brother. Even though there were some pop influences here and there in those two releases, I think they were mainly overshadowed by the more rock-oriented direction they took (thanks also to the producers of those two gems). When the 2006 release was issued, I knew a fundamental change had taken place, and I speculated it was because Gutterflower didn’t sell very well and the band was trying to stay relevant by taking a safer approach, that is radio-friendly (hence more poppy)

Sean Hampson: Without a doubt, Slide. It was too sharp a turn too soon in my opinion, and they never looked back. I like stuff from Gutterflower and Dizzy, but Slide was like a foul ball that everybody cheered for. I’ll never understand why that is a standout hit for them.

• WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF GOO GOO DOLLS MEMORABILIA THAT YOU OWN?

Temple Of Goo: It’s actually a signed photograph. Now that you mention it, I will make a dedicated post very soon to show it to the world. As far as merchandise is concerned, I only have the We Are The Normal t-shirt, the one with the drawn guy (made by George Tutuska).

Sean Hampson: My collection is ridiculous, but I can’t just pick one so I’ll pick two. The Just The Way You Are EP, and my Lance Diamond show shirt. But I guess I would have to include the two bootlegs from the week I sang with them too.

• WHAT’S THE ONE PIECE OF GOO GOO DOLLS MEMORABILIA, MERCH, OR MUSIC DO YOU WISH YOU OWNED?

Temple Of Goo: A wish of mine would be impossible to achieve, unfortunately… I would love to own every single demo session, unmixed version, and alternate take of all of their songs recorded at either home or in a studio, before those songs became the ones which ended up in the official releases.

Sean Hampson: A tour shirt from anything pre 93. And of course, a bootleg from April 15th 1995 X-Club, Hamilton, Ontario.

• WHAT OTHER BANDS DID YOU START LISTENING TO BECAUSE OF, OR INSPIRED BY, GOO GOO DOLLS?

Temple Of Goo: Honestly, none. I have been looking for bands with a similar sound but never found one which gave me the same chills as they did. Even tried to use some specific websites which make lists of artists that sound similar to a reference artist, but to no avail. Therefore… I’m open to suggestions.

Sean Hampson: Another one of my favorite bands came about from reading the CD notes and who thanked who on their albums. One such band was Samiam. Most old Goo fans are familiar with the name Armand John Petri. Well, he also produced my favorite Samiam album, Billy, which Robby also helped mix in Buffalo. (See pictures)If you’ve never heard of Samiam, check them out asap.

• OF ALL THE BALLADS THEY’VE DONE, WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER THEIR BEST OVERALL?

Temple Of Goo: We Are The Normal. I love everything about it, including the music video and the bridge with the violin doing its solo part. Contrary to the majority, I found Iris to be a nice song but nothing more. A third option would be Black Balloon, an ingenious tune in my opinion.

Sean Hampson: As a true fan I’m going to say Em Elbmuh. Obviously, Iris is the greatest ballad they’ve ever done and ever will do. When I heard it live in Lewiston with an orchestra it was unbelievable. I haven’t heard a live version of it like that since. I fucking love that song, preferably Johnny’s acoustic version of it. And people who go out of their way to say they don’t like it are lying. It’s like saying you don’t like E.T. just because it’s the easiest thing the hate on because everyone else loves it. Nonsense. Great tune, but highly overplayed.

• WHAT WAS THE LAST GOO GOO DOLLS ALBUM YOU ACTUALLY PURCHASED?

Temple Of Goo: Chaos In Bloom, and still waiting on the very latest live album to hit my mailbox. Before that, the Greatest Hits Vol. 2 which I really loved, especially the DVD that came with it.

Sean Hampson: Gutterflower and the Volume two rarities that came with the DVD. Just before Something for the rest of us came out, I got an advance copy. I loved Stay with You, but I couldn’t tell you the name of another song from that album except for Rebel Beat because I thought the title was ironic, considering it was the furthest thing from rebel I’d ever heard from this band. I’ll never forget listening to that album. What a bummer.

• WHAT WOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY BOOTLEG TO FIND THAT YOU DON’T ALREADY HAVE?

Temple Of Goo: Well, I’ll provide an obvious answer here: anything from 1992 or 1994 for the reasons I stated above.

Sean Hampson: Obviously the Hamilton 95 show where I sang with them. But overall, a solid 70-80 minute Hold Me Up show with soundboard quality would be perfect. Fingers crossed.

• WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG SANG BY JOHNNY AND ROBBY TOGETHER?

Temple Of Goo: It’s hard to choose because I basically like them all. I would say Domino, because of its aggressiveness and the overall sense of immediacy it expresses. Another good candidate would be Hey, because I consider it to be one of the songs where John provides his best vocal performance.

Sean Hampson: It’s a toss up between Hey and String of Lies, but I’m going to go with the latter. String of Lies was the opening song for each of the three shows of that crazy week in ’95. And now that I’ve listened to the Live at the Academy NY CD, I can say with 100% honesty that that’s exactly how it sounded every time I heard it that week. Almost perfect. That song is vintage Goo.

• THIS IS THE IMPORTANT ONE… ANYTIME, ANY ERA, WHAT IS YOUR POWER SET REQUEST LIST FOR THEM?

Temple Of Goo: The set lists for the past decade or so haven’t changed much, so I would certainly ask for more variety… Definitely more John/Robby duets (a live version of Domino would be amazing, apparently they never played it live…), a focus on older material, even from the first release, why not? Also, no covers. I think the band has a great catalog, there is no need to play other bands’ tunes. Last but not least, play the harder songs from the Hold Me Up/SSCW/ABNG eras… Including Ain’t That Unusual, if you have the courage to do so!

Sean Hampson: I think about this at least once a year and it really hasn’t changed over the past 15 or so. Starts with Laughing, into Different Light, close with Road To Salinas. That would be more than enough but if I got to add two more, I would go with Slaughterhouse and So Far Away.