Benji Madden

Benjamin Levi Madden (né Combs; born March 11, 1979) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the band Good Charlotte, as well as pop rock collaboration the Madden Brothers. He formed both of these acts with his identical twin brother, Joel Madden. Benji was a coach on The Voice Australia from 2015–16 with his brother Joel.

Benji Madden
Benji Madden performing in 2017
Born
Benjamin Levi Combs

(1979-03-11) March 11, 1979
Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
Years active1995–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2015)​
Musical career
OriginLa Plata, Maryland, U.S
Genres
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • bass guitar
Labels
Associated acts

Early life

Madden was born Benjamin Levi Combs on March 11, 1979, in Waldorf, Maryland, to Robin Madden and Roger Combs.[1][2] He has an identical twin, Joel Madden, with whom he formed the band Good Charlotte.[1] He has an older brother named Josh and a younger sister named Sarah. All attended La Plata High School in La Plata, Maryland.[2]

Career

Madden started the fashion line called Made Clothing, along with his brothers Joel and Josh, but the line became defunct. In early 2006, it became DCMA Collective. A DCMA Collective store opened in Los Angeles on March 15, 2008, but later closed.

In 1996 Madden started a band with his twin brother Joel named Good Charlotte.

While still playing in Good Charlotte, Madden and Joel wrote and produced for other artists. Madden was a co-writer and co-producer of some of the songs on Hilary Duff's Most Wanted (2005) compilation album. He later helped write the songs "Amnesia" for pop rockers 5 Seconds of Summer and "No Ordinary Girl" for pop artist Kalin and Myles. He has appeared as a back-up vocalist for artists such as MxPx, Kill Hannah, Apoptygma Berzerk, Mest, The 69 Eyes, Sean Kingston, Three 6 Mafia, Chamillionaire, and Matisyahu.[3] As of September 2009 Madden has guest played in the band Taintstick, led by radio talk show host, professional MMA fighter, and pro skateboarder, Jason Ellis.

On April 3, 2010, Madden took part in a boxing match against MTV and VH1 host Riki Rachtman at Ellismania 5: Get These Brawls. The event was hosted by Jason Ellis at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Madden beat Rachtman by knockout at 1 minute and 42 seconds into the first round.[4]

On November 11, 2011, Madden and his brother Joel Madden released a free mix-tape, "The Madden Brothers: Before Volume 1". It contains new artists the brothers were personally interested in. Their brother Josh Madden helped to produce the mix-tape. Then unknown rappers, Machine Gun Kelly, Rockie Fresh, Kreayshawn, Cassie Veggies, HXLT, and Wiz Khalifa all appeared on the mix-tape.

Madden on stage with Good Charlotte

In 2012, Benji appeared on the TV show The Voice Australia, alongside Joel as joint mentor-judges.

In early 2013, Benji helped write Tonight Alive's song "Breakdown". He sang back-up vocals at the end of the song and made an appearance in the video.

In 2014, electronic dance music artist TJR released his track "Come Back Down", which features Benji on the track's vocals. The Madden Brothers recording "Greetings from California" was released on September 16, 2014.

In mid-2014, both of the Madden brothers appeared as coaches on The Voice Kids Australia in a double chair, after the example of the Dutch The Voice of Holland and The Voice Kids (Netherlands season 1) edition in which the singer's duo Nick & Simon appeared as a judging duo between 2010 and 2015. In early 2015, Benji joined Joel as a coach on the main edition of The Voice, bringing the number of coaches up to five.

In 2015 Madden and his two brothers formally started their company MDDN, of which Benji is CEO, offering artist management, artist development and creative services. The company gained success quickly with the brothers taking management of Jessie J, Sleeping with Sirens, Hollywood Undead, Waterparks, Antiflag, Chase Atlantic, K Camp, Architects and more.

Discography

With Good Charlotte
Main article: Good Charlotte discography

With The Madden Brothers

Vocal appearances
Year Song Artist(s) Album
2001 "Let's Go" X-Ecutioners
2002 "January" Goldfinger Open Your Eyes
2003 "Jaded (These Years)" Mest Mest
"It's Alright" MxPx Before Everything & After
"On the Outs"
2004 "Are You Ready?" Hazen Street Hazen Street
"All That"
"Last Train Home" Lostprophets Start Something
"Jump" N.E.R.D Fly or Die
2007 "Tightly Wound" MxPx Secret Weapon
"Sex Without Love" Ben Lee Ripe
2008 "My Own Way" Three 6 Mafia Last 2 Walk
2009 "Apollo (Live on Your TV)" Apoptygma Berzerk Rocket Science
"Darkness into Light" Matisyahu Light
"Dead N' Gone" The 69 Eyes Back in Blood
"Shoulda Let U Go" Sean Kingston Tomorrow
"Snowblinded" Kill Hannah Wake Up the Sleepers
2013 "Breakdown" Tonight Alive The Other Side
2014 "Come Back Down" TJR[6]
2019 "Never Enough" Sleeping with Sirens How It Feels to Be Lost
2020 "Second Chances" Hollywood Undead New Empire, Vol. 1

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Not Another Teen Movie Prom band member
2006 Live Freaky Die Freaky Interrogator #1 Voice only
Material Girls Mistaken valet #2
Fast Future Generation Himself
2007 Punk's Not Dead
2008 Paris, Not France
2009 6 Beers of Separation
2016 I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Punk'd Himself 1 episode
2009 Australian Idol Himself (guest judge) 2 episodes
2011 The Electric Company Himself
2014 The Voice Kids Himself (coach) All episodes
2015–2016 The Voice Australia

Music videos

Personal life

In February 2008, Madden broke up with his long-time fiancée, Sophie Monk.[7]

Madden began dating actress Cameron Diaz in May 2014. The two were unofficially engaged before Christmas Day in 2014[8] and were married on January 5, 2015,[9] in a Jewish-inspired ceremony, at their Beverly Hills home.[10] On December 30, 2019, they had a daughter via surrogate pregnancy.[11]

Madden has many tattoos, including a tattoo of Benjamin Franklin, which covers his entire back.[12]

See also

References
  1. Leahey, Andrew. "Artist Biography [Benji Madden]". Allmusic.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  2. "Joel Madden". People.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  3. Madden, Benjamin (September 18, 2009). "Twitter status- Benji Madden as a back-up vocalist". Twitter. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  4. Ellismania 5 – Benji Madden VS Riki Rachtman – The Fight. YouTube. April 5, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  5. "Bio". themaddenbrothers.com. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  6. "TJR feat. Benji Madden – Come Back Down (RELEASE)". turnupthebass.net. January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  7. "Sophie Monk and Benji Madden split up". News.com.au. January 7, 2008. Archived from the original on January 10, 2008.
  8. Cascerceri, Dorothy (January 9, 2015). "What does Cameron Diaz see in Benji Madden?". Fox News.
  9. Chiu, Melody (December 23, 2014). "Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden Are Engaged". Time.
  10. Friedman, Gabe (January 7, 2015). "Cameron Diaz has a Jewish wedding – through neither she nor beau are Jewish". Haaretz.
  11. "Cameron Diaz Feels Daughter Raddix Is 'Truly a Miracle' After Using Surrogate". January 8, 2020.
  12. "Benji Madden shows off his tattoo of Ben Franklin". The Courier-Mail. News.com.au. June 13, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
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