Benji Madden
| Benji Madden | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Benjamin Levi Combs |
| Born | March 11, 1979 [1] |
| Origin | Waldorf, Maryland, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock, punk rock, pop punk |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, piano, vocals, bass |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | EMI |
| Associated acts | Good Charlotte, Taintstick, Dead Executives, Rad Omen |
| Notable instruments | |
| OLP, Gretsch, Music man guitars | |
Benji Madden (born Benjamin Levi Combs; March 11, 1979) is an American guitarist and backup vocalist for the band Good Charlotte, which he co-founded with his identical twin brother, Joel Madden.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Benjamin "Benji" Madden was born as Benjamin Levi Combs on March 11, 1979 in the town of Waldorf, Maryland. He has an identical twin brother, Joel Madden, with whom he formed the band Good Charlotte. He has an older brother named Josh, who helps design their DCMA Collective clothing line. Madden also has a younger sister, Sarah. Madden attended La Plata High School in La Plata, Maryland.
[edit] Career
In the 2001 film Not Another Teen Movie, Benji, Adam Ly and the other Good Charlotte members made a cameo as the band at the school's prom. Madden made another appearance in the 2006 film Material Girls with his brother Joel.[2]
Madden started a clothing line called MADE Clothing along with his brothers Joel and Josh. "MADE" stands for the will to fight and die for those who you love. The line is now defunct. In early 2006, MADE Clothing became DCMA Collective. The line is owned by himself, his brothers Joel Madden, Josh Madden, and friend Tal Cooperman. A DCMA Collective store was opened in Los Angeles, California, on March 15, 2008.[3]
While still playing in Good Charlotte, Benji and his brother Joel take part in a side project group called the Dead Executives. Madden was a co-writer and co-producer of some of the songs on Hilary Duff's Most Wanted (2005) compilation album. He also co-wrote the theme song for Paris Hilton's reality show "My New BFF."[4] He has appeared as a back-up vocalist for artists such as MxPx, Kill Hannah, Apoptygma Berzerk, Mest, The 69 Eyes, Sean Kingston, Three 6 Mafia, Chamillionaire, and Matisyahu.[5] As of September 2009 Benji has joined the band Taintstick, fronted by radio talk show host, professional MMA fighter, and pro skateboarder, Jason Ellis. He is also rumored to be a member of Rad Omen along with Peter Dante, Dirt Nasty, and DJ Troublemaker.
On April 3, 2010, Benji partook in a boxing match against MTV and VH1 host Riki Rachtman at Ellismania 5: Get These Brawls. The event was hosted by Jason Ellis at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Rachtman made several public statements against Benji and Good Charlotte prior to the fight, presumably to enrage Benji and cause him to exhaust himself early in the fight. Benji beat Rachtman by knockout 1 minute and 42 seconds into the first round.
Madden was also a judge for the 10th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[6]
On november 11, 2011 he and his brother Joel Madden released a free mixtape named "The Madden Brothers: Before Volume 1" It contains new artists the brothers were personally interested in. Their brother Josh Madden helped to produce the mixtape.
In December 2011, it was announced that Benji Madden and his brother Joel Madden are recording an acoustic album. Which will be released somewhere in 2012.
[edit] Personal life
He is currently living in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, his brother Joel said on an Australian radio interview that Benji was genuinely looking for an Australian property he can call home.
In January 2008, media outlets reported that Madden and his long-time fiancée, Australian starlet Sophie Monk, had split up.[7] In response to the rumors, Good Charlotte's rep told Us Weekly: "Benji Madden and Sophie Monk are together and very happy." However, in mid-February it was officially announced by Monk's Sydney agent, that "Sophie and Benji have officially split. The decision was mutual and they remain amicable."[8] Soon after, Madden began dating Paris Hilton but ended their relationship after nine months.[9] Break-up rumors began circulating in the media in mid-November, after Hilton reunited with her former boyfriend Stavros Niarchos in Miami.[10][11] Madden also dated television personality Holly Madison, from December 2009 til January 2010.[12]However they have remained very close friends. It is now speculated that Benji is dating British Pop singer Eliza Doolittle (singer).
Madden is an avid collector of Living Dead Dolls. In an episode of MTV Cribs he showed off his vast collection. He is known for having many tattoos, including a tattoo of Ben Franklin, which covers his entire back.[13]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Releases
- The Madden Brothers Mixtape
[edit] Vocal appearances
| Year | Song | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "Let's Go" | X-Ecutioners | |
| 2002 | "January" | Goldfinger | Open Your Eyes |
| 2003 | "Jaded (These Years)" | Mest | Mest |
| "It's Alright" | MxPx | Before Everything & After | |
| "On the Outs" | |||
| 2004 | "Are You Ready?" | Hazen Street | Hazen Street |
| "All That" | |||
| "Last Train Home" | Lostprophets | Start Something | |
| 2007 | "Tightly Wound" | MxPx | Secret Weapon |
| "Sex Without Love" | Ben Lee | Ripe | |
| 2008 | "My Own Way" | Three 6 Mafia | Last 2 Walk |
| 2009 | "Apollo (Live On Your TV)" | Apoptygma Berzerk | Rocket Science |
| "Darkness Into Light" | Matisyahu | Light | |
| "Dead N' Gone" | The 69 Eyes | Back in Blood | |
| "Shoulda Let U Go" | Sean Kingston | Tomorrow | |
| "Snowblinded" | Kill Hannah | Wake Up the Sleepers |
[edit] Television and film appearances
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | Not Another Teen Movie | Prom Band Member | Prom Band as Good Charlotte |
| 2006 | Live Freaky Die Freaky | Interrogator #1 | Voice |
| Material Girls | Mistaken Valet #2 | Feature film | |
| Fast Future Generation | Himself | Documentary film | |
| 2007 | Punk's Not Dead | Himself | Documentary film |
| 2008 | Paris, Not France | Himself | Documentary film |
| 2009 | 6 Beers of Separation (TV) | Himself | Documentary film |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Punk'd | Himself | 1 Episode |
| 2009 | Australian Idol | Himself - Guest Judge | 2 Episodes |
| 2011 | The Electric Company | Himself | 2 Episodes |
[edit] Video appearances
- Hoobastank's Same Direction music video
- Rancid's "Fall Back Down" music video
- The White Tie Affair's "Candle (Sick and Tired)" music video
- Junior Sanchez's "Elevator" music video
- Young Dre The Truth's "Cheah Bah" music video
- Mest's - "Jaded (These Years)" music video
- The 69 Eyes - "Dead N' Gone" music video
- Fenix Tx's "Threesome" music video
- Rad Omen's "Rad Anthem" music video
- Brand New's "Jude Law and a Semester Abroad" music video
- Escape the Fate's "10 Miles Wide" music video
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Good Charlotte Biography". Allmusic. 2007. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p442724. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ^ Benji and Joel Madden make a cameo in a Hilary Duff movie, "Material Girls" (2006) YouTube.com. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
- ^ "Madden Brothers Open DCMA Store in Los Angeles". Hollyscoop.com. 2009-01-19. http://www.hollyscoop.com/paris-hilton/madden-brothers-open-dcma-store_15163.aspx. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
- ^ Benji Madden and Paris Hilton “My New BFF” Theme Song Retrieved on January 24, 2009.
- ^ Benji Madden as a back-up vocalist Twitter. September 18, 2009.
- ^ Independent Music Awards - Past Judges
- ^ "Sophie Monk and Benji Madden split up". News.com.au. 2008-01-07. http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,23019214-5013560,00.html. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ^ Sophie Monk splits from Good Charlotte's Benji Madden News.com.au. February 13, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
- ^ "Paris Hilton and Benji Madden Split Up". People.com. 2008-19-Nov. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20241470,00.html. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
- ^ Stavros and Paris reunited and it feels so sleazy TMZ.com. (2008/11/17) Retrieved April 15, 2009.
- ^ "Paris Hilton and Benji Madden Split Up". People.com. 2009-01-18. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20241470,00.html. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Madison#Personal_life
- ^ Benji Madden shows off his tattoo of Ben Franklin News.com.au. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
[edit] External links
- Benji Madden at the Internet Movie Database
- Benji Madden on Myspace
- DCMA Collective (Benji's clothing line)
- Official Good Charlotte Website
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
