Rock legends Goo Goo Dolls announce three-city SA tour

Goo Goo Dolls’ Robby Takac and John Rzeznik will perform in South Africa for the first time in December. Picture: Supplied.

Goo Goo Dolls’ Robby Takac and John Rzeznik will perform in South Africa for the first time in December. Picture: Supplied.

Published Oct 7, 2024

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International rock sensation Goo Goo Dolls are set to rock South Africa during their three-city tour this festive season.

Renowned for their electrifying stage presence and chart-topping hits like “Iris”, “Slide”, and “Black Balloon”, this will be the Grammy-nominated American rock band’s first visit to South Africa.

The duo, which comprises guitarist and vocalist John Rzeznik and bassist and vocalist Robby Takac, will perform in Cape Town at the Kirstenbosch Gardens on December 4, at the ICC Durban on December 5 and at Pretoria’s Voortrekker Monument on December 7.

“Whether you’ve been a long-time fan or recently discovered their timeless tunes, this is your chance to sing along to all their greatest hits, live in South Africa,” a statement read.

“Expect a night of powerful performances, amazing atmosphere and unforgettable memories,” it added.

Tickets, which range from R645 to R1295, are available on Webtickets.

“This is a rare chance to see the Grammy-nominated band, known for their nostalgia-infused rock, perform live.”

Goo Goo Dolls have cemented their status in the music world since they were formed by Rzeznik and Takac in 1986 in New York.

George Tutuska was also with the band as a drummer since their inception but left in 1994. He was replaced by Mike Malin, who also left in 2013. Tutuska died in November 2008

Despite changes to the group, Goo Dolls have broken several records and, during the past three decades, they have earned widespread acclaim in America and beyond.

Their sixth studio album, “Dizzy Up the Girl”, which was released in September 1998, catapulted them to global fame and remains a classic in modern rock history.

Goo Goo Dolls have sold 15 million records worldwide, were nominated for a Grammy four times and have nearly a dozen combined platinum and gold singles.

Their music continues to reach new audiences around the world and they continue to rack up platinum and gold statuses, including the recently platinum-certified “Slide,” “Black Balloon” and “Better Days”, which has been covered by the likes of Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers.

Among a string of hits, “Iris” clutched No. 1 on the Hot 100 for 18 straight weeks.

The song also went viral on TikTok and achieved seven-times-platinum status as it re-entered the Billboard charts.

This proved the timelessness of Goo Goo Dolls’ catalogue.