How did a guy with hoot-owl glasses and another with puffy, blowfish cheeks inspire one of America's hottest bands? Ask Hootie & The Blowfish. The band named itself after the nicknames of two college buddies.
The Hootie guys started the band as students at the University of South Carolina. Their first album, Cracked Rear View, is the second best-selling debut album in history. Their second album, Fairweather Johnson, hits stores this week. Their record company will hold listening parties, and MTV will air a special Hootie Unplugged. Lead singer Darius Rucker says he doesn't give a hoot how many copies the album sells: "If we sell 1 million or 10 million, I'm happy with this album."