We pride our “Back In The Day Buzz” section of www.roundtripwithdaveo.com as the place where we keep you up to date on all the latest in 90′s news, based on breaking national news that is obvious, but also sources that I have within the music and record industry that are much more unique to this very website.

So, it embarrasses me that it took Ryan in Louisville to reach out to me on Twitter (@roundtrip90s) and request an update on the Goo Goo Dolls! Ryan, you beat me to the punch on this one and as a diehard fan of “The Dolls,” I’m upset with myself for not sharing the exciting news earlier.

And that news is….

THE GOO GOO DOLLS HAVE A NEW ALBUM COMING OUT!!!

It’ll be called “Magnetic” and comes out in just a few more weeks (June 11th).

Right now, if you get on the Goo Goo Dolls website (www.googoodolls.com), you can pre-order your own copy that comes on CD with bonus tracks AND get a digital download on the day it comes out, extra photos and booklets, an on-line membership to the website and an instant download (today) of the new single, “Rebel Beat.”

Translation: you’ll want to go purchase the album immediately.

While we’re on the topic of Goo Goo Dolls, I have to share some bad news that still haunts me, to this day.

Back in 1999, I had the chance to see them with New Radicals (before Greg Alexander went off the deep end and disbanded the group in the middle of their follow up single to “You Get What You Give,” a ballad called “Someday We’ll Know.”) Those who know me know that I feel as if “Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too” from New Radicals might have been the most underrated album of the entire 1990′s. Pick it up if you’ve never heard it.

Anyway, the fact that I missed that tour of two of my favorite bands of all-time together because I was SICK, and to have New Radicals break up just a few weeks later… makes me even more sick, even in 2013! Grrrr.

One other random update – I can confirm that Art from Everclear will be joining the show soon to catch us up to date with all things Everclear. Looking very forward to that.

Until next time, take care, and keep livin’ the 90′s dream!

-Dave O

Listen to the interview here!

Listen to the interview here!

May 1st, 2013 was a sad day for 90′s fans, and I have really struggled throughout the last week in dealing with the death of Chris Kelly from “Kris Kross.”

At first, I wanted to wait and see what the cause of death was before I wrote. Then, when it became apparent it was a drug overdose (a combination of cocaine and heroine, or a “speed ball,” according to his mother), I was sitting down to write my thoughts on the situation, before I heard the last interview Kelly did just a few hours before his death, and saw a disturbing video of Kelly’s last few hours alive as well on TMZ. He was seemingly “high” and rapping to his own song, but very uncomfortably, because somebody was shooting the video on their phone, and Chris didn’t seem real happy about it.

I don’t even know what to say… Chris was only 34 and according to his family, had struggled with drugs for a long, long time. Some close friends to Chris say that he had cleaned up his act for awhile, but after the recent Kris Kross reunion show with So-So Def (as we wrote about a couple months back), Chris fell back into his old ways.

Drugs are an addiction that is so awful, not only because of what they do to the person taking them, but also to loved ones around, too. I have a close friend whose brother is in rehab for the 4th time because of heroin and cocaine, and I know the hurt, pain and agony that she and her family feel in trying to help him. It really, truly saddens me hearing and witnessing Kelly’s last few hours alive from the above mentioned clips, but I’m glad I listened and watched, for its a reminder of how lives can completely be torn apart by something as simple as drugs. Perhaps others will see and hear these clips who will think twice about using drugs, or maybe even if they’re already addicted, this will somehow serve as a wake up call and help them. I don’t know anyone in the Kelly family but I’m quite positive they’d like to know that this helped somebody heal.

All I can say in closing is this… R.I.P. To “The Mac Daddy.”

You will be missed.

Until next time, take care, and keep livin’ the 90′s dream.

-Dave O

The Spin Doctors are currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album “Pocketful of Kryptonite,” which helped the New Yorkers earn both a Grammy and AMA nomination. In fact, the album has recently been re-released as a two-disc record with lots of bonus material. Dave O recently SKYPED with Eric Schenkman of Spin Doctors to talk about the new album, the classic songs “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” the formation, split and re-formation of the band, as well as little known facts such as Blues Traveler front man John Popper once being in Spin Doctors.

Well it seems like once per month, we’re writing about boy bands, which judging by your Twitter requests (@roundtrip90s) and phone calls (855-895-TRIP) is just fine with you! And, don’t tell the guys at the gym, but it’s just fine with me, too!

This week, its Backstreet Boys, who officially earned their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (last Monday)!

Nick Carter tweeted: “Huge day. Receiving a star on Hollywood Blvd. WOW! Thank you to all our fans.”

Brian Littrell was a little less “wordy,” saying: “In Stone!!!! Thank GOD!”

Hard to believe Backstreet Boys have been together TWENTY YEARS NOW and all over the pop charts for fifteen. Time sure does fly – here’s to many more BSB albums, singles and tours. As I like to joke with the guys when they call the show from time to time, “didn’t you guys sign like a 25 album contract back in the day? You’ll be doing music until you’re walking with a cane!” They always seem to get a kick out of it.

Next, we go from exciting news on Backstreet Boys to tragic news on Chrissy Amphlett from The Divinyls.

Monday, we found out she had passed away at the age of 53, after a long and hard battle with breast cancer. The worst part was that because of Amphlett already having MS, she wasn’t able to undergo chemo and other treatments to help attack the cancer.

This makes me really, really sad. 53 is way too young and it just crushes you when you read about how amazing of a person Amphlett seemed to be, and the glass half full mentality she lived her life with. For example, consider her quote after being diagnosed with breast cancer – it was full of energy and hopefulness.

“It’s unfair, but life is not fair. Even rock stars get breast cancer. But there have been many girls before me who have dealt with it successfully. It’s easy to feel sorry for me but I feel sorry for people who are suffering alone. I’ll get over it. I’ve got songs to sing, I’ve got stages to perform on. I’m a keep on going sort of girl.”

One things for certain – heaven just gained a great pair of vocal chords from an even greater woman.

R.I.P. Chrissy.

Until next time, take care, and keep livin’ the 90′s dream!

-Dave O

Believe it or not, INOJ never really had aspirations to become a pop star. In fact, at the time she hit it big with the single “Love You Down” in 1997, she was mainly focused on writing. However, a chance call and encounter with Lil Jon led to Joni backwards, or INOJ, to re-do the “Ready For The World” song into a hit. INOJ followed that success up with a re-make of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” and the rest, as they say, is history. Dave O recently SKYPED with INOJ to discuss the amazing story of how she rose to fame and how quickly it happened, what it was like working with Janet Jackson and what’s she’s up to today, including yes… country music..!!??!! A must listen for anyone who loves 90′s music and wholesome, down to earth performers!

Nicki French made Bonnie Tyler proud in late 1994 when she re-did “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” To Nicki’s surprise, the song took off all around the world, to the tune of over 5 million copies sold. This propelled Nicki’s music career to new heights and began a successful journey in the entertainment industry that has also seen Nicki on many-a-stages in various theatre productions. Dave O recently SKYPED with Nicki French, who he calls “the nicest woman I’ve ever interviewed,” and the two discussed it all – from Nicki’s upbringing in music, to her early days as a background singer and session vocalist, to her awesome memories of the United States and… the bad ass musical that IS “Oklahoma.” Enjoy this interview with a truly neat woman.

Lauryn Hill

For starters, consider this: Hill’s debut album back in 1998 (The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) sold over 19 million copies worldwide, and earned the former Fugees singer FIVE DIFFERENT GRAMMY AWARDS!!! That’s right, over NINETEEN MILLION COPIES!!! and five Grammy’s. To this day, you’ll still hear the single “Doo Wop (That Thing)” often in 2013 on radio stations across the USA (and of course, on Round Trip – along with “Killing Me Softly” from Fugees!).

Anyway, shortly after that album and the successes of 1998 and 1999, Hill ran into some tough, tough times, unbeknownst to everyone except for her real close family and friends.

Sure, there was one more solo album (in 2002) but the acting that she had done before dried up, and after ’02, Hill became a self described “recluse.”

Well flash forward to this week, and we found out why Hill dropped out of the public eye.

Apparently, Hill received “several threats to me and my family that were very serious” and that made her exit the music and film industries. This was announced as Lauryn awaits charges for not paying her taxes from 2005-2007. It sounds as if she’s fallen on hard times but is slowly on her way back, as she is appearing in a film later this year.

Lauryn, I met you back in 1999, and you couldn’t have been nicer! Myself (and thousands of your other fans) wish you luck in getting this tax issue settled and putting that, along with the threats, behind you and to bed!

Last, a quick update on Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys.

Rumor has it that his wedding to Lauren Kitt (who is a BEAUTIFUL fitness trainer) could be televised as some sort of “reality show.” Would you watch? I love weddings but not ones I’m not invited to! We’ll keep you updated on if and when this becomes official!

Until next time, take care, and keep livin’ the 90′s dream!

-Dave O

So just how tall is Skee-Lo? Did he really play basketball? Were all the stories in the 1995 smash hit “I Wish” personal experiences? What was it like acting and VJ’ing shows on MTV? And what is he up to today? Find out the answers to these questions and many more by listening to Skee-Lo and Dave O speak via SKYPE. Skee-Lo is certainly candid and hilarious in this interview!