Good Charlotte returns to Manila for free concert

Good Charlotte is back in Manila for a free concert at the Glorietta Activity Center on Wednesday, April 6.
In a press conference on Tuesday, April 5, at the Hard Rock Café in Makati City, the American pop-punk band, composed of frontman Joel Madden, his twin brother guitarist Benji Madden, guitarist Billy Martin, bassist Paul Thomas, and drummer Dean Butterworth, emphasized their return to their guitar-driven roots in their latest album "Cardiology," released in November 2010.

Prior to "Cardiology," Good Charlotte took the dance-rock route for Good Morning Revival in 2007.
Singer Joel explains, "I think over the last few years it seems like dance music has completely taken over. So usually when everyone goes "this" way, we try to go [the other] way. Not only for the fans that enjoy some of the older stuff, but it's time for us to make a guitar-driven record." Incidentally, that band just celebrated their 15th anniversary last April 1—an irony that wasn't lost in the band.
"There's no telling what we'll do in the future," he adds. "But for the near future all of our recordings are going to be a little more guitar-driven because we're hearing less of that these days. When we made 'Good Morning Revival' it was kind of before dance hit."
"Returning to the roots of rock n' roll," Dean Butterworth sums up.
Good Charlotte seems to be on a roll these days, with members also doing other side projects. Benji points out guitarist Martin's "other" full-time career as a comic book artist/co-creator (for IDW Publishing's "Vitriol the Hunter") and their other projects. In fact, after Wednesday night's concert, the brothers Madden will be holding a live DJ-ing set at Club LAX in San Miguel by the Bay, Parañaque.
But their commitment to their "day job" still remains, which they owe to their old heroes. "I think the bands that we loved at the time—bands like Weezer, Beastie Boys—those were bands that kind of, like, didn't have any rules. They could make a lot of different records that sounds like a lot of different ways. That was always our goal," Benji maintains.
And what of today's music? For the singer Madden, "I love Bruno Mars. He's talented...he's worked real hard. He's so down-to-earth and nice. I'm a big fan of his." His twin adds, "We definitely keep up with pop music. None of us want to turn onto those guys that go 'what is this that all the kids are listening to?' Pop music right now is really positive, and that's a good thing."
As for the concert? "We had such a good experience the last time we were here," said guitarist Benji. "We were so excited about coming back. Anytime a band shows up and they're excited to be there you can feel the energy onstage...We're all definitely really, really excited to be back in the Philippines."
Joel and Benji Madden will also be live DJ-ing later in the evening at Club LAX, located in San Miguel by the Bay (behind SM Mall of Asia).