FINALLY……It feels right. Settle in guys, I have some explaining to do. I haven’t written this Blog post yet because I wasn’t in the right headspace to. We had a very strange End to 2009. We went in the studio for over 2 months recording a record we scrapped. We lost A DEAR DEAR Friend. I kind of lost my mind. For a moment. Such is life though right? What you do with these situations, thats where YOU decide what your gonna make of yourself right? Right.
So here we are. We decided we are the Luckiest Guys in the world to get to live our dreams like this. Getting to be creative everyday and make music. This record has been the strangest, most exciting, frustrating,emotional, challenging and most fun experience i have ever had in my life. That is why i know it is a special one. GC has never meant so much to me. i can’t explain why. I don’t know its all i have, all I really want. Watching our friends A7X say good-bye to the Rev a few weeks ago, just confirmed everything for me. Those guys are brothers. They are the only other band i have met that are just like us. Family. I realized that life is precious and every day i get to spend with Joel and Billy and Paul and Deano and our crew is really special.here IS ONE of my favorite pics

When we got back from the last trip to Australia, we had pretty much finished recording the record. I went into the studio to hear some roughs and it just wasn’t right. I couldn’t figure it out. i was so lost. I love the songs, i love the lyrics, so what was the problem. i was just so bewildered. devastated actually. this had never happened. i felt crazy. like this.
I told our manager to just PAUSE everything and i need time to think. i called all the boys immediately and called an emergency meeting. everyone sat down. and i just said “Guys, we gotta start over”
i was expecting everyone to freak on me and say “What?!” but Billy was the 1st to speak, and right away he said “I knew you were gonna say That, my gut is telling me the same thing” lets do it. Everyone agreed. While we were working with one of the most successful, biggest producers in the Business, all he seemed to focus on was “Commercial Success” of the record and all everyone seemed to talk about was the RADIO.
Deep down i just knew we needed to Be in the studio with someone who understood the heart and soul of our band. And what that is,it’s YOU GUYS.
Good Charlotte Has never relied on Radio Success. we have always stood firm on the strength of Our Fans.
We HAVE Gotten Radio Love all OVER the world, and Have had Great success on the Radio in the Past on every record. But that isnt something we can ever chase. I love catchy songs. i dont think we will ever want to stop writing songs with those GC choruses. But it was never for the Radio, it was for when we were on stage in front of all of YOU, so that we could sing together…..
SO we took sometime to think. and my gut feeling kept taking me to the same place. One of our oldest friends in this business. Don Gilmore who helped us creat our Self titled record and Good morning revival. So i called Don, who was in Wales finishing the new Bullet for My valentine record. Told him the whole story and he said “lets Do it” here is my favorite pic of Don

SO here we are. In Vancouver, starting over. The Good news, the hard part is behind us. We have a collection of songs now that i just love so much. i cant wait for you guys to hear. every lyric. to put on your ipod and just spend some time with. We have been with you guys for a long time now. Or should i say you have been with us. Either way we are together.

Goin on 10 years since GC self titled, and this record, this one you are going to get to know us better then you ever have. The bond we have with you guys feels stronger and closer then ever. Looking back at songs like “hold on” “the anthem” “march on” it has always been about us and YOU GUYS. and i wasn’t about to let anyone make us Lose sight of that. Over the years maybe we have seemed like we did at times. Deep down though we always knew. What do you think “the river” was about. SOmetimes we have to go our own, and sometimes you guys have to too. but we have history you can’t take away. you know we will ALWAYS be back and WE know you guys will ALWAYS be back too. This is a special one guys. I promise you that. It has taken sometime, and there is still some time to go. But we have this time, kind of in this calm before the storm, before we release a record, with the hectic promo schedules and crazy tours, trying to balance holding our families together with getting GC to all the places in the world that are asking us to. we have this time to let you guys in and let you see what is going into this, and how IMPORTANT all of you are to us. and How you are a part of this record. I can’t really explain it, its just true, you guys are a part of this music. More so then any band i know, you guys are what all of our success is built on. You r the ones who believe in us. SO we are gonna keep working on this record and we are going to try and step up our communication, VIA this Blog.
I am going to do that cover song i promised you guys too and i may even put up a demo too. Those will be coming soon. I am in the studio right now with Deano working out a Drum track. Hope you guys are good too! Just can’t wait for you to hear these songs!
As always thanx for all the love, keep reppin GC, you know are Reppin you
xoxobenji