-On The Verge-
Most bands freak when they are compared to another group. But these melodic rockers take a laid-back approach if people find similarites between their self-titled debut and Incubus' Morning view. "We are good friends with Incubus, and we are from their neighborhood," says guitarist Dan Estrin, who grew up in Calabasas, CA, with Brandon and the guys. "I dont mind being compared a group I totally respect."
Hoobastank's first single,"Crawling In The Dark," is all over TRL. But they're no over night success. They formed in 1995, after Dan and vocalist Doug Robb competed in a high school battle of the bands. They were so impressed with each other that they eventully quit their respective groups and formed Hoobastank, with Markku Lappalainen on bass and Chris Hesse on drums.
Now they're about to release their second single and video for their breakup song "Running Away."
"We hope people vote for it on TRL," pleads Dan. "We want to see ourselves on TV [again]."
Okay, so what does Hoobastank mean?
Don't expect a straight answer. If you ask Dan, it's "hopscotch" in some foreign language. If you ask Doug, it's what the H stands for in Jesus H. Christ. Another popular answer: Finnish bassist Markku's middle name. One thing we can confirm: it's not a squished, slang way of saying "Whose butt stinks?," as some of their fansites claim.
Evidence of their coolness.
"I wrote 'Remember Me' after running into [the kid who used to be] the most popular in high school," says Doug. "Back then I wanted to hang with his clique, but he dissed me because I wasn't cool enough. Now he's telling me he loves my band and that we should hang. That sort of thing happens a lot. It makes me pretty nauseous."
The King Of Baby Talk
Chris. "We all gang up on him - some of us a little harder than others - for calling his girlfriend 'sweetie' and 'baby,'" says Markku laughing. "He sounds so whipped."
Did they really sleep in the same bed as Christina Aquilera?
Yes, but they weren't actully with her. They took her old tour bus on the road. "I was lying in my bunk one day and in between the mattress and the wall was a bottle of lotion with a melted Mounds bar stuck to it," says Dan in a creeped-out voice. That could have been Christina's.
