Good Charlotte

LW: How did you feel after you first came out of that Beastie Boys concert. Was it like mutual that you wanted to do music?

Benji: It was our first show, so it was a big event in our lives, but it wansnt like the deciding factor. But it was got us to start goin to shows. After that, we just went to every punk rock show that would come through DC and thats where we really got the desire to start a band-from goin to all those shows, it wasnt just the Beastie Boys concert. But yea, I mean comin out of the Beastie boys concert was what we discovered live music. So thats what it really did for us. Yea, mutual, Joel and I.

LW: You say you want kids to be able to forget their problems when they listen to you because it comes from your heart. What do you feel is your most like inspiring song?

Benji: Hmmmm...most inspiring song would probably have to be, for me, 'Waldorf Worldwide'. Cause we wrote that probably at our lowest point as far as finanically. We didnt have a place to live, and um just kinda was in some trouble with the police and all kinds of stuff. So that was at our pretty much lowest point when we wrote that song, we were sorta tryin to inspire ourselves I guess. But the most emotional song is probably the hidden track, the song we wrote about our mom. Thats probably it, cause when I play that one, I feel the most

LW: And about 'The Innocent', your tribute song, can you tell me a little about how you felt recording that after it happened.

Benji: Yea! Um, we were out in California, we had got a couple days off, and when that happened uh we were um good friends with John Feldmen from Goldfinger and um just um like we were gonna record a song with him for a soundtrack, cause he started producing stuff and I really like his work. But anyways, I called him and I was like Man whats goin on? and john was like I wanna do somethin and I was like so do I and we were like "what can we do" and so we decided, joel, him and I decided to write a song together, so we wrote that song and we recorded it at his house. And Nick and the guys from Mest stopped by, and they sang on it. It just came together within like a week of September 11. And we were just like wanted to put it out there so that if we could raise any money at all or anything maybe we could help out some charities or something. Since we couldn't be in New York and DC, helping, volunteering, thats what we chose to do so

LW: You did the Warped Tour this year, What did you think about that?

Benji: It was the greatest tour of my entire life. Like I wanna do the Warped Tour every year. Like I mean I became friends with all the bands that I love and respect. Every band on that tour, you make friends that last. Now I talk to those people like once a week. Like all the bands, and every one gets so tight, and the vibes go good. Theres no like, you know, nobodys stuck up or exclusive or anything. And if you are, people give you s-t for it. So its great. The warped tour was so good. I wanna do it every year. I love the warped tour man, I love it.

LW: Is this your first headlining tour?

Benji: Our first like headlining tour, yea. We did like last year we did our own little thing, like 3 weeks, on the east coast with um Sum 41 and Mest. So that was our first like sorta little headlining thing. Which was really not, at that time, no one knew about any of us. The shows were really small. They were really cool cause it was like you know it was like 100 kids. But now, this is definatley like our first major headlining tour. Its been amazing, just like playing for all these kids every night. And theyre acutally coming to see us, you know? Its pretty crazy. Its kinda weird. It dosent feel right sometimes, but its cool. You know, weve definitaley worked for it. Like over the last 6 years, so Its cool.

LW: And looking back, what was your like first gig. What did you think of the first time you ever played for like any group of people.

Benji: We were in this kids basement. This guy Phil Miller. And uh we were pretty bad. Joel had his back to the audience [everyone giggles] I mean there was only like 30 kids there, but we were really nervous, and my face, like I wasnt used to getting up in front of people really. But um I was just looking down the whole time and we messed up like every song. And I still have the set list. But you know, I look back now, it was funny and I laugh. It was cool. We were such little kids, you know? Like weve grown up a lot. Since then, you saw us then and you see us now you know were the same band, but were a different band. Obviously we have a different drummer, but like but I mean, weve grown up a lot. You know?

LW: What did you think of the Dashboard show last night?

Benji: It was great. I love Dashboard Confessional. I think Chris Carraba is like one of the greatest song writers out right now. Hes so good. His songs like make me wish I had a girlfriend that would break up with me. [smiles and laughs] I dont have a girlfriend, but if I did, you know? His album is so heartfelt and like broken hearted you know? Like the one line "Starving for an argument just to break the silence" Man thats so good. But uh, I dont know it was just great. Rival Schools was awesome. And me and Joel and Tony were over there and we had a really good time. Got to talk to him afterwards, hes really nice guy. He said he had our record. So I was like "really that awesome." Said his wife liked it or something. So it was awesome. It was a huge compliment. I was like wow. Made me feel good. I went home and smiled you know? Its always like a really really like huge huge surprise and compliment when another artist says he has your record. Like people have said "Oh yea I have your record." And you always go "What, really?" You know, cause you never think anyone has your record even though you know some people have it, you know? Even when kids come up to you and they just say "Yea I have your record I love it." You kinda go "Really, thats awesome." I guess cause, I dunno, we never think. Were sorta like a low self esteem band. Like we never think anyone likes us or we never think that like people get our record. Maybe its just like old habits. You know, old ways of thinking you know? But like just like the girl will never go out with you. Like we always think like that. Even now, people are always like "You guys get all kinds of girls." Only were like "Nooo." And uh I mean, we probably could talk to more girls you know, we probably could. If like we really stood up and said "Hi, Im so and so." But were all like so "Dude, shed never talk to me." [everyone laughs] But we kinda think that way about everything. Im not sayin thats good, but thats just the way we are.

LW: Finally, what advice would you give people that were gonna do what you did, and try and start their own band.

Benji: Just stay at it. I mean, when you start a band, there are so many people that wanna bring you down just because theyre jelous that youre doin something you love to do and youre part of something. Like I know when we started our band, the next day, the day after we started the band, we were like, you felt like you belonged somewhere. And you didnt care, about anything else because now you had like your little crew, you know? And so its like that was us. And thats a good thing, and people always try to discourage you because um you know I dont know whether is jelousy or whatever, but people need to just stick with it and not listen to anyone. Not think about odds, and just if you love it, do it. And if you dont love it, dont do it. And the day you stop lovin it, dont do it anymore. If you dont enjoy it anymore, dont do it. I know thats the way we are. If there comes a day when were like you know, uh I dont wanna do this anymore, I wanna be a gardner or something ^group giggles^ Like I mean, you know what I mean? Im just givin an example. Like you should always do what your passion is about. I think Ill always be passionate about music, but if theres ever a day that Im not, Ill take a break. But its just something you have to stay with.

LW: Is there anything else you want to tell our readers?

Benji: UhhIm very excited about Harry Potter. I didnt get to see the movie today, but Im gonna go tomorrow. I hope. Im on the 3rd book right now.

LW: where did you get the name Good Charlotte?

Benji: Its the name of a book. We were just like "That would kinda be a cool band name." We were wrong, right? [laughs]

LW: No, I think its a cool name. [everyone agrees]

Benji: Really?! I kinda think maybe we shoulda gone with kinda a tougher name. But cool. You know sometimes Im like "Oh its not that bad of a name" but then sometimes were like "man our name sucks." Course then again, all that I listen to are bands like Rancid, the casulaites and the Unseen and stuff. But its cool, cause like all those other tough bands, were friends with like all of em. And its like you know, kids would think of a band like more "poppier" like more like whatever band wouldnt be, but you know its cool, cause the bottom line is if you are who you are, then people will respect you. If youre fake, people know right away.

LW: We want to thank you for letting us interview you.

Benji: Youre welcome, thank you guys.