Benji Madden - Guitarists, Timeline and Life

Benji Madden was born on March 11, 1979 in Waldorf Maryland, USA to Roger Combs and Robin Madden. His full name was Benjamin Levi Combs. He comes from a family of four children, of which he has an identical twin named Joel Madden. His other siblings are an elder brother named Josh and a younger sister named Sarah.

His father left his mother with the children when he was 16 years old. After his father left his mother he changed his sir-name from Combs to Madden. He was brought up in Maryland where he studied in La Plata High School along with his brothers and sister. The four children were close to each other and their mother but had to fend for themselves financially. Benji learnt the guitar at the age of 16 and started performing.

The brothers started their own clothes line called ‘Made Clothing’ as a joint venture that ran for a few years but had to close down due to lack of business. The company later went by the name of DCMA and was looked after by his elder brother.

Benji and his twin brother started the band called ‘Good Charlotte’ in 1996 that had better luck. Their mother backed them with her support and encouraged them by sending them to California. They combined with base guitarist, Paul Thomas and Billy Martin on the keyboard to make a successful band by 1998.

His band released their debut album titled ‘Good Charlotte’ in September 2000 that won multiple awards and got them recognised.

Benji and his brother were co-producers and writers for their band. As they made a name for themselves they started working with other artists like Hilary Duff, Kalin and Myles. They wrote the hit song ‘Amnesia’ for the group ‘5 Seconds of Summer’ and performed as backup vocalist for various other artists.

In 2011, the three brothers jointly produced a mixed-tape titled ‘The Madden Brothers: Before Volume 1’ that became popular. Benji also appeared as a guest player with the band ‘Taintstick’ and a judge on the TV show ‘The Voice Australia’ in 2012.

The following year he was seen on the video of the group ‘Tonight Alive’, in their song ‘Breakdown’ which he co-write and recorded as a backup singer. He also performed for the number ‘Come Back Down’ by the electronic music artist ‘TJR’.

The Madden Brothers released their next recording titled ‘Greetings from California’ in 2014 and the twins also appeared on ‘The Voice Kids Australia’ television show as coaches. By now they were established celebrities in the business.

He has performed as part of the group Good Charlotte to produce six Studio Albums, two Compilation Albums, three Video Albums, 19 Music Videos, Two EPs and 20 Singles.

The Madden Brothers have released two albums titled ‘Before – Volume One’ and ‘Greetings from California’.

He has made a number of vocal appearances with various artists in numbers that include ‘Let’s Go’ by X-Ecutioners, ‘Are You Ready’ by Hazen Street, ‘Last Train Home’ by Lostprophets, ‘Sex Without Love’ by Ben Lee, ‘Darkness into Light’ by Matisyahu and ‘Come Back Down’ by TJR.

He has appeared in the films ‘Fast Future Generation’, ‘Punk’s Not Dead’, ‘Paris Not France’ and ‘Six Beers of Separation’ as himself.

He has been a judge on the ‘Australian Idol’ television show in 2009 and a coach on ‘The Voice Australia’ show in 2015 – 2016. He also appeared on the television shows ‘Punk’d’ (2004) and ‘The Electric Company’ (2011).

Benji has co-produced a number of music videos and appeared in them with groups like ‘Rancid’, ‘Junior Sanchez’, ‘The 69 Eyes’, ‘Brand New’ and ‘Escape the Fate’.

In 2003, his band Good Charlotte won the Best Single award for their number ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous’ at the Kerrang Awards. The number also won the Viewer’s Choice award on the MTV Video Music Awards that year.

Their number ‘The Anthem’ won the People’s Choice; Favourite International Group at the MuchMusic Video Awards, 2003 and Best Rock Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, Japan in 2004.

Their album ‘Good Charlotte’ won the Best International Group at the NJR Music Awards, 2004; Best International Rock Act at the TMF Awards, 2005 and Fave International Band at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, 2007.

The number ‘Keep Your Hands Off My Girl’ won the Viewer’s Choice Australia at the MTV Australia Awards, 2007.

He had a Japanese girlfriend by the name of Rin Kozue whom he got engaged to in 2004. However, the relationship broke up within a year.

Bejni Madden was dating Australian actress and model Sophie Monk for awhile before they officially got engaged and were all set to get married. However, in 2008 they decided to call off their engagement and go their different ways. They are still in touch with each other and remain friends. His name has also been linked to celebrities like Paris Hilton and Holly Madison.

He later started dating actress Cameron Diaz in 2014. The relationship moved forward to an engagement within six months and the couple were married by January 2015 in a simple Jewish ceremony. They have a home in Beverly Hills, California, where they live happily.

Benji is a man of varied interests. Besides his music he loves boxing, football and baseball. He has a collection of old and new cars including a ‘63 model Ford Galaxy, Jeep Cherokee and Porsche 911. He also has a cat named Danzing.

Benji is known for the many tattoos on his body, including one of Benjamin Franklin that covers most of his back and Orioles O’s next to his ear.

Benji Madden participated in a boxing match against MTV and VH1 host Riki Rachtman on the show ‘Ellismania 5: Get These Brawls’ where he won by knock out in less than two minutes.

He closely follows mixed martial arts (MMA) and boxing and has even participated in a number of amateur bouts. His interest in sports made him an avid fan of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and Washington Redskins football team.

He is of English as well as Scottish, German and Irish ancestry.

His elder brother, Joshua, is a DJ and his sister, Sarah, is the lead singer of the band ‘Her Daily Obsession’.