158 Quotes by John Rzeznik

Things just evolve. I sort of have no control over what happens with the songs. Sometimes I’m afraid I might wake up one morning with an entire record of polka songs.

I’m a guy so I equate vulnerability with fear.

I don’t write music for critics or hipsters. I write for me.

I think we got started like all bands. We wanted to make some noise, hang out, and have some fun. Remember, we’re from Buffalo – there isn’t really that much to do. When we started we were a cover band and slowly developed our own material.

I got really sick of playing just, like, 'Bop-bop-bop-bada-bop-bop-bada-rapa-pah.' Just playing that 190-beats-per-minute punk-rock songs, I didn't feel it anymore. And I always loved melody - when you looked back on those early records, there's always a hook buried in there somewhere.

There's a certain vibe in my hometown; Buffalo is a city that has no illusions.

Every day somebody comes up to me and says, 'That song really helped me through a difficult time,' or 'That's me and my wife's song' or 'This song means something to me because of... ' It's humbling to hear that. You're something special in someone's life, even if it is for three minutes.

I never underestimate luck and working hard.

Everyone goes To L.A. to be noticed. I went there to be completely invisible.