Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1995. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, guitarist and vocalist Benji Madden, bassist Paul Thomas, and guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin.

Each original member of the band attended La Plata High School in Maryland. The band made a name for itself in nearby Washington, D.C., playing the WHFS annual rock show HFStival in 1998 and 1999. They mainly played out small bars which soon earned them attention.

2002's The Young and the Hopeless sold 4.9 million copies and thrust the band into mainstream popularity. The album eventually went on to receive triple platinum certification (three million copies sold) from the RIAA.

During the course of the album's success, Good Charlotte landed appearances on American Idol, CNN, and The Today Show, the covers of Rolling Stone and Alternative Press magazines, and were also featured in The New York Times.

Good Charlotte's third album, The Chronicles of Life and Death, was released by Epic Records in 2004. The album received mixed reactions from both the music press and Good Charlotte's fan base. The album sold 2.2 million copies.

In May 2005, after much speculation from fans, it was officially confirmed that Chris Wilson had left the band citing personal health reasons. Benji also told Kerrang! magazine that, for him, "Chris leaving the band was the worst part of 2005." Chris then joined the pop/punk band The Summer Obsession until 2011. He currently plays drums for JMSN.

Billy Martin is an active vegetarian, and won PETA's vegetarian of the year. In the past they actively supported PETA's animal rights campaigns. Members of the group recorded a track, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", on PETA's Liberation CD and appeared at PETA's 25th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Awards Show.