Benji Madden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Benji Madden | |
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 Benji Madden performing during the Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour in Toronto, Canada.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Benjamin Levi Combs |
| Also known as | Benji, Benj |
| Born | March 11, 1979 [1] |
| Origin | Waldorf, Maryland, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Pop punk, Alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, backup vocalist |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Label(s) | Epic Records, Daylight Records |
Benji Madden (born Benjamin Levi Combs on March 11, 1979) is an American record producer, DJ and the guitarist and backup vocalist for the band Good Charlotte, he co-founded with his identical twin brother, Joel Madden.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Benjamin "Benji" Madden was born in Waldorf, Maryland to a working class Irish-American family. He has an identical twin brother, Joel Madden, who sings lead in 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, who was in a band called Her Daily Obsession. Madden attended La Plata High School in La Plata, Maryland. When he was sixteen years old his father, Roger Combs, left the family causing them financial hardship.[2] Madden took up various odd jobs as a teenager to help with the family's bills. While in his early twenties, Madden changed his last name from Combs, his father's name, to his mother's maiden name, Madden.
[edit] Other projects
In the 2001 film Not Another Teen Movie, Benji 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.[3]
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.[4]
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) complication album. He also co-wrote the theme song for Paris Hilton's reality show "My New BFF."[5]
[edit] Personal life
He is currently living in Glendale, California.
In January 2008, media outlets reported that Madden and his long-time girlfriend and fiancée, Sophie Monk, had split up.[6] 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."[7] Only weeks later, Madden began dating Paris Hilton and soon the couple expressed their plans of marriage and kids.[8] Break-up rumors began circulating in the media in mid-November, after Hilton reunited with her former boyfriend Stavros Niarchos in Miami.[9][10] Hilton confirmed that the couple had split up in an interview with Ryan Seacrest on November 21, 2008 by saying that they are "better off as friends. We’re both working so much, I’ve been traveling, he’s been working non-stop in the studio with his brother on a new record."[11]
Madden is an avid collector of Living Dead Dolls. In an episode of MTV Cribs he showed off his vast collection and a pet tiger, Sam. He is known for having many tattoos, including a tattoo of Ben Franklin, which covers his entire back.[12]
[edit] Featured Guest appearances
| Year | Song | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Apollo (Live On Your TV)" | Apoptygma Berzerk | Rocket Science |
| 2007 | "Tightly Wound" | MxPx | Secret Weapon |
| "Sex Without Love" | Ben Lee | Ripe | |
| 2004 | "Are You Ready?" | Hazen Street | Hazen Street |
| "All That" | |||
| 2003 | "Jaded (These Years)" | Mest | Mest |
| 2002 | "January" | Goldfinger | Open Your Eyes |
[edit] Other appearances
- Rancid's "Fall Back Down" music video
- MxPx's, "It's Alright", from the Before Everything & After album
- MxPx's, "On The Outs", from the Before Everything & After album
- Ben Lee's, "Sex Without Love", from the Ripe album
- Good Charlotte feat. X-ecutioners - "Let's Go"
- The White Tie Affair's "Candle (Sick and Tired)" - music video
- Apoptygma Berzerk's "Apollo (live on your TV)", from the Rocket Science album
[edit] References
- ^ "Good Charlotte Biography". allmusic.com. 2007. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hxfwxqqkldde~T1. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
- ^ Benji Madden trivia and quotes TV.com. (2008-01-19) Retrieved on January, 19, 2009.
- ^ 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 on 17 March 2008.
- ^ Benji Madden and Paris Hilton “My New BFF” Theme Song Retrieved on January 24, 2009.
- ^ "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 on 13 January 2008.
- ^ Sophie Monk splits from Good Charlotte's Benji Madden News.com.au. February 13, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
- ^ "Benji Madden Calls Paris Hilton "Wife Material"". UsMagazine.com. 2009-01-19. http://www.usmagazine.com/Benji-Madden-Paris-Hilton-Is-Wife-Material. Retrieved on 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 on 19 November 2008.
- ^ "Benji Madden Paris Hilton Break-Up Confirmed “On-Air With Ryan Seacrest”". Pop Crunch.com. 2009-01-18. http://www.popcrunch.com/benji-madden-paris-hilton-break-up-confirmed-on-air-with-ryan-seacrest/. Retrieved on 21 November 2008.
- ^ 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 at MySpace
- DCMA Collective (Benji's clothing line)
- Official Good Charlotte Website
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