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This rigmarole wouldn't be as much of a chore if Good Charlotte hadn't done essentially the same thing that afternoon before performing live on "TRL." Now, imagine doing it over and over again, just about every day, across four continents — for two years. Because that's what Good Charlotte have been up to: an endless, soul-numbing marathon of touring, in-store performances, autograph sessions and promotional events. (For a primer on the rigors of this process, see Radiohead's long-form video Meeting People Is Easy.)
All of which might explain why their new album, The Chronicles of Life and Death, which Joel describes as "a diary of the past two years," sounds so weary, so old-beyond-their-years and so serious. It's probably why Joel's lyrics have become obsessed with the death of the body and the soul.
"We spent the last two years out on the road," Benji says. "We'd never had any kind of success [before], and you definitely grow up a lot, because there's all these new responsibilities."
That's what happens when you're one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Good Charlotte have sold more than 5 million records worldwide, which makes their complaints, however earnest, seem a bit hollow. Their last album, The Young and the Hopeless, featured the anti-celebrity single "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" — a song that, ironically enough, made Good Charlotte both rich and famous. But with that comes a brutal workload. And, with sympathy for successful rock stars in short supply, they'll be seen as whiners if they complain.
On top of that, some people really, truly hate them.
"I get laughed at every day. I still eat sh-- every day," Joel says. "I get everybody's opinion of my band every day I go out in public. People are very, very adamant about telling me what they think of my band."
It's not hard to imagine what those people will say about the group's new album, The Chronicles of Life and Death: an ambitious, grandiose rumination that opens with a two-and-a-half-minute instrumental, complete with a full orchestra and vocals in Japanese.
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"That was us growing musically, because you can't just write the same stuff over and over."
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"Our album has a piano and strings all over it. That was us growing musically, because you can't just write the same stuff over and over," Joel says. "I've read reviews of the album, and a lot of people say it's really overwrought and silly. But I don't care. I think kids will get it, and if we open up kids' minds to some new music, then I'm happy."
"On our records, we always have a couple of moments where our faces get red — and those are always the best," Benji adds. "On the new album, it sounds like we've done a whole lot of growing up."
That growth has manifested itself in many ways, from the bandmembers getting more involved in their careers (Martin designed all of Chronicles' artwork) to their outfits. Onstage and in promotional photos, the band no longer wears MADE sweatshirts and ripped jeans; now it's dark suits and ties all the way — except for bassist Thomas. He wears a Joy Division T-shirt.
"I've grown and become more confident of myself. I'll speak my mind now; I don't care what people think," Joel says. "And you can hear that growth, all of our growth, throughout the new record. It's not songs like 'Lifestyles' or 'Girls & Boys.' It's a very human record. These songs are very personal."
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Photo: Sony
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