Credit: TYATH

Interview: Good Charlotte (note: this is with Benj)
March 5, 2003

It all started four years ago with the high school outcast anthem, The Little Things, and it’s evolved into something more infectious and powerful than initially imagined. With the release of their second album going strong, Billy and Paul will finally join Benji and Joel on an Australian tour. Just to prove these guys really mean what they say about helping the youngins out, you can buy a ticket no matter how young (or hopeless) you are.

What kind of expectations do you have for this album?
Success wise, I don’t really have any just because you never know – some really bad music does really well. I like it, so I hope it does well. But if it doesn’t, I don’t really care, as long as we get to tour and stuff. I’m hoping that our fans like it more than the last one because I feel like we’ve taken another step up; I feel like it’s better. We worked really hard on it and I feel like it’s in another league than our last record.

Do you guys write together?
Joel and I write all the songs on acoustic guitar and we take it to the band and hope they like ‘em and usually they do, so it works out.

What’s the main goal within your music?
I think we really write songs for kids that are like we are. You know, we’re kind of a working class band and we hope that people just relate. I know one of my main goals is for the kids that are not accepted at school and the kids that have a rough time. Like when I was in school, I thought there was something wrong with me or something, but it’s not the case. It’s just that people can be assholes and in three years high school’s going to be over and then those kids aren’t going to matter. When you get older your problems will seem a lot smaller. Maybe it’s something to get them through the day – I’d like to be the band those kids put into their headphones on the way to school to make it through the day. 'Cause I had my band so…

Who was your band?
Rancid. Definitely. I mean, I had a few. I liked Rancid, Green Day, H2O, Silverchair – they’re one of my favorite bands. Billy our guitarist, Silverchair is his absolute favorite band of all time.

You know of any other Australian bands?
Well you guys should be so proud of Silverchair! They are just one of the best bands ever. I like Killing Heidi, Bodyjar, Frenzal Rhomb, all that kinda stuff. Australia’s got good music! Ben Lee is one of the best songwriters ever.

In the song The Young & The Hopeless, you mention that what you sing is not a gimmick; do you often get a lot of crap concerning that?
Some people think the industry is all about selling records, but we’re not about that. I mean, it’s nice if your album sells well, no one would deny that, but that’s not why I’m writing about the things that have happened to me. It’s my release; it’s the only way I can get it out. So sometimes I want to shake these industry people, because it’s not all about the numbers. If this doesn’t work out, I’m going to be back working in restaurants just to make ends meet. That’s just the way it is. That’s something I’m willing to accept. If this doesn’t work out, I won’t be heartbroken or anything. I mean, I hope it does, but some people in the industry think this is all an act. It’s like, ‘hmm, we should market them this way,’ or ‘hmm, the punk look!’ You know, it’s not a look! The letters tattooed across my stomach will still be there when I’m eighty! It’s more than selling records, this is who I am and I think many people in the industry don’t get that. Some of them do though, and that’s cool.

Would you consider yourself a celebrity then?
No, I don’t. When I walk into a room, I don’t expect anyone to know who I am. And I probably never will; that’s just my mindset. I talk to so many people, and it only occurs to me after we talk that they might’ve been a fan, or that they might’ve known who I was. I’ll walk into a record store or a club where we’re playing and there’ll be kids outside, and I don’t even think ‘oh, they’re waiting to meet us,’ I’ll just go up to them ‘hey, what’s up – what are you guys doing?’ and then we’ll hang out.

Emotionless really moved me – how does it affect you knowing that you can touch someone emotionally on the other side of the world?
I think that’s awesome! Definitely with a song like that, that’s fulfilling for me. I cried while I was writing that song; that’s as emotional as I ever get. I don’t get emotional about anything! Some of the things I’ve been through are a part of me on the inside – so there’s a lot of things that make me shut down emotionally and I just don’t want to feel it. I really like the acoustic side of our band; I really think it sets us apart from other people sometimes. The fact that Joel and I can sit down with an acoustic guitar – that’s my love! When it’s all said and done and this is all over with, and even if we never ever got signed, the only thing I need is an acoustic guitar and my brother. When we’re forty, we’ll be sitting on our porch playing acoustic guitar. And I never want to lose that on our records, I always want there to be a song that shows the softer side of us. It’s just a really deep song for Joel and I. Some people will just skip over that track, and that’s ok 'cause there’ll be a handful of people out there that it really gets – like you, and I really appreciate that!

Best thing that’s happened to you guys musically?
I think in the last year or two we’ve all really found the connection as a band. It’s always been there, but we’ve only just realized it. I think it was with getting rid of our drummer – we never really talk about it – but he was always a negative person in everyone’s relationship. He just had a negative vibe and without him we’ve all gotten closer than ever and musically, we’re now a unit.