CLEVELAND, OH  [Thursday Dec.2.2004]  /WMQT.com/ -- The California quartet Hoobastank considers itself a hard rock band. But with the huge success of the ballad "The Reason," the group has gained popularity in an unexpected place: Top 40 radio. And that's just fine with the Hooba guys.

In an interview with Cleveland's The Plain Dealer, Hoobastank frontman Doug Robb talked about crossing over to the world of pop. Says Robb, "At first we were a little like, 'Whoa, man, what's our song doing on these regular pop-radio stations?' But it's something that's grown on us." The singer adds, "We don't consider ourselves a Top 40 band [but] honestly, bands that get all upset about success and stuff like that, we're not one of them. The more success or whatever, it's all good with us."

Hoobastank has gained new fans since "The Reason" was released. Says Robb, "The demographic's gotten a lot younger and a lot older at the same time. [I've] never seen so many young teenage girls and then, like, older [people in their] mid-30s, into their 40s. Basically, young teenage girls and their parents." Robb admits, "It is a little bizarre. They come to see our show, and maybe they know 'The Reason' or something like that, and they see the rest of the show they're like, 'What? Who? Are these the same guys?'"

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