2002

Paul: First of all, thanks again for participating in this interview. I know with your current summer performances you must not have a lot of time to do this so I appreciate. I've heard that you guys answer a lot of fans and are cool with the public. That's pretty cool, you guys rock! So I have a few questions for you that I hope you're alright with answering. If not then dont gotta answer. Thanks.
Billy: (You can put a little something here before I start with the questions if you want, Thank you) I'll start with sorry this took so long to respond, but i will give it my best. By the way this is billy..

Paul: The first thing that I have to ask is the main question that is always asked to all bands. While growing with a musical future, which bands had given the most influence on each of you?
Billy: Our musical backgrounds are really different, personally I like just full-on rock bands like silverchair, incubus, helmet, deftones, benji is into mostly older punk like minor threat, sex pistols, his fav. is rancid, joel likes the smith, the cure, morissey and some quieter stuff like that, paul is into skinny puppy, the pixies and a lot of underground stuff. The one thing that we all share is hip-hop and rap we all grew in and around DC so thats a big influence on us as well.

Paul: Next, how did you get your name, Good Charlotte?
Billy: it's the name of a children's book, that joel found at his friend's house, who's mom was a school teacher. its like a childrens book, just thought it sounded like a good band name.

Paul: On the road, do any of you ever have any problems or is everything just great!?(Hope this question does not start any arguments)
Billy: we are actually pretty good, we are all best friends and if there is a problem we can take care of it in a few minutes we never stay mad at each other.

Paul: Who gave you the most support? For example a counselor, a teacher, friend or parent.
Billy: i think we were all each others support, our parents were supportive but like any parents my parents were worried that it wouldnt work and would push me to try and have a back up plan, but of course i didnt listen. so we would always have each other to say who cares what anyone else says we know we are gonna make it..

Paul: What was your favorite song on your cd and why, if you have one?
Billy:it changes a lot, but i like little things lyrically a lot, because it is totally the life story of our high school years. so it's cool to be finally doing what we love to do and at the same being able to look back at where we came from..

Paul: To Joel and Benji: Did you get any crap from anyone for skipping college? Did any record dealers or anyone ever turn you down on any gigs or jobs because you never had a degree? Also has any one else of you in the band skipped college?
Billy: sorry can't answer for them. But i was actually still in high school when we signed our deal so i never made it close to college

Paul: Were you guys good in high school? Were there any clubs or jobs you participated in school?
Billy: everyone was a little different, i went to a diff. high school than the rest of the guys, but i've heard all the stories, they all were, well they didnt do so good in school, but i was a quiet nerd who got good grades. we all started working jobs when we were really young to try and have some money.

Paul: Has anyone ever came up to you at a show or on the street and insult you?
Billy: yea of course, people are opinionated and they say what they want, but most of the time you just have to let it go. we play shows where there are 1,000 people there to see us and then 1 person says something stupid and ratio of people who truly care about our band compared to the few people who will say something negative out ways itself so it doesnt really bother us..

Paul: What do you guys really think about Aaron leaving the band? Why would he leave, is his other band going big, or bigger than you guys? What were his reasons?
Billy: that is sorta something that just happened, he left he's gonna do his thing and thats as far as it goes...

Paul: What was the weirdest thing you've ever seen or heard from the crowds at the shows this summer, or ever?
Billy: hmm you got me here our fans are awesome but just your normal loud excited kids..they just come and hang out.

Paul: Has anyone ever jumped on you saying you sold out any big time music label?
Billy: yea people try to say that once in a while, but our first album we realeased was on a major label so i dont see how we coulda sold out to the majors. we had made a bunch of demos and eps on our own but we never did anything with indie labels or anything, we wanted to have a major label cd so we just waited for what we wanted.

Paul: Is there anything you would like to say to your fans? Any thoughts on a new album?
Billy: thank you thank you thank you, if it weren't for our fans we would be nothing and that is the truth..we owe them everything...we are gonna make a new record at the start of next year and hopefully it will be realeased by spring time...