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The East Coast post-grunge quartet Good Charlotte is just barely distinctive from the likes of corporate alternative rockers blink-182 and Third Eye Blind, but the fresh five faces composing this quintet from Maryland first started off in 1996, practically shy of strumming a chord. Vocalist Joel Madden and his twin brother, guitarist Benji, who never sang or played an instrument in their lives, were instantly inspired to form a band after seeing the Beastie Boys on their 1995 Ill Communication tour. They soon formed Good Charlotte with high school chums Paul Thomas (bass) and Aaron Escolopio (drums), and Billy Martin (guitar) was added later. They all had a passion for the energetic elements spawned from '70s punk rock, but they were also sentimental enough for the killer ballads found in mainstream corporate rock. Quickly, the band made a name for themselves in and around the D.C. area, playing the WHFS annual rock show HFSFestival in 1998 and 1999. A year later, Good Charlotte issued their self-titled debut on Epic. The Madden brothers scored a gig as MTV VJs and soon were all over the network's late-night rock show All Things Rock. This promotion helped the band greatly, as they spent time behind the scenes writing songs for the new album. Escolopio left the band to join Wakefield prior to recording, so Josh Freese filled in behind the drum kit. Chris Wilson would later replace him permanently. By the fall of 2002, Good Charlotte was ready to release The Young and the Hopeless. "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" and "Anthem" catapulted the band into the mainstream in 2003, and shared dates with New Found Glory for the third annual Civic Tour were equally successful. In 2004, the band returned with The Chronicles of Life and Death. Wilson exited the band in mid-2005, citing health reasons. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide

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