How a lavish celebrity wedding brought Good Charlotte back together

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As rock-band relaunches go, Good Charlotte’s was conspicuously ritzy.

In April 2023, the popular pop-punk band, famous for their catchy yet sassy Y2K era hits like “The Anthem” and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” performed at their first concert in four years. Instead of playing at a club or festival, they provided the music entertainment at a wedding held at Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc, nestled in the sunny south of France. The happy couple were Sofia Richie, a model and influencer whose father is Lionel Richie, and Elliot Grainge, the record executive son of Universal Music Group Chairman Lucian Grainge.

People Magazine declared that Sofia Richie set a new standard for celebrity weddings. Vogue referred to it as the ‘royal wedding’ of the year, and Elle highlighted her ‘silent luxury wedding hairstyle’ as the defining beauty trend of 2023.

Speaking about her wedding, Richie, whose older sister Nicole has been married to Good Charlotte’s lead vocalist Joel Madden since 2010, emphasizes that while it wasn’t small, it was all about the family. She shares this with The Times. In light of this sentiment, having Good Charlotte perform was a logical choice for her. “I knew they would create the perfect atmosphere,” she says, “and when they started playing, the room came alive. Everyone was singing along to every song. It was electrifying.

According to Madden, who co-founded Good Charlotte with his twin brother Benji while they were still in high school in suburban Maryland, “One of the top 10 most incredible nights of my life” is a fair description.

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Two years after that event, the Maddens, who are both 46, transformed the occasion into a fresh comeback album titled “Motel Du Cap.” Once again, it’s a collaborative effort within the family. The band Good Charlotte, who have not released an album since 2018, recently dropped their latest LP last week through Atlantic Records. Notably, the CEO of Atlantic Records, Grainge, assumed his role in October. Richie, 26, describes Joel Madden and her husband as more than just brothers-in-law; they are “genuine best friends.” Interestingly, even Grainge, himself, admits that he and the Maddens play the video game “Fortnite” together for an hour every Saturday. According to a trade journal Hits, they often engage in this activity using their headphones, giving off an uncool vibe.

In simpler terms, Joel mentioned during a recent morning at the Burbank office of their company MDDN (which includes talent management, live streaming, and digital media brands like Alternative Press and Brooklyn Vegan), that they were content with the idea of not producing another record.

Sporting numerous tattoos and clad in black and white attire, Benji is seated in a recording studio alongside his brother. “I believe we could have produced another album,” he suggests. “However, we strayed from the band in various directions so much that perhaps it would have taken another three, four, or five years.” (Paraphrased)

Following the death of their father, who was estranged from the band members when they were around 13 years old, Good Charlotte had essentially taken a break, or become less active, following the release of “Generation Rx” in 2018. Benji Madden, one of the band’s members, noted that their music was born out of a period when they disliked their father. However, they had recently reconnected with him before his passing, which made them hesitant to write songs criticizing his shortcomings after he died.

Joel expresses that it put them in a slight predicament, implying some trouble. Thus, they shifted their focus towards different ventures, such as their individual projects, until Richie proposed a reunion for the band.

Music

25-year-old nationally recognized singer recently released a fresh album titled “Different Night Same Rodeo.” This album features collaborations with artists such as Luke Combs and The Kid Laroi.

Joel affirmatively responded when asked about Richie. “She’s my little sister,” he explains, “I’ve been involved in her life since she was seven.” Sharing experiences such as attending Selena Gomez concerts together and visiting Disneyland were part of their bonding moments. (In return, Sofia Richie expresses deep admiration for Joel.)

The idea was accepted by their band members, so Good Charlotte consists of guitarist Billy Martin, bassist Paul Thomas, and drummer Dean Butterworth. Joel and Benji Madden then guided the group through a solitary rehearsal following their arrival on the French Riviera, which seemed to be sufficient. Footage of the band’s energetic performance quickly spread across the internet, with one clip featuring Cameron Diaz, the actress and Benji’s wife, dancing in the crowd.

After the event, as we were all gathered together, Elliot suggested, “You should create a new album,” Benji recalls. To which we responded with casual agreement, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Later that evening, you told your brother, “I believe I might be able to produce an album.

“I felt a little fire,” Joel says with a grin.

The comeback of Good Charlotte is well-timed, considering the recent resurgence of emo and pop-punk music that has seen bands like Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance performing in stadiums for the past few years. Following the Richie-Grainge wedding, Good Charlotte played at the annual When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas alongside acts such as Green Day, The Offspring, and Sum 41. In April of this year, the Maddens even collaborated with country star Luke Combs at Stagecoach, where they performed together on stage. Luke Combs expressed his deep admiration for Good Charlotte, referring to himself as a “huge fan” during their collaboration.

Currently, the siblings are less boastful about their aspirations compared to the early 2000s, expressing a humility that was uncommon then. As Benji puts it, “If there was a podium, we’d be in third place – possibly an honorable mention.” They are content with this position. For them, Good Charlotte is no longer the main focus of their lives; they do not strive for its centrality anymore.

Joel asserts that some individuals are willing to give up everything for artistic pursuits. However, he clarifies his stance by stating, “I won’t let my commitment to art compromise my relationship with my children. I aim to produce the best record possible at this moment, and I will still ensure bedtime.

The “Motel Du Cap” embodies a mindset that shines through in songs like “Deserve You” and “Castle in the Sand,” where Joel paints a picture of imagining his children’s laughter echoing down the hallway. He humorously acknowledges that while it may not be traditional ‘dad rock’ or ‘married-guy rock,’ it does carry those undertones.

In “Stepper,” Joel sings about dining at Matsuhisa, a high-end sushi restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard, and enjoying champagne. He acknowledges that the song might seem to depict a life of luxury, but he finds it ironic since the song’s powerful guitars portray a picture of wealth and comfort.

Joel sings about going to Matsuhisa, an expensive sushi restaurant, and drinking champagne. He admits that the song may appear to showcase a lavish lifestyle, but he finds it ironic because the loud guitars in the song suggest wealth and ease.

Adds Benji: “Hasn’t our band always been a little ironic, though?”

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From the beginning, the Maddens derived an intriguing blend of excitement when penning down their turbulent childhood experiences with a polished pop style. Critics who preferred punk music were skeptical, but fans who watched Total Request Live (TRL) made Good Charlotte’s self-titled 2000 debut album a big seller; “The Young and the Hopeless” released in 2002 went triple platinum and even graced the cover of Rolling Stone. Today, a framed copy of that cover can still be found on the walls at MDDN in Burbank. Around 2003, the brothers relocated from Maryland to Los Angeles and bought homes close to each other in Glendale.

Joel shares that he was extremely close friends with the rapper from Compton, whom he refers to as ‘Game.’ According to Joel, Game expressed his interest in purchasing a house whenever one became available on Joel’s street. One day, when Joel noticed a ‘For Sale’ sign, he immediately contacted his friend. Game arrived at the property, took a quick look around, and announced his intention to buy it. For about three to four years, they all resided on the same street.

In this current space, Good Charlotte reportedly created their album “Motel Du Cap.” This was done in collaboration with producers Jordan Fish and Zakk Cervini, who are under the management of MDDN. Notably, MDDN also manages artists like Bad Omens, Poppy, and Nicole Richie’s hip-hop persona, Nikki Fresh. The music maintains the signature blend of catchy vocal hooks with fuzzy guitar riffs. However, this album features an unexpected collaboration with Wiz Khalifa in a relaxed rap-rock style and a country tune titled “Deserve You,” which displays a convincing country vibe.

Benji shares that growing up, there was a lot of country music in our surroundings. He also notes an interesting piece of folklore suggesting that Combs and the brothers might be kin. He explains that their father’s last name was Combs, but when they turned 18, they adopted their mother’s surname due to some anger. However, both families originated from North Carolina, with Luke’s family lineage being no exception. They have loosely traced their grandfathers as a possible connection.

In my perspective, as a teenager, my bandmates and I used to exclaim something along the lines of, “Country music? Forget about it! We’re all about pop-punk instead.” However, with the passage of time, a particular song can catch your ear and you find yourself murmuring, “That’s quite appealing.” Interestingly enough, Luke Combs has been my most frequently played artist on Spotify for the past three years running.

He shows his phone, saying, “See this? I’ve been sending this every year.” Behind Diddy on the list are Idina Menzel and Hugh Jackman, who he mentions as being from “Wicked” and “The Greatest Showman” respectively. He has a 5-year-old at home, explaining the presence of these singers. Chet Baker and Good Charlotte also appear on the list. (What a surprise!)

It’s been twenty-five years since they released their debut album, and the two brothers are pleasantly surprised to see their band in such an unexpected setting. As Joel put it, “Nowadays, Good Charlotte has reached a point where we can perform at any rock festival, but at the same time, our concert is also suitable for the entire family.

“Benji mentions one thing that brings him great joy: we’re not attempting to replicate a phase of our lives that we were in at the age of 22.”

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2025-08-12 13:31