Good Charlotte Singer's Recalls Father's Departure

GOOD CHARLOTTE star Joel Madden has bitter memories of Christmas - because it reminds him of when his dad walked out.

The band's lead singer - formed with his twin brother Benji and school friends BILLY MARTIN, Paul Thomas and CHRIS WILSON - was left devastated when his father left his mother on Christmas Eve.

Madden says, "I was 15. My parents got into a big fight and my dad left and my mom was crying and broke down and left too.

"She went to my Aunt's house, so me and my brother were in the house for Christmas Eve alone.

"We woke up in the morning and the whole house was empty, and we were sitting there for Christmas in the empty, dark house alone.

"We gave each other a present and had our own little Christmas."