Oh How Things Have Changed!
Some pics credit goes out to Amanda @ www.kid-vicious.tk. If you aren't anti-GC like me check it out, it's rad! Thanks for the pictures, I'm sorry I had to make fun of them though!This is my personal reflection on the physical changes of the band members over the past couple of years, from when I loved them in 2001, until now, when I hate them.
Benji:Bigger, But Not Badder
BEFORE
NOW
When I was 16, I had a mad crush on Benji Combs (which he was at the time, or I guess he was Benji No Last Name). After a couple years, a new album, some videos on TRL, and changing his name to Benji Madden, the man has lost his boyish good looks and charm! Where is the lovable pink patch? The fierce mohawk and spikes? Why is his mascara running? Is he crying over the extra couple of pounds he has picked up since becoming a vegetarian or vegan (i forget which he is)? Remember Benji, carbs are evil! Meat is good...well according to Atkins, but he slipped on ice and died, so he can't be that bright.
Looking at Benji now, I don't find him the least bit attractive. Tattoos are rad, but the man's over done it. The hair is lame, and showing hints of early baldness (yikes!). He's lost the sleeveless Rancid tees that showed off his muscles, and his delightful plaid bondage pantalones. And again I must say, I don't like the implied PMS suffering woes of his dripping eyeliner! He looks like my sister after she had to give away her cat.
Overall he looks sort of like a pudgy wimp(think Fred Durst w/o the hat, though the hat will come in 5 yrs when the hair is gone), and not the bad ass punk rocker that he once was. He has become a massive tool, which is evident from his vj work on TRHell and hosting work at the AllThingsSucky show (do you like the clever way I jumbled the names of those MTV shows?! I know, I'm so brillant.)
My advice for Benji, although it's probably too late for him to be rad again, "Let's try not complimenting Linkin Park on their new video, but rather, creating a super huge pink mohawk!"
Joel:The New Benji?
BEFORE
NOW
When I was 16 I thought Joel was cute, but too wholesome looking. Definitely not as interesting as Benji. He kind of had the boyband member vibe going, which is perfect for a lead singer, but some girls don't like it. Maybe Joel has noticed this, because apparently he has changed. Now he has a mohawk! Well it's kind of a mohawk. In order to be a true mohawk, it has to be at least 4 inches taller then it it. It seems like Joel has taken over Benji's old role, in hopes of scoring with hardcore chicks. I wish him luck with that. Although I don't think it will work out unless he does a bit more.
My advice for Joel, "Wear some plaid, dye your wannabe-mohawk hair blue or some other unnatural color, and drop out of Good Charlotte. The punk chicks will be ALL OVER you!"
Paul:Nothing has Really Changed
BEFORE
NOW
When I was 16, I thought it was rad that Paul played bass, my instrument of choice. But other then that, I didn't really care about him. And apparently nothing has changed, because despite all the fame, people still don't care. It's all about the twins. I always hear people complain about how Benji N Joel get all the attention, but why blame them? Paul and Billy obviously aren't the attention whores that the twins are, they don't care how many minutes their faces are on MTV nor how many interviews they can score with Teen People. I think Paul prefers to not have any attention.
I noticed he put some black in his hair, in a neat little symmetrical fashion. I guess he looks a little edgier?! But Paul is still the same damn man. My advice to Paul is, "Still stay behind scenes, and you might still have credibility as a musician in the future. And maybe try an asymmetrical dye jobs."
Billy:Scary Gothic Man
BEFORE
NOW
When I was 16 I thought Billy was pretty cute, again, not as hot as Benji, and as forgetable as Paul. When he grew out his hair and bleached it blonde, and I did start to drool over him a bit, maybe I have secret surfer boy passions?!
I was shocked when I saw him recently. All he wears is black, including lots of black shit on his face. His hair is black too. And it doesn't help that he is skinnier and more pale then he was before! I understand how a lot of people find the gothic look sexy, but I'm just not one of them, sorry! But hey, whatever floats your boat!
My advice to Billy is, "Stop scarying me by looking like a Marilyn Manson guitarist"