---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we were 15, my brother and I were…"
description: "\"When we were 15, my brother and I were getting really into Nirvana, Green Day, and The Beastie Boys. We started going to shows and realized we really w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/joel-madden-12846_boy_when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-ge_3141448.jpg"
---

#  When we were 15, my brother and I were getting really into…

![“When we were 15, my brother and I were getting really into Nirvana, Green Day, and The Beastie Boys. We started going to shows and realized we really wanted to be on stage.” quote by Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/joel-madden-12846_boy_when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-ge_3141448.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/joel-madden-12846_boy_when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-ge_3141448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/joel-madden-12846_boy_when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-ge_3141448.jpg)

> “When we were 15, my brother and I were getting really into Nirvana, Green Day, and The Beastie Boys. We started going to shows and realized we really wanted to be on stage.”

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote reflects youthful enthusiasm for music and a desire to perform, showing how early passions can shape ambitions.

**In simple terms:** Teenage music fans wanted to be on stage.

Key Takeaway

Pursue your performance dreams early.

Themes

music ambition youth culture

Mood

excited nostalgic

Type

personal inspirational

When to use this quote

- band rehearsals
- school talent shows
- local gigs
- music festivals

Key Concepts

identity formation career inspiration

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take now to move toward a stage career?
- How does early fandom influence long‑term goals?

A Different Perspective

May overlook practical steps needed for a sustainable career.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beastie Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beastie-boys-568159/) [Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boy/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) [Green day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green-day/) [Nirvana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nirvana/) [Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realized/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Really Nirvana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-nirvana-5600463/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-stage-309237/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/)

## Related quotes

> [What I learned from the Beastie Boys was to be independent. They set up their own world separate from the label. They built their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/what-i-learned-from-the-beastie-boys-was-to-be-independent-they-set/)

[Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/)

> [When I heard Nirvana, it changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/when-i-heard-nirvana-it-changed-my-life/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [I remember growing up knowing I wanted to be on the stage. I wanted to get to London as soon as possible and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-remember-growing-up-knowing-i-wanted-to-be-on-the-stage-i-wanted-to/)

[Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/)

> [I've always wanted to be on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-o-donnell/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-on-stage/)

[Jamie-Lee O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-o-donnell/)

> [I didn't know I wanted to go into entertainment, but I knew I wanted to be on stage when I was about seven. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-didn-t-know-i-wanted-to-go-into-entertainment-but-i-knew-i-wanted/)

[Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/)

> [Be it in school, society, or college, I just wanted to be on stage and used to love performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-kaushal/be-it-in-school-society-or-college-i-just-wanted-to-be-on-stage-and/)

[Vicky Kaushal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-kaushal/)

> [I left 'Death in Paradise' because I wanted to get back on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-john-jules/i-left-death-in-paradise-because-i-wanted-to-get-back-on-stage/)

[Danny John-Jules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-john-jules/)

> [I didn't even think about movies where I came from. I wanted to be on the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-didn-t-even-think-about-movies-where-i-came-from-i-wanted-to-be-on/)

[Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/)

> [I wanted to be a stage actress. I wanted to be a New York actress and have a community with other actors. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/i-wanted-to-be-a-stage-actress-i-wanted-to-be-a-new-york-actress-and/)

[Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/)

> [If I wanted to do something on stage, I wanted it to be something I could really get into and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/if-i-wanted-to-do-something-on-stage-i-wanted-it-to-be-something-i/)

[Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/)

> [When I first started acting, I never thought I'd be on TV or film. I always wanted to be on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/when-i-first-started-acting-i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-tv-or-film-i/)

[Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/)

> [Ever since I was younger I wanted to be on stage, singing my songs in a glittering costume. And that happened and is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/ever-since-i-was-younger-i-wanted-to-be-on-stage-singing-my-songs-in/)

[Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/)

> [Well it was a lot fun with John Boy and stuff, but I always knew that I wanted to be on the front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-montgomery/well-it-was-a-lot-fun-with-john-boy-and-stuff-but-i-always-knew-that/)

[Eddie Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-montgomery/)

> [I was very vocal about how I wanted to be portrayed on the show, and how I wanted the stage setup to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-was-very-vocal-about-how-i-wanted-to-be-portrayed-on-the-show-and/)

[Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/)

> [I loved to dance, and I just knew I wanted to be on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/i-loved-to-dance-and-i-just-knew-i-wanted-to-be-on-stage/)

[Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/)

## More by Joel Madden

> [I'm not for every woman, you know. Because a lot of women - I mean, obviously, your first thing is, 'What do you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/i-m-not-for-every-woman-you-know-because-a-lot-of-women-i-mean/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [We're all music fans and we just love being in a band, and that's why we do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/we-re-all-music-fans-and-we-just-love-being-in-a-band-and-that-s-why/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [The way that you parent, you ease into every stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/the-way-that-you-parent-you-ease-into-every-stage/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [I've done a lot of self-improvement. I'm always working on being a better person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-self-improvement-i-m-always-working-on-being-a/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [My kids are so cute when they pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/my-kids-are-so-cute-when-they-pray/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [Every girl I've ever dated I have respect for, and I always try to leave them in good terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/every-girl-i-ve-ever-dated-i-have-respect-for-and-i-always-try-to/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [Without cigarettes, I would be doing heroin, probably, on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/without-cigarettes-i-would-be-doing-heroin-probably-on-a-daily-basis/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [If I could pick my wife by name, It'd be Whitney. That name just sounds right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/if-i-could-pick-my-wife-by-name-it-d-be-whitney-that-name-just-sounds/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [I think the terrorists are just idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/i-think-the-terrorists-are-just-idiots/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [I'm kinda disapointed that Canada isn't like the South Park movie said it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/i-m-kinda-disapointed-that-canada-isn-t-like-the-south-park-movie/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [People think that I'm a really outgoing person because of how I am on stage. But I'm not. I'm really shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/people-think-that-i-m-a-really-outgoing-person-because-of-how-i-am-on/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [I'm just a really normal, sensitive kind of go-about-my business everyday kinda guy. People see the tattoos, and they either read things or they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/i-m-just-a-really-normal-sensitive-kind-of-go-about-my-business/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [I like getting toilet paper thrown at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/i-like-getting-toilet-paper-thrown-at-me/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [When I heard Nirvana, it changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/when-i-heard-nirvana-it-changed-my-life/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

> [Today is a new day. A New opportunity to get better stronger faster smarter and closer to your goals and dreams. Take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/today-is-a-new-day-a-new-opportunity-to-get-better-stronger-faster/)

[Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

[Explore all 53 Joel Madden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/)

## More Boy quotes

> [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/)

[Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/)

> [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/)

[L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/)

> [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/)

[Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/)

> [I'm a mama's boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hoechlin/i-m-a-mama-s-boy/)

[Tyler Hoechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hoechlin/)

> [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. And she'd come over and pick us boys up, and we would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-grandmother-made-sure-that-i-went-to-church-every-sunday-and-she-d/)

[John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/)

> [Baseball gives a growing boy self poise and self reliance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-spalding/baseball-gives-a-growing-boy-self-poise-and-self-reliance/)

[Al Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-spalding/)

> [As a boy from Patna, I've always dreamt of a chance to showcase my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhimanyu-singh/as-a-boy-from-patna-i-ve-always-dreamt-of-a-chance-to-showcase-my/)

[Abhimanyu Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhimanyu-singh/)

> [“Boys will always be boys,’ he said. ‘The relationship obviously wasn’t meant to be.’ He told me I should trust that the break-up was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/boys-will-always-be-boys-he-said-the-relationship-obviously-wasn-t/)

[Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/)

> [They always say girls mature faster than boys, but I don't think that's true because I think girls just are more mature than boys.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/they-always-say-girls-mature-faster-than-boys-but-i-don-t-think-that/)

[Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/)

> [I remember my own life as a small boy, son of Jewish immigrants, in a janitor's flat on Orchard and Stanton streets on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-k-javits/i-remember-my-own-life-as-a-small-boy-son-of-jewish-immigrants-in-a/)

[Jacob K. Javits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-k-javits/)

> [I just like guys who have an edge to them. But it could go either way. Like, I have been into the surfer blond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/i-just-like-guys-who-have-an-edge-to-them-but-it-could-go-either-way/)

[Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/)

> [A lot of female comedians will go up there in a sweatshirt and Converses, trying to dress themselves down, because it is sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-craig/a-lot-of-female-comedians-will-go-up-there-in-a-sweatshirt-and/)

[Carly Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-craig/)

> [I'm not a fan of musicals at all, but I do think 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is a very good. I always thought 'Walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sangster/i-m-not-a-fan-of-musicals-at-all-but-i-do-think-the-nightmare-before/)

[Thomas Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sangster/)

> [My little boy, West, and my wife, they're my rock and that's the thing that keeps driving me to do better at what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-houser/my-little-boy-west-and-my-wife-they-re-my-rock-and-that-s-the-thing/)

[Randy Houser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-houser/)

> [Whenever I miss you I play guiter on the song Beautiful Girl because this song tells what I exactly want to express :-)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/somen-murtem/whenever-i-miss-you-i-play-guiter-on-the-song-beautiful-girl-because/)

[Somen Murtem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/somen-murtem/)

[Browse all 1,360 Boy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When we were 15, my brother and I were getting really into Nirvana, Green Day, and The Beastie Boys. We started going to shows and realized we really wanted to be on stage.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joel Madden"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-getting-really-into-nirvana/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Boy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-getting-really-into-nirvana/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/joel-madden-12846_boy_when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-ge_3141448.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/joel-madden-12846_boy_when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-ge_3141448.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/joel-madden-12846_boy_when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-ge_3141448.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When we were 15, my brother and I were getting really into Nirvana, Green Day, and The Beastie Boys. We…” — Joel Madden",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Joel Madden",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When we were 15, my brother...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-getting-really-into-nirvana/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/when-we-were-15-my-brother-and-i-were-getting-really-into-nirvana/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
