ast Friday was an interesting evening for a certain journalist from D.C. who has been a fan of Good Charlotte for more than three years now. The fellow East-Coasters were no longer playing small club shows. Instead, they were performing a nearly sold-out show at the E Center, sickeningly attended by more 12-year-olds than self-respecting adults. How could this be possible? The talented quintet was rocking out in front of pre-pubescent kids who had to be dropped off at the show by Mom and Dad. Even scarier, these kids probably had to sneak in their punk clothing and change in the bathroom. Oh, the horror of it all.

And the former Salt Laker who now drums for the band offered a blunt opinion of the entity that created such a crowd: “I don’t give a shit about MTV.”

The guys in Good Charlotte have most definitely been on a wild ride since their formation in 1995. They started out as a local band, one that quickly worked its way to the top in the D.C. area, earning spots on local radio stations and gaining the opportunity to play main stages at very large radio-sponsored festivals. The band won local fame with the release of its self-titled album, which debuted in September 2000. Though the CD won over many fans, it wasn’t until the release of The Young and the Hopeless that the members of Good Charlotte became the poster boys for punk-pop music.

Good Charlotte is aware that its mergence with mainstream music comes with consequences. Fame results in an almost occult following of kids who don’t really know why they are listening to the band, aside from the fact that the hosts of “TRL” praised the Good Charlotte video for working its way up a few spots since the previous week. It is tragic, it truly is. However, the members of Good Charlotte have not forgotten who they are—though they were a bit stingy with interviews (lead vocalists Benji and Joel Madden refused to even speak to the press).

Perhaps the best decision that the guys in Good Charlotte could have made was adding Salt Lake City’s own Chris Wilson to the band. Wilson was introduced to Good Charlotte through his friends in The Used, who knew that Good Charlotte desperately needed a drummer. Enter Wilson, a friendly, down-to-earth guy who enchanted the original members of Good Charlotte with his kick-ass skills on drums. It was shortly after Wilson joined the band nearly 17 months ago that The Young and the Hopeless skyrocketed the group into a whirlwind of attention.

Wilson reveals himself to be a bit shaken by the fame that he has so quickly experienced. In fact, the adjective that he repeated throughout the interview was, “odd.” Though Wilson and his fellow bandmates are constantly finding themselves on MTV, they do not have many positive things to say about the channel. When asked about his feelings toward working with MTV, Wilson immediately replied, “Oh, well, they can kiss my ass…They have helped out the career so much, but, as far as those people go, they are just a bunch of dumb-ass producers that produce the saddest TV shows I’ve ever seen in my life, and these kids are unfortunately buying into it.”

Though Wilson and friends in Good Charlotte may not necessarily love MTV, they are ironically willing to participate in much of what the network produces. Wilson revealed that he experienced first-hand life with cameras surrounding you: “We had to do this thing with MTV… called ‘Crashing with Good Charlotte,’ and it was the fakest bullshit I’ve ever been through in my entire life. And that’s what I feel toward MTV.” Wilson’s livid attitude toward MTV is forcefully mixed with feelings of gratitude toward the channel for airing nearly all of the band’s music videos.

Wilson is determined to “start talking more shit in the future.” Hopefully, he will, as well as the rest of the band. Good Charlotte will be touring until next month.

During the break, the group may eventually begin working on its third CD, one on which Wilson is anxious to contribute. Given the reaction that individuals have had toward its second album, Good Charlotte looks to release an awesome third CD. Hopefully, next time they stop in Salt Lake City, the kiddies will stay at home and dance to Britney while the real punk fans can get in touch with the hard-working, well-rounded roots that hold on tight to the true punk behind Good Charlotte.
autumn@red-mag.com