Joel Madden

Joel Madden
Madden performing in Sydney in September 2012
Background information
Birth name	Joel Rueben Combs
Born	(1979-03-11) March 11, 1979 (age 37)
Origin	La Plata, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	Pop punk pop rock punk rock alternative rock
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter guitarist
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar keyboards
Years active	1995–present
Labels	EMI
Associated acts	Good Charlotte, The Madden Brothers
Website	goodcharlotte.com

Joel Rueben Madden (born Joel Rueben Combs; March 11, 1979) is the lead vocalist for the American pop punk band Good Charlotte, as well as a record producer, actor, DJ, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He is also part of the pop rock collaboration The Madden Brothers with his twin brother Benji Madden.

Madden was born Joel Rueben Combs in Waldorf, Maryland, the son of Robin Madden and Roger Combs. He has an identical twin, Benji Madden, who plays guitar and sings backing vocals in their band, Good Charlotte. He also has an older brother named Josh Madden who also works in the music industry, and a younger sister named Sarah Madden. Madden attended La Plata High School.

In 1995, at the age of 16, Joel Madden, his brother Benji, and a friend started their own band. The band was short-lived and the Maddens eventually recruited fellow high schoolers Paul Thomas, Aaron Escolopio, and Billy Martin to form their current band Good Charlotte. They took the name Good Charlotte from the children's book, Good Charlotte: Girls of the Good Day Orphanage, by Carol Beach York.

In the 2001 film Not Another Teen Movie, Joel and the other Good Charlotte members made a cameo as the band at the school's prom. He later had a cameo role in the 2004 film Fat Albert and in the 2006 film Material Girls with his brother Benji. He also had a guest appearance in the hit Nickelodeon musical comedy series The Naked Brothers Band, in which he joined the band for a performance.

Madden started a clothing line called MADE Clothing along with his brothers Benji and Josh. The line is now defunct. In early 2006 MADE Clothing became DCMA Collective. The line is owned by Joel, his brothers Benji Madden, Josh Madden, and friend Tal Cooperman. The Madden brothers also front a production team called Dead Executives.