Blink-182 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blink-182
Blink-182 in 2023. Left to right: Travis Barker, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus.
Background information
Also known as	Blink (1992–1995)
Origin	Poway, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop-punk alternative rock skate punk (early) punk rock
Years active	1992–2005 2009–present
Labels	Cargo Grilled Cheese Kung Fu MCA Geffen Interscope DGC BMG Columbia
Members	Mark Hoppus Tom DeLonge Travis Barker
Past members	Scott Raynor Matt Skiba

Blink-182 is a famous American rock band. They started in Poway, California, in 1992. The band's most well-known members are Mark Hoppus (bass and singing), Tom DeLonge (guitar and singing), and Travis Barker (drums).

After many years of recording and touring on their own, the band signed with MCA Records. Their popular albums, Enema of the State (1999) and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001), became very successful around the world. Songs like "All the Small Things" and "What's My Age Again?" were big hits and played often on MTV. Later albums, like their untitled album (2003), showed new musical styles.

Mark Hoppus is the only member who has been in the band since the very beginning. Tom DeLonge left the band twice, but he always came back. The first drummer, Scott Raynor, played with the band until 1998. Then, Travis Barker joined and has been the drummer ever since. From 2015 to 2022, Matt Skiba from the band Alkaline Trio played guitar and sang with them. They made two albums with him: California (2016) and Nine (2019). Their newest album, One More Time..., came out on October 20, 2023.

Blink-182's simple and direct music helped make pop-punk popular again. They became a favorite band for many generations of fans. The group has sold 50 million albums worldwide.

The Story of Blink-182

How They Started and First Album

Blink at the Gorilla Pit in 1993

Blink-182 began in August 1992 in Poway, California. This is a town near San Diego.

Blink-182 performing in 1993

The band played often at the local all-ages venue Soma in their early days.

The band recorded their first album, Cheshire Cat, in just three days. It came out in February 1995. The album had new songs and updated versions of older demo songs. Their first single, "M+M's", was played on local radio. The record company, Cargo, gave them money to make a music video for it.

Another band from Ireland was also named Blink. To avoid problems, the band agreed to change their name. They added a random number, 182, and became Blink-182.

Soon, the band got a manager named Rick DeVoe. He had worked with other big bands. The band also got help from Rick and Jean Bonde, who helped them become known everywhere. In late 1995, the band went on their first national tour. They promoted a surf video called GoodTimes. The band bought their own tour van, which they called the Millennium Falcon.

The GoodTimes tour also went to Australia. The band couldn't afford the plane tickets, but members of the band Pennywise paid for them. Fletcher Dragge, the guitarist from Pennywise, really believed in Blink-182. He told Kevin Lyman, who started the Warped Tour, to sign them for the 1996 tour. He said they would become "gigantic." That year, the band toured a lot. They played shows in the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Australia. People in Australia really liked the band and their funny stage shows.

Blink-182 at the Showcase Theater in Corona, California, in 1995

By March 1996, big record labels started to notice the band. There was a competition between Interscope, MCA, and Epitaph to sign them. MCA promised the band full artistic freedom. Blink-182 chose MCA because they felt Cargo wasn't helping them enough. After touring non-stop, the band started recording their next album, Dude Ranch. They worked on it for a month in late 1996 with producer Mark Trombino. The album was released in June 1997, and the band went on the 1997 Warped Tour.

Becoming Super Popular: 1999-2004

When their third album, Enema of the State, came out in June 1999, Blink-182 became huge stars. They were one of the biggest pop-punk bands of that time. Three songs from the album became big radio hits: "What's My Age Again?", "All the Small Things", and "Adam's Song". "All the Small Things" became a number-one hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band's music videos were very popular on MTV and its show TRL. Enema of the State sold over 15 million copies worldwide. It had a big impact on pop-punk music, starting a new wave of the genre.

After this success, the band went on their first arena tour. They also appeared in movies and TV shows, like American Pie. Then, they recorded their fourth album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001). This album became their first number one album in the U.S., Canada, and Germany. It included the hit songs "The Rock Show", "Stay Together for the Kids", and "First Date". Jerry Finn produced this album again. He helped create their smooth pop-punk sound.

Sometimes, recording sessions were difficult. Tom DeLonge wanted heavier guitar sounds. He also wanted to try different musical styles. He started a side project called Box Car Racer in 2002. This project was inspired by his favorite post-hardcore bands. He asked Travis Barker to play drums for it. Box Car Racer released songs like "I Feel So" and "There Is" and toured in 2002. Tom said he didn't mean to leave Mark Hoppus out, but Mark felt hurt. This caused some tension in the band. Meanwhile, Travis Barker also started a hip-hop project called Transplants with Tim Armstrong from Rancid.

The band playing at a U.S. Navy base in Bahrain in 2003

The band got back together in 2003 to record their fifth album. They added new, experimental sounds to their pop-punk style. This was inspired by changes in their lives, as all members became fathers before the album came out. The album, Blink-182, was released in November 2003 through Geffen Records. They toured worldwide, playing in Japan and Australia. They also performed for troops in the Persian Gulf during the first year of the Iraq War. Critics generally liked the new, more "mature" direction of the album. Its main songs, "Feeling This" and "I Miss You", charted high. "I Miss You" became their second number one hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. However, fans had mixed feelings about the new sound. Tensions grew within the band because of the demanding touring schedule and Tom DeLonge's wish to spend more time with his family.

Taking a Break and Coming Back: 2005-2014

In February 2005, the band announced they were taking a break. The band had broken up after arguments about their future and how to record music. Tom DeLonge felt he needed more creative freedom and that touring was too hard on his family. He wanted to take a six-month break from touring. Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker were upset by this, feeling it was too long. Rehearsals for a concert became difficult because of growing anger between them. Tom felt they had simply grown apart as they got older, had families, and became famous. Their communication broke down, leading to arguments and his leaving the group.

During this break, Tom DeLonge started Angels & Airwaves. Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker formed +44. Travis Barker became even more famous for his hip-hop remixes and his MTV reality show Meet the Barkers.

The band members didn't talk to each other until 2008. In August of that year, their former producer, Jerry Finn, passed away. The next month, Travis Barker and his friend Adam Goldstein were in a plane crash. Four people died, but Travis and Adam were the only survivors. Travis had serious burns and developed PTSD. He had many surgeries and blood transfusions. Adam's injuries were not as bad, but he passed away less than a year later. Travis's near-death experience led him, Tom, and Mark to meet in October. This meeting set the stage for the band to get back together.

The first live performance of the group's reformation in 2009

For the first time in almost five years, the band appeared on stage together at the 2009 Grammy Awards in February. They announced their reunion. The band went on a reunion tour in North America from July to October 2009, and then in Europe in 2010. Travis Barker had a fear of flying after his accident. He traveled by bus in the U.S. and Canada, and by ship for overseas shows.

Recording their sixth album, Neighborhoods, was slow. This was due to their busy schedules, tours, and other projects. Tom recorded in his studio in San Diego, while Mark and Travis recorded in Los Angeles. This showed their continued communication problems. The album, which they produced themselves, was released in September 2011. It reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Its songs, "Up All Night" and "After Midnight", had only modest success.

Blink-182 performing in 2011

The band kept touring in the early 2010s, even with some ongoing tension between members. They headlined the 10th Annual Honda Civic Tour in 2011 with My Chemical Romance. They also started a 20th Anniversary Tour the next year. For that tour, they played in Europe, North America, and Australia. Drummer Brooks Wackerman filled in for Travis Barker on some dates because Travis was not yet ready to fly. The band also celebrated the tenth anniversary of their Blink-182 album with special shows. They played at the Reading and Leeds Festivals for the fourth time. The band also left their longtime record label, Interscope. They released their next project, Dogs Eating Dogs, an EP, on their own. Tom DeLonge's last show with the group was on October 11, 2014, in Las Vegas.

Both Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge have said this reunion period was difficult. Mark Hoppus later said, "Everything was always very tense. There was always just a strange feeling." Travis Barker wrote in his book that Tom DeLonge's behavior on tour was quiet until "money started coming in." He says Tom suddenly quit in mid-2014, but rejoined the next day.

New Members and New Music: 2015-Present

Blink-182 performing in San Antonio, Texas, in July 2016

The band planned to start writing their seventh album in January 2015, but it kept getting delayed. Travis Barker later said he felt bad for fans because albums were promised for years but didn't happen. A record deal with BMG was made, and recording sessions were planned. However, Tom DeLonge's manager told the band that Tom wanted to focus on other things and would leave the group on December 31, 2014. Tom later said he "never planned on quitting," but found it "hard as hell to commit."

Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker decided to continue without Tom. They asked Alkaline Trio singer/guitarist Matt Skiba to join for three shows in March 2015. Mark and Matt had wanted to work together for years, so Matt was the only person they considered. After some legal discussions with Tom DeLonge, Matt Skiba officially joined Blink-182. They started working on new music.

Their album, California, was produced by John Feldmann. It was their first album with a new producer since Jerry Finn. When California was released in July 2016 through BMG, it became the band's second number-one album on the Billboard 200. It was their first number one in 15 years. It also topped the charts in the United Kingdom for the first time. The main song, "Bored to Death", became their biggest hit in years. It was their third song to reach number one on the Alternative Songs chart. Both the song and the album became their first gold-certified releases in over a decade. The album also earned the band their first Grammy Award nomination. The band toured North America from July to October 2016 and Europe in June and July 2017 to support the album. A special deluxe edition of California was released in 2017.

During these years, the band worked with many other artists. For their eighth album, Nine (2019), the band tried new sounds. They worked with many songwriters and producers. They also added hip-hop inspired electronic sounds to their pop-punk style. The band also moved back to a major record label, Columbia. Before the album came out, the band toured with rapper Lil Wayne. While some shows promoted Nine, much of the tour celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Enema of The State. Most of the touring planned for Nine was stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Live concerts were not safe. In response, the band released a new song, "Quarantine". Matt Skiba was not on this song; Mark Hoppus played guitar instead.

Mark's Health and Tom's Return: 2021-Present

On June 23, 2021, Mark Hoppus shared that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He had been getting treatment secretly for three months. After his cancer diagnosis, it was reported that Mark met with Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker at his home. They talked about past problems, personal issues, and Mark's cancer. Mark was declared cancer-free later that year. He continues to get check-ups every six months.

People had been guessing about Tom DeLonge's return to the band since he left. These rumors grew stronger in October 2022. The band started posting mysterious messages on their social media. Tom DeLonge's official return was announced on October 11, 2022. They also announced a world tour for the next two years and that they were working on a new album. After his return, Tom messaged Matt Skiba on Instagram to thank him for his time with the band. He later shared the message publicly. Matt Skiba knew an announcement was coming, but he didn't know it was about Tom's return. In the months before, he had also started to wonder about his place in the band. When the announcement was made, he congratulated the other members and thanked fans for his time with the band.

With Tom's return, a new song called "Edging" was released that same week. The song did very well in the U.S. It became their fourth and longest-running number one hit on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart. It was also their highest-charting song on the Hot 100 in eighteen years. While getting ready for the tour, Travis Barker hurt his finger during rehearsals and needed surgery. Because of this, the band had to delay the Latin America part of the tour while Travis recovered. However, the band made a surprise appearance at Coachella in April. This was Tom DeLonge's first time playing with the band in nine years. The band then filled in as the Sunday headliner for the festival's second weekend after singer Frank Ocean couldn't perform.

The band's ninth album, One More Time..., was announced on September 18, 2023, and released on October 20, 2023. Five more songs were released before the album. "One More Time" and "More Than You Know" came out when the album was announced. "Dance with Me," "Fell in Love," and "You Don't Know What You've Got" were released in the weeks leading up to the album. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. It was their first number one album since California and their first with Tom DeLonge since Take Off Your Pants and Jacket in 2001.

Blink-182's Music Style

Blink-182's music is mostly called pop-punk. This style mixes pop music sounds with traditional punk rock. Throughout their career, their sound has changed, but many of their songs have fast speeds, catchy tunes, loud electric guitars, and strong power chord changes. Their earlier albums were also called skate punk and punk rock. This is because they were influenced by and toured with other bands in those genres. The band has also been called alternative rock. They have often said that the punk rock group the Descendents is their biggest influence. They have also named bands like The Beatles, The Ramones, The Beach Boys, and Green Day as inspirations.

The band's sound has grown over their 30-year career. Tom DeLonge's guitar playing often focuses on riffs instead of solos. He uses a lot of down-strokes and power chords, often muting the strings with his palm. Later, his guitar work used many effects, like delay, to create atmospheric sounds. Many Blink-182 songs use a common chord pattern called the I–V–vi–IV progression.

As a bassist, Mark Hoppus is known for his clear, mid-range sound. Since the band is a trio, he plays like a mix of a rhythm guitarist and a bassist. Early albums, like Cheshire Cat (1995) and Dude Ranch (1997), were recorded with original drummer Scott Raynor. These songs were fast-paced and often used a double-time beat. Drummer Travis Barker joined in 1998 and added many different rhythms to the band's sound. His drumming includes styles from Afro-Cuban music, bossa nova, reggae, and hip hop. Travis grew up playing in a marching band, and this still influences his drum fills and how he sets up his drum kit.

What Blink-182 Means to Music

Blink-182 was one of the most popular rock bands around the year 2000. They led the second wave of pop-punk into mainstream music. Their polished sound made them stand out from other punk bands like Green Day. Their third album, Enema of the State, made them huge stars. It became very popular with teenagers across America. At their peak, albums like Take Off Your Pants and Jacket and Enema sold over 14 and 15 million copies worldwide.

According to Kelefa Sanneh of The New Yorker, Blink-182 "inspired more copycat bands than any American rock band since Nirvana." Their seemingly ordinary style made a generation of funny punks believe they could also make simple, well-made songs. Their playful friendship made fans feel like they were part of the band's group. Most Blink-182 songs are considered simple and easy to play on guitar. This makes them a popular choice for new musicians to practice. This helped inspire a generation of kids to "pick up the guitar and form bands of their own."

In 2019, Blink-182's song "All the Small Things" became the theme song for the Colorado Avalanche hockey team.

Band Members

Current members

• Mark Hoppus – bass, vocals (1992–2005, 2009–present); guitars (2020)
• Tom DeLonge – guitars, vocals (1992–2005, 2009–2015, 2022–present); keyboards (2012)
• Travis Barker – drums (1998–2005, 2009–present); backing vocals (2003, 2023–present), keyboards, piano (2012, 2018–2019)

Former members

• Scott Raynor – drums (1992–1998)
• Matt Skiba – guitars, vocals (2015–2022; touring member 2015)

Former touring musicians

Timeline

Albums and EPs

Tours

Headlining

Co-headlining

• Pop Disaster Tour (with Green Day) (2002)
• Summer Tour 2004 (with No Doubt) (2004)
• 10th Annual Honda Civic Tour (with My Chemical Romance) (2011)
• Blink-182 and Lil Wayne Tour (with Lil Wayne) (2019)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Blink-182 para niños