Some songs capture a moment and then fade away. Others refuse to quit. The Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 smash “Iris” belongs firmly in the latter camp, and frontman John Rzeznik says Taylor Swift deserves some of the credit for introducing it to a new generation of fans.
Originally written for the soundtrack to City of Angels, starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan, “Iris” quickly outgrew its cinematic origins to become one of modern rock’s most enduring songs. Nearly three decades later, Rzeznik believes a combination of high-profile covers and viral social media moments has helped keep the song alive.
“I think the song was embraced by the next generation because a couple of iconic artists covered that song, and social media moments,” he tells Q1043 New York.
“I credit someone like Taylor Swift for letting me sing that song with her at Madison Square Garden many years ago,” he adds.
Rzeznik made a surprise appearance during Swift’s 2011 show at the iconic venue, performing “Iris” alongside the pop superstar before an audience packed with teenage fans.
“[The audience] were actually really, really welcoming,” he recalls. “I was shocked, because I was like, ‘I don’t know.’ At that point in time, Taylor Swift fans were all teenagers.”
More recently, “Iris” found itself at the center of a viral social media trend sparked by Drew Barrymore, with celebrities including Dwayne Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Sharon Stone sharing nostalgic looks back at the 1990s.
“I’m grateful to all of them for it,” Rzeznik says. “And I’m really grateful every night that I get to play that song. The most gratifying part of it is when I take the microphone and just turn it into the audience and let them go; I’ll take my earplugs out, and I’ll just listen to the audience.”
I’m really grateful every night that I get to play that song. The most gratifying part of it is when I take the microphone and just turn it into the audience and let them go.”
— John Rzeznik
In 2026, “Iris” is a member of Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club, with nearly 3.5 billion streams on the platform. The song has become the defining hit of the Goo Goo Dolls’ career, but Rzeznik has admitted he still regrets one aspect of its recording.
Written from the perspective of an angel longing to become human, Rzeznik felt the song needed a guitar solo to complete its emotional arc. The problem, he later admitted, was that he couldn’t come up with one he was happy with, so producer Rob Cavallo turned to veteran session guitarist Tim Pierce.
Pierce had originally been hired to record a mandolin part, but after arriving with a van full of electric guitars and amplifiers—a move that reportedly irritated the band—he was invited to take a shot at the solo. His soaring slide guitar lines became one of “Iris”’ defining musical moments, even if Rzeznik initially wished he had played them himself.
Any disappointment was short-lived. Pierce later told Guitar World that “Iris” remains the biggest hit of his career, and his work with the Goo Goo Dolls began a relationship that has continued for nearly three decades.
Beyond its memorable solo and heartfelt lyrics, “Iris” also showcases one of Rzeznik’s most inventive acoustic guitar performances. While the song has become a staple for everyone from pub musicians to arena headliners, many covers overlook one of its defining features: it was written in an unusual alternate tuning that few players bother to recreate.
