Joel Madden Biography

Joel Madden, vocalist/guitarist for Good Charlotte

Birthdate: March 11, 1979

Birthplace: Waldorf, Maryland

Sign: Pisces

Born Joel Ryan Reuben Combs, the future rocker changed his last name to Madden, his mother's maiden name, due to his estrangement with his father, who left the family when he was just 16. He has a twin brother named Benji, an older brother named Josh, and a younger sister named Sarah.

Joel and Benji took up various odd jobs after his father left to help their mother support the family. They started their own band with a friend, but the band was short-lived. They eventually recruited two fellow high school students, Paul Thomas and Aaron Escolopio, and formed Good Charlotte. The band soon became mainstream in 1999 after they signed with Epic Records.

The members also made cameo appearances in movies such as "Not Another Teen Movie" in 1991 and "Material Girls" in 2006.

Joel started a clothing line called MADE clothing with his brothers. The line was renamed DCMA Collective in 2006, when a friend, Tal Cooperman, joined the Madden brothers in the business.

He started dating teen star Hilary Duff in 2004, but they broke up after two and a half years. A month later, he was then seen with socialite Nicole Richie.

The couple welcomed daughter Harlow Winter Kate Madden on January 11, 2008.