Benji Madden

Benji Madden
Benji Madden performing during the Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour in Toronto, Canada.
Background information
Birth name	Benjamin Levi Combs
Also known as	Benji, Benj
Born	March 11, 1979 (1979-03-11) (age 30)[1]
Origin	Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	Pop punk, Alternative rock
Occupations	Guitarist, backup vocalist
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Epic Records, Daylight Records
Associated acts	Good Charlotte, Taintstick, Dead Executives

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.

Biography

Early life

"Benji On The Stage"

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. 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 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.

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] He has sang back-up vocals for artists, such as MxPx, Kill Hannah, Apoptygma Berzerk, Mest, The 69 Eyes, Sean Kingston, Three 6 Mafia, Chamillionaire, and Matisyahu.^[6] As of September 2009 Benji has joined the band Taintstick, fronted by radio talk show host, professional MMA fighter, and pro skateboarder, Jason Ellis.

Personal life

He is currently living in Glendale, California.

In January 2008, media outlets reported that Madden and his long-time fiancée, 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 and would end 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 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]

Featured Guest appearances

Vocal appearances

Video appearances

• Rancid's "Fall Back Down" music video
• The White Tie Affair's "Candle (Sick and Tired)" music video
• Escape the Fate's "10 Miles Wide" music video
• Junior Sanchez's "Elevator" music video
• Young Dre The Truth's "Cheah Bah" music video
• Mest's "Jaded (These Years)" music video

See also

• List of guitarists

References

External links

• Benji Madden at the Internet Movie Database
• Benji Madden at MySpace
• DCMA Collective (Benji's clothing line)
• Official Good Charlotte Website