Joel Reuben Madden (born March 11, 1979) is the lead vocalist for the band Good Charlotte and twin brother of guitarist Benji.
Their father left on Christmas Eve when he and Benji were 16, which is mentioned in "Little Things," Good Charlotte's first single, and has influenced much of their music. Benji and Joel chose the name of the band from a book called Good Charlotte, by Carol Beach York.
Benji was always blamed for Joel's misdeeds because he was a troublemaker. Since Joel and Benji were twins they would switch places, which usually didn't help them out much. Benji and Joel were tormented by their peers throughout their time at La Plata High because they were considered "freaks," which inspired them to write "The Anthem", the second single from the album "The Young and the Hopeless". Joel admits that he couldn't sing a note when the band first started out, but over the years his dulcet tones have taken the modern punk rock world by storm. He collects crucifixes, and wears a promise ring his mother gave him for Christmas when he promised to remain a virgin until he wed.
During Z-100 's Jingle Ball radio festival, Madden got involved with the feud between his "close friend" pop star singer Hilary Duff and her rival and also pop star/actress Lindsay Lohan by refusing to give her little brother Cody and his friend an autograph after Duff pointed out who they were and then asked for Lohan's mother to apologize. This was a rumor, and was said to be untrue by Joel himself.
