Joel Madden says there’s one Australian rock anthem he wishes he’d written — and it belongs to Silverchair.
Speaking on Triple M’s Homegrown with Matty O, the Good Charlotte frontman was asked to name an Australian song he would have liked to claim as his own. After listing several tracks he admires, Madden ultimately chose “Israel’s Son,” the breakout 1995 single from Silverchair’s debut album, Frogstomp.
“Tomorrow would be on the list,” Madden said, referencing another Silverchair hit. He went on to name several songs written by frontman Daniel Johns, including “Straight Lines,” “Slave” and “Suicidal Dreams,” adding that he would “have to make a full list of Aussie songs.”
He also cited Gotye’s global hit “Somebody That I Used to Know” and the catalog of Crowded House before narrowing his pick down. “If I had to pick one, I’m gonna go with ‘Israel’s Son,’” he said. “I’d love to talk to Daniel. He’s got great perspective, and he’s always been himself.”
Silverchair’s “Israel’s Son” was released in 1995 and became an early signature track for the band, helping propel Frogstomp to international success.
The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200, marking a rare breakthrough for an Australian rock act in the U.S. market during the post-grunge era.
Madden’s comments came ahead of Good Charlotte’s upcoming Australian tour, where he also discussed the band’s eighth studio album and how touring has evolved over the years. Throughout the conversation, he noted his long-standing appreciation for Australian music, calling the country “always on the forefront of music.”
Good Charlotte have had their own history of Billboard success, earning multiple top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, including 2004’s The Chronicles of Life and Death, which peaked at No. 3. Their breakout 2002 set The Young and the Hopeless reached No. 7 on the chart.
