blink-182

blink-182 Artistfacts

  • 1993-
    Tom DeLongeGuitar, vocals1993-2015, 2022-
    Mark HoppusBass, vocals1993-
    Travis BarkerDrums1998-
    Scott RaynorDrums1993-1998
    Matt SkibaGuitar, vocals2015-2022
  • Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker was recruited at the last minute from his then-current band, The Aquabats, when Raynor left to attend college. Barker was forced to learn all of the band's songs quickly.
  • They have been honored by several different organizations, including the Teen Choice Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, and the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards. But no Grammys.
  • Originally named Blink, they were forced to change by the threat of a lawsuit from an Irish Pop group with the same name. This was after releasing a couple of records on independent labels, but before they were signed to MCA in the late 1990s.
  • They gained fame when they played on the 1996-1997 Warped Tour with bands that were bigger at the time, Pennywise and NOFX. They also appeared in several skateboarding videos.
  • Some pre-blink bands: Hoppus was in Of All Things, and Pier 69; DeLonge was in Big Oily Men.
  • Names considered for the band that became blink-182: Figure 8, and Duck Tape. Those choices would have prevented a lawsuit.
  • DeLonge clashed with Hoppus soon after they found success, leading DeLonge to form various side projects. He and Barker created a more punk-leaning band called Boxcar Racer in 2004 without Hoppus, and DeLonge formed his own act the following year called Angels and Airwaves. Barker could also be heard around this time in the Transplants, a punk supergroup comprised of him and Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman from Rancid.
  • Hoppus married Skye Everly in November 2000. They met when she was working for MTV and blink-182 was shooting the videos for "All The Small Things."
  • DeLonge began playing the trumpet when he was 11. He wasn't very good so he soon switched to guitar.
  • Hoppus' parents divorced while he was in third grade. He moved to Monteray, California, with his dad in fifth grade, where his dad worked on a postgraduate degree. His father later worked for the Department of Defense designing missiles.
  • Hoppus and DeLonge met each other through Hoppus' sister, Anne, who was dating one of DeLonge's best friends. When she heard that DeLonge was looking to start a band, she hooked up the two of them.
  • They appeared in the comedy American Pie in 1999.
  • DeLonge is obsessed with aliens and UFOs. He's convinced that there's some kind of government conspiracy to cover up the existence of aliens.
  • Early on, Hoppus and DeLonge were known for their onstage banter consisting of penis and fart jokes. In contrast, Barker was very quiet and subdued.
  • Mark Hoppus explained his songwriting process to Kerrang! magazine: "I like to sit down with my guitar and just kind of noodle. I do that for maybe an hour or two hours, and see if something cool happens. I start every song with a little idea, and then I'll be like, 'I don't know about that one,' so I start fighting it.

    I then take it to Tom and Travis and they develop it. That's always a really gratifying process - to an watch this smallest idea grow and build into a song that you then release on album, play live and have people sing it back to you. That's an amazing process."
  • On Halloween night 1995, DeLonge was arrested during a stop on the GoodTimes tour in Jacksonville, Florida, for underage drinking when a cop noticed he was drunk and walking the street at night. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ryan - York, PA
  • In 2004, they had to postpone their tour when Barker broke his foot in very un-punk-rock fashion: getting off a bus in Melbourne. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Allyssa - Shellharbour, Australia
  • Hoppus got his first bass in exchange for painting his dad's house at the age of 15. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Emily - Troy, MI
  • Blink-182 and Tony Hawk appeared in the 302nd Simpsons episode, "Barting Over," in February 2003. They recorded their voices for the episodes almost a whole year earlier. Mark gets two lines, whereas Travis and Tom only get one. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    A.J. - Chicago, IL
  • Early on, Delonge would call up different high schools around his area and say that his band promoted not using drugs and asked if they could play at lunchtime. This is how they got some of their first gigs. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Daniel - Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Among the theories of how they got their name: "182" is how many times Al Pacino says the F word in the movie Scarface.

    182 stands for "RB" (R=letter 18, B=letter 2), which stands for rival high school Rancho Bernardo.

    The truth is much less interesting - they made up the name. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jimmt - Sheboygan Falls, WI
  • +44 (named for the UK telephone code) was a side project of Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker that formed in 2005 and released their only album the following year. They recruited the female vocalist and guitarist from the band Get The Girl, Carol Heller. Their music was mostly electronic-based, with lots of synth and some songs recorded with electric drums. Travis Barker stated in one interview, "If Blink was the daytime, +44 is the night time. It's such a departure from Blink, but it's amazing." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bryant - Salina, KS
  • Around the same time Hoppus and Barker launched +44, Tom Delonge formed the band Angels & Airwaves, which is more rock than pop-punk. They remained active into the 2020s. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Carly - NSW, Kyogle, Australia
  • Travis Barker and his wife Shanna starred on an MTV reality show called Meet The Barkers that ran for two seasons starting in 2005. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    David - Reno, NV
  • On September 19, 2008, Barker suffered severe burns in a plane crash. This led to the band reforming, which they announced at the Grammy Awards on February 8, 2009.

    Barker spent more than 11 weeks in hospitals and burn centers and had numerous skin grafts. He was in so much pain that he repeatedly called friends and offered them a million dollars to assist him in committing suicide. Hospital staff eventually took his phone away.
  • DeLonge engaged in a very public feud with Barker and Hoppus in 2015. He was pursuing other projects, including a film and book, so the band replaced him for some gigs with Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio. DeLonge's status in the band remained unclear, which frustrated Barker and Hoppus, who questioned his commitment in the press.
  • In 2021, Hoppus was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Before starting chemotherapy treatments, DeLonge and Barker visited him at his home to lend their support. It was the first time they'd been together since DeLonge left the group in 2015.

Comments: 31

  • Davíd from Woburn, MaWhile most of their early material was really toilet humor-esqe, they did begin to shift to more mature song writing on the album "Blink 182." This continued into +44 and Angels & Airwaves, so one can assume that the new material will also be mature.
  • Stuart from Ipswich, United Kingdomblink f$#$%^g RULE. i actually cried when i herd they had broke up &and i had the day off skool. i saw them live 3 times and meet them once in nottingham (england) they were so cool and laid back. i hace a gig shirt signed by all 3. stuart, Ipswich england
  • Colton from Puyallup, Wai guess they didn't stay together for the kids

    :(
  • David from Port Hawkesbury, CanadaThe big problem with todays music is that its not respectable, rap, punk 'emo' it all blows cause its not respectable, they do hardly anything for their music, if you can call it that. Music that is respectable? Classic Rock, Jazz and blues.Open your damn minds.
  • Joe from Glasgow, ScotlandBlink 182's music is amazing and there new music, Angels and Airwaves (Tom DeLong's Band)and Plus 44 (Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker's band)is never and will never be as good as Blink 182's, in Kerrang I read about how Tom and Mark haven't spoke to each other after the break up, if this is true there is nothing that could make me more upset.Tom has been taking too much of a serious veiw to his music now after he found out his father had cancer but if only him Mark and Travis could get back together, all of people commenting would be sooo happy,I LOVE BLINK!:)
  • Alex from Loveland, CoI was talking to my friends about Blink-182's album "Take Off Your Pants And Jacket". To anyone: say "Take off your pants and jacket" over and over OUT LOUD. It's sophistacated humor. If You still don't get it, consider "pants" your underpants..... and the 'jacket' something else that you don't just wear on your UPPER half....... tehehe! do you get it now?
  • Amber from Las Vegas, NvI have been listening to Blink 182 before they were "Blink 182". Before they were so well known and they have always been the my favorite. Cheshire cat is what got me hooked. I remember in high school no one knew who they were than like 5 years later they were all over and I had already been listening to them for years. The are the best and always have been.
  • Raven from Millville, UtThe only reason I've heard of Blink-182 is because of the song "Down." They're a pretty good band. But the Black Eyed Peas are cooler.
  • Jeevan from Brampton, CanadaBlink-182 is one of the best bands ever! Too bad they broke up. They were really good.
  • Alex from Loveland, CoBlink-182 has ALWAYS made great music and always will even in different bands! I can relate to all their songs in some way or another and reading this page while listening to their song "I'm lost without you" on their self titled album makes you want to burst out crying; you ALL should try it some time. We're ALL lost without Blink-182 if you can believe it. I do at least! I love Blink-182. They're the friends I was never able to say "Bye," to and hug and say thanks for everything. I hope someone can relate to that, at least. There are no words to describe Blink-182 and how we feel about them, right?
  • Maddy from Minneapolis, MnThe 182 part of "Blink 182" was added because Blink was an Irish band that threatened to sue them because it was the same name. They just picked the numbers 182 randomly.
  • Adrianna Lynn from Billings, MtBlink-182 has got to be one of the best bands ever. Their songs are catchy, funny and some of them even have meaning. The band is awesome and they are all very man-pretty. I luv Adam's song, it makes me sad. And "Depends" just makes me laugh my butt off
  • Genesis from Charlotte, NcI love blink 182, and I know that a lot of people love it too. But the sadest story was when I was watching MTV and I heard that they quit, I was so sad that my tears came out. I never got to go to one of their conserts,and neither one of their best friends, but I miss them, and I will always say "Blink 182 will rock forever!". If they read this....It's hard to wake up and knowing that Tom, Mark and Travis are gone, I hope you guys get back, and I have to say that I have enjoyed all thoes years of having you all.
  • Jimmt from Sheboygan Falls, WiBlink 182 got "182" (You may think, "Of all numbers?!) because that's how many times Al Pacino says the F word in scarface. They counted.
  • Mary from Philadelphia, PaI LOVE blink 182. I heard that they started out as a mariachi band playing at weddings and birthdays and called themselves El Cuatro and the Cajones. Cajones means "a bunch of idiots". That's pretty funny.
  • Nikki from Lethy., CanadaI Love Blink..im so bummed theyre on a break..i never even got to see them in concert lol :P
  • Sam from Stamford , CtBlink decided to go on a 'indefinite hiatus' on February 22, 2005.
  • Katie from , Miwhen scott left and travis joined travis didn't have to learn all the songs in an hour, he already knew most of them because he was friends with mark and tom and he had covered them before
  • Robbie from Montreal, Canadayea where they started carousel and wrote red skies,reebok commercial and marboro man... blink 182s old stuff is the best before when the were with grilled cheese and kung fu
  • A.j. from Chicago, IlI don't care who you are-- Blink-182 was punk before MCA Records. I'm one of the onlies here who's been a fan of Blink-182 before Josie; before MTV; before Travis came along. 1996 was a great year... Incorrect statement above. Blink-182 was formed, and started, in 1992 with demos and EPs.
  • James from Victoria, CanadaHi
    Me Again

    This is what Scott Raynor said about his booting:

    "I think the greatest misconception was that I was fired for drinking. I received a phone call from Mark, Tom, and Rick (manager), one afternoon after a recent tour. They gave me an ultimatum to quit drinking and go into rehab. I didn't think I needed to go to rehab so I asked for the weekend to think about it, they agreed. I went out and got drunk. After that weekend I realized that I had a drinking habit that I needed to break, I told them I would go to rehab and they said they didn't trust me. So I asked if there was anything I could do to stay in the band and they said no. So I was never given a reason. Another misconception is that I am somehow upset or bitter about this. When they said they wouldn't trust me to quit drinking I realized that I was not in the company of friends. And I wouldn't have wanted to be in a band whom are not my friends."
  • James from Victoria, Canada"Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker was recruited at the last minute from his then-current band, The Aquabats, when their former drummer had to leave because of a family emergency. Barker was forced to learn all of the band's songs in an hour. He was successful"
    YEah Family Emergency My ass. I got this info off of Wikipedia

    "Scott, who had a serious drinking problem at the time, was apparently kicked out of the band and asked to go to rehab. Although some believe that he left blink-182 to go to college and earn his degree, it is still unclear as to what exactly happened."
  • Luke from Martin, TnBlink had a bad run where they came dangerously close to being another crappy pop band like Good Charlotte, but I think their new stuff is pulling them out of that category. We shall see...
  • Sofi from London, EnglandBlink 182 rock! they are one of the best bands ever!
  • Hans from Oakdale, CaEven though blink 182 has gotten alot of sh** over the past few years about selling out and not being "punk" anymore they are still one the most electric and emotified bands out there. I do not put them with bands such as Good Charelotte or Simple Plan or New Found Glory. Those bands are corporate sellouts. Blink bought in and now are able to continue to create amazing music. Yes, their sound has changed but both are equally stellar. So anyone who looks down on blink 182 can f*** off.
  • Reid from Beckley, WvBlink-182 is best band and they got some nice songs. Most of there songs are good some suck but stilll there the best Punk band or whatever the hell they are band. Blink-182...Ride on!
  • Lavander from Zagreb, YugoslaviaI just LOVE Tom and everything about him.I think he's really rad.BLINK 182 RULEZ!!!!!!!!
  • Megx from San Diego, Cain north county san diego...theres a small newspaper in which a doorman writes a collumn,and hes keeps it anonymous, but he happens to be in a band thats cd is being produced by the producer of Blink's first 2 cds.. or as the doorman says"blink's 2 good ones" ouch.
  • Joe from East Haven, CtTravis learned the songs in 6 hours, not 1 hour. He's still a kickass drummer though!
  • Natalie from Harrisonburg, VaI heard somewhere that Mark used to wear eyeliner. Sounds like a really Mark thing to do...
  • Mop from Winnipeg, CanadaJose, Simple Plan's song features the voice of Mark from Blink-182...
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