GAGA FOR THE GOO GOO DOLLS

Johnny Rzeznik (Rez-nik), Robby Takac and Make Malinin still had day jobs when their single "Name" suddenly brought the Goo Goo Dolls to national attention in 1996.

The band had existed for nearly 10 years and had made six commercially ignored albums before "Name" hit and 1998's "Dizzy Up the Girl" CD went double platinum. Now the Goo Goo Dolls are opening for the Rolling Stones in large arenas and headlining their own tour at smaller venues.

The band will perform at 8 p.m. Friday at the Show Me Center. They will be joined on stage by guitarist Nathan December and keyboardist David Schulz. The opening act will be the New Radicals.

In an interview from the road in Raleigh, N.C., guitarist-lead singer Rzeznik was philosophical about the years the band spent in their hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., just trying to survive.

"It's funny. When you're really struggling to make it you can get really attached to your struggle," he said. "When you finally get something you've been working for, it's strange. You reach this plateau. Here I am. What do I do now?"

The Goo Goo Dolls are a blue-collar band that has more in common with rock 'n' roll warriors like the seminal punk band X and even the Rolling Stones than with the pretentious alternative groups they sometimes are lumped with.

In fact, the tattooed Rzeznik says he gets along better with the singers in pop groups like 'N Sync -- the supposed enemy -- than with the stars of the alternative pack.

The 33-year-old Rzeznik's matinee idol looks and strikingly melodic vocals draw fans of different ages to the band's concerts.

"It's interesting to see 35-year-olds having as much fun as the 14-year-olds," he says.

Some younger fans have questioned why the band would tour with the Rolling Stones, who they consider rock 'n' roll dinosaurs.

Rzeznik doesn't feel that way about them at all.

"I feel like I'm geting to play shows with guys that were legends, that were heroes to me as a kid and a big influence on me."

The Goo Goo Dolls took their name from an ad in True Detective magazine for a doll with a movable rubber head. Rzeznik worked during the day as a hotdog vendor, a bar back and a peanut roaster during the years the band was struggling. Takac was a deejay, and Malinin, who is not the band's original drummer, worked in a men's clothing store.

But this year, the band's tune "Iris" from the movie "City of Angels" was nominated for Grammys as Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Their latest single, "Slide," is at No. 13 on the Billboard chart.

The Goo Goo Dolls have experienced the lows and the highs of rock 'n' roll.

"It's been wild," Rzeznik said. "We've had our share of dumps and insane situations. But I'm here and still standing."