On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Paul Stanley of KISS.
Wicked Lester — an early ’70s band that Stanley formed with Gene Simmons — only performed a handful of times and failed to release an album, but planted the seed for a massively recognizable group in rock history.
Through KISS, Stanley created his inimitable “Starchild” persona, a character who embodied glitz, romance, and sensuality through decades of elaborate, fire-breathing stage production.
In a conversation with Madden, the celebrated rock legend and KISS frontman sits down for a raw, introspective conversation about legacy, fatherhood, personal growth, and the grind behind building one of the most iconic bands of all time.
Listen to their conversation on Artist Friendly wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch the episode over at Veeps.
-------
Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden
Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King
Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary
Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer
Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray
Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray
Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer
Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
31:21
--------
31:21
Paul Stanley of KISS - Part 2
On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Paul Stanley of KISS.
Wicked Lester — an early ’70s band that Stanley formed with Gene Simmons — only performed a handful of times and failed to release an album, but planted the seed for a massively recognizable group in rock history.
Through KISS, Stanley created his inimitable “Starchild” persona, a character who embodied glitz, romance, and sensuality through decades of elaborate, fire-breathing stage production.
In a conversation with Madden, the celebrated rock legend and KISS frontman sits down for a raw, introspective conversation about legacy, fatherhood, personal growth, and the grind behind building one of the most iconic bands of all time.
Listen to their conversation on Artist Friendly wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch the episode over at Veeps.
-------
Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden
Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King
Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary
Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer
Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray
Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray
Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer
Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
25:55
--------
25:55
Encore Episode: Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan - Part 2
On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is bringing you an encore episode of his conversation with Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan.
Simple Plan grew from pop-punk underdogs to genre heroes over the course of six studio albums.
In addition to racking up collabs with members of blink-182, Sum 41, and Weezer, the Canadian vets have played on over a dozen Warped Tours and created pop-punk essentials through early tracks like “Welcome to My Life” and “I’m Just a Kid.”
The latter experienced a viral moment through TikTok at the beginning of the decade, challenging people to recreate childhood photos as adults and post the results, which featured participation from Will Smith, Ed Sheeran, and beyond.
Given that their friendship stretches back to the 2000s, the duo get into it all across a nearly hour-long episode.
Listen to their conversation on Artist Friendly wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch the episode over at Veeps.
-------
Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden
Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King
Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary
Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer
Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray
Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray
Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer
Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
28:33
--------
28:33
Encore Episode: Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan - Part 1
On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is bringing you an encore episode of his conversation with Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan.
Simple Plan grew from pop-punk underdogs to genre heroes over the course of six studio albums.
In addition to racking up collabs with members of blink-182, Sum 41, and Weezer, the Canadian vets have played on over a dozen Warped Tours and created pop-punk essentials through early tracks like “Welcome to My Life” and “I’m Just a Kid.”
The latter experienced a viral moment through TikTok at the beginning of the decade, challenging people to recreate childhood photos as adults and post the results, which featured participation from Will Smith, Ed Sheeran, and beyond.
Given that their friendship stretches back to the 2000s, the duo get into it all across a nearly hour-long episode.
Listen to their conversation on Artist Friendly wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch the episode over at Veeps.
-------
Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden
Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King
Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary
Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer
Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray
Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray
Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer
Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
25:18
--------
25:18
Benji Madden of Good Charlotte
On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Benji Madden of Good Charlotte.
Last week, Good Charlotte announced their long-anticipated return with Motel Du Cap, which the band celebrated with a late-night appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform lead single “Rejects.”
As part of their first album since 2018, the song teases a promising new chapter — one inspired by Good Charlotte performing at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France for a family member's wedding.
The record’s title nods to that extraordinary night and its “wild, once-in-a-lifetime vibe. We were just there to celebrate, no pressure, and it reminded us why we started this — pure, unfiltered connection,” Joel says.
In a conversation with his brother and bandmate, Benji opens up about defining success, staying aspirational, and the story behind his favorite track on their upcoming LP, out Aug. 8.
Listen to their conversation on Artist Friendly wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch the episode over at Veeps.
-------
Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden
Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King
Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary
Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer
Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray
Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray
Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer
Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On Artist Friendly, Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden gets real with today's breakthrough artists. From chart-toppers to rising stars, guests spill the untold stories behind their success: the pivotal moments, crushing failures, and insider moves that made all the difference. Drawing on his experience as artist, performer and founder, Joel digs deeper than the surface. This isn't just interviews — it's a masterclass in creative survival from those who've lived it.
Head over to Veeps to watch the latest episode!