Tom DeLonge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom DeLonge
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DeLonge in 2023
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Thomas Matthew DeLonge
December 13, 1975 Poway, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Jennifer Jenkins
(m. 2001; div. 2019)Rose-Marie Berryman
(m. 2021) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
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Thomas Matthew DeLonge (born December 13, 1975) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as a co-founder, singer, and guitarist for the rock band Blink-182. He was with the band from 1992 to 2005, again from 2009 to 2015, and has been back since 2022.
Tom DeLonge also sings and plays guitar for the band Angels & Airwaves. He started this band in 2005 after leaving Blink-182 for the first time. People often recognize his unique singing voice.
DeLonge got his first guitar as a child and started writing punk rock songs. In high school, he formed Blink-182 with Mark Hoppus and Scott Raynor. They became popular locally with their first album, Cheshire Cat (1995). Their second album, Dude Ranch (1997), was released by MCA Records.
Travis Barker joined the band in 1998, and they became very famous with their third album, Enema of the State (1999). This album had three hit songs and sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Their fourth album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001), was their first to reach number one.
DeLonge and Barker also created a side project called Box Car Racer in 2002. Blink-182's fifth album, Blink-182 (2003), showed a change in their music style. Two years later, the band took a break due to disagreements. DeLonge then formed Angels & Airwaves, which has released five albums and grown into a larger "art project" involving different types of media.
Outside of music, DeLonge has started several companies. These include Macbeth Footwear, which sells vegan clothing, and Modlife, which helps artists earn money from their creations. He also founded To the Stars, a company focused on exploring fringe science and unexplained phenomena. He worked on the sci-fi film Love (2011) and wrote a children's book called The Lonely Astronaut on Christmas Eve (2013).
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Early Life and Interests
Thomas Matthew DeLonge was born in Poway, California, on December 13, 1975. His mother was a mortgage broker and his father worked for an oil company. He has a brother named Shon and a sister named Kari.
His first musical instrument was a trumpet, which he received at age 11. He first tried playing guitar at a church camp. He got his first guitar as a Christmas gift in sixth grade. He described it as an old, inexpensive acoustic guitar.
In seventh grade, DeLonge discovered punk rock bands like Stiff Little Fingers and the Descendents. He dyed his hair purple and practiced guitar loudly. His first concert was the band Chemical People. He also loved skateboarding and spent much of his time doing it. He would skateboard across San Diego with friends. He was an average student, focusing more on skateboarding and music than grades.
DeLonge's parents divorced when he was 18. He moved out and started working in construction, which he disliked. He quit this job when Blink-182 signed with MCA Records in 1996.
Music Career Highlights
Starting Blink-182
DeLonge formed his first successful band, Blink-182, in 1992. He met Scott Raynor and they started playing music together. They looked for a bassist, and DeLonge's friend Anne Hoppus introduced him to her brother, Mark Hoppus. The three of them began practicing in Raynor's bedroom, writing songs and playing pranks. Hoppus and DeLonge shared the singing duties.
They first used names like Duck Tape and Figure 8, before DeLonge named the band "Blink". Their first demo, Flyswatter, was recorded in 1993. With help from a local record store, they recorded Buddha (1994), which helped them gain attention in San Diego. Cargo Records signed the band, and they recorded their first album, Cheshire Cat, in three days in 1995.
Rise to Fame
Blink-182 toured a lot in 1995 and 1996. Major record labels became interested in them. They signed with MCA Records, which promised them artistic freedom. Their second album, Dude Ranch, was released in 1997. It sold well, but the constant touring caused stress among the band members. Scott Raynor was replaced by Travis Barker in 1998.
With Barker, the band recorded their third album, Enema of the State, released in 1999. This album made Blink-182 hugely famous. Songs like "What's My Age Again?", "All the Small Things", and "Adam's Song" became big hits and were played often on MTV. "All the Small Things" reached number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album sold over 15 million copies worldwide and greatly influenced pop punk music.
After their success, the band released Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001). This album debuted at number one in the United States, Canada, and Germany. Hit songs like "The Rock Show" and "First Date" continued their global success.
In 2003, Blink-182 recorded their fifth album, Blink-182. This album had a more "mature" sound, influenced by the band members becoming fathers. Songs like "Feeling This" and "I Miss You" were popular. However, tensions grew within the band due to their busy schedule and DeLonge's wish to spend more time with his family.
DeLonge wanted to take a break from touring to be with his family. Hoppus and Barker disagreed, thinking the break was too long. DeLonge also disliked the idea of Barker's reality TV show, Meet the Barkers, feeling his privacy was invaded. These disagreements led to DeLonge leaving the band in 2005.
Box Car Racer Project
In 2002, while Blink-182 was taking a break from touring, DeLonge started a side project called Box Car Racer. He wanted to try a different style of music. He asked Travis Barker to play drums on the album. Mark Hoppus felt left out by this, which caused some tension within Blink-182.
Angels & Airwaves
After Blink-182's break-up, DeLonge took time to rethink his life and music. He went on a three-week trip alone to think about his future. He felt hurt by the band's split, comparing it to a divorce. He wanted to start fresh without worrying about being seen as just a "prankster."
In September 2005, DeLonge announced his new band, Angels & Airwaves. He aimed to create music that would inspire a new generation. The band released their first album, We Don't Need to Whisper, in 2006, followed by I-Empire in 2007.
Blink-182 Reunion and More Music
DeLonge reunited with Blink-182 in late 2008. This happened after Travis Barker survived a serious plane crash. DeLonge realized how much he wanted to play music with Barker again. He sent Barker a letter and a photo.
Blink-182 announced their reunion, a new album, and a tour in February 2009. Their reunion tour in North America was very successful. DeLonge said he was "blown away" by how many people came to their shows.
Recording their sixth album, Neighborhoods, took a long time. The band produced the album themselves after their former producer, Jerry Finn, passed away. DeLonge recorded in San Diego, while Hoppus and Barker recorded in Los Angeles. This made it harder for them to work together. The album was released in 2011.
Blink-182 left Interscope Records in 2012 and became an independent band. They then released an EP called Dogs Eating Dogs in December 2012.
DeLonge also continued to release music and tour with Angels & Airwaves. During this time, they released three albums: Love (2010), Love: Part Two (2011), and The Dream Walker (2014).
In January 2015, Blink-182 planned to record a new album. However, due to delays from DeLonge, the band announced his departure. Hoppus and Barker stated that DeLonge wanted to focus on other projects. DeLonge explained that a contract required a new album quickly, and he had other commitments he couldn't drop. He said he would do Blink-182 as long as it was fun and fit with his life, including his family.
Solo Work and Angels & Airwaves
In March 2015, DeLonge shared that he was working on 15 novels with other authors. Each novel would come with a soundtrack EP. He also planned to release four albums that year.
On April 21, 2015, DeLonge released his first solo album, To the Stars... Demos, Odds and Ends. Angels & Airwaves released two more EPs, ...Of Nightmares (2015) and Chasing Shadows (2016), which were connected to books he wrote. They went on their first tour in seven years in 2019 and released a new album, Lifeforms, in 2021.
Return to Blink-182
On October 11, 2022, Blink-182 announced that Tom DeLonge was officially back in the band after eight years. They also said a new album with him would be released soon. Three days later, they released the single "Edging". Their album One More Time... was released on October 20, 2023.
Musical Style and Influences
DeLonge became known for playing pop punk music. Early punk bands like Stiff Little Fingers, Descendents, and Screeching Weasel were big influences on his songwriting. He also mentioned U2, Depeche Mode, New Order, and Fugazi as bands that shaped him.
He has changed his musical style over the years, moving towards a more progressive sound with more effects. DeLonge has said that U2's The Joshua Tree was the first album he "fell in love with."
Equipment Used
In the early days of Blink-182, Tom DeLonge used a Squier Stratocaster guitar. Later, he used a white 40th Anniversary Edition Fender Stratocaster with special pickups. This guitar was known as the "Sticker Strat." He also used Gibson Les Paul guitars.
For Enema of the State, he used Fender Custom Shop Stratocasters. This led to his own signature Fender model, released in 2001. He used Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier amps for a distorted sound. For Dude Ranch, he used Marshall JCM900 amps.
Starting with Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001), he began using different guitar pedals like chorus, flangers, and delays. For Box Car Racer, he experimented with heavier guitar riffs and more pedals. When he started Angels & Airwaves, he changed his equipment setup. He now uses Vox AC30 and Fender '65 Twin Reverb amps, often with less distortion.
In 2003, Gibson released his signature model, the Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333. This guitar is known for its thick, distorted sound, which is a key part of the Blink-182 sound.
Influence on Other Musicians
Many musicians have said Tom DeLonge influenced them. Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie and Ryan Ross both mentioned him. Urie said DeLonge influenced his singing, noting his unique voice and amazing melodies. Ross wanted to learn to play guitar like DeLonge.
Other Projects
DeLonge started getting into business in 1998. He co-founded Loserkids.com, a website selling youth clothing. In 2001, he helped create the clothing brand Atticus Clothing. The next year, he founded Macbeth Footwear, a shoe company inspired by rock and roll.
In 2007, DeLonge founded Modlife, a technology company. Modlife helps artists manage their official websites and fan clubs. It also helps them sell other creative items like posters and books. Modlife works with artists like the White Stripes and Kanye West.
In 2011, DeLonge launched Strange Times, a website about extraterrestrial life, paranormal activity, and conspiracy theories.
Film Work
DeLonge became interested in filmmaking when he directed a music video in 2004. He found it "artistically satisfying." He has worked on film projects related to Angels & Airwaves. In 2014, he co-directed the animated short film Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker.
In 2012, he was working on two films: a longer Poet film and one based on Strange Times. His first movie as a director, Monsters of California, was released in 2023.
Writing Books
In December 2013, DeLonge released a children's book called The Lonely Astronaut on Christmas Eve. It's about a lonely astronaut on the moon who gets a visit from aliens.
In March 2015, he announced he was co-writing 15 novels with famous authors. These novels would come with soundtrack EPs. He also published a comic book series called Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker in April 2015. In October 2015, he released the novel Poet Anderson ...of Nightmares, which also had an Angels & Airwaves EP.
He released Sekret Machines: Book 1 – Chasing Shadows in 2016, a collaboration with author A. J. Hartley. In October 2016, he released his third novel, Strange Times: The Ghost in the Girl. In 2019, To the Stars released an animated story of his children's book, Who Here Knows Who Took My Clothes?
Interest in Space and Unexplained Phenomena
DeLonge has been interested in aliens, UFOs, and conspiracy theories since he was young. Travis Barker said DeLonge was very passionate about these topics.
In 2015, DeLonge founded an entertainment company called To the Stars, Inc. In 2017, he merged it into a larger company called To the Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences. This company has divisions for entertainment, aerospace, and science, focusing on ufology and unusual scientific ideas. DeLonge's interest was fueled by his contacts with people in the Air Force and aerospace companies.
In 2019, his company produced the History Channel TV show Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation, which featured DeLonge. In April 2020, the Pentagon officially released three videos that DeLonge had previously shared through his company in 2017. These videos were said to show UFOs.
Personal Life
Tom DeLonge started dating Jennifer Jenkins in 1996, whom he knew from high school. They got married on May 26, 2001. They had a daughter and a son before they divorced in 2019. DeLonge married his girlfriend, Rose-Marie Berryman, in May 2021.
Discography
Solo Albums
With Blink-182
With Box Car Racer
With Angels and Airwaves
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Filmography
| Year | Title | Actor | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
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| 1999 | Idle Hands | Yes | Role: Burger Jungle Employee | |||
| 1999 | American Pie | Yes | Role: Garage band member | |||
| 1999 | Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story | Yes | Role: Jan Berry | |||
| 1999 | Two Guys and a Girl | Yes | Episode: "Au Revoir, Pizza Place" | |||
| 1999 | The Urethra Chronicles | Yes | Documentary | |||
| 2001 | Mad TV | Yes | Season 7, Episode 7 | |||
| 2002 | The Urethra Chronicles II: Harder Faster Faster Harder | Yes | Documentary | |||
| 2002 | Box Car Racer | Yes | Documentary | |||
| 2003 | The Simpsons | Yes | Episode: "Barting Over" | |||
| 2003 | Riding in Vans with Boys | Yes | Yes | Documentary | ||
| 2008 | Start the Machine | Yes | Documentary | |||
| 2009 | One Nine Nine Four | Yes | Documentary | |||
| 2009 | I Know What I Saw | Yes | Documentary | |||
| 2011 | Love | Yes | ||||
| 2011 | My First Guitar | Yes | Documentary | |||
| 2014 | Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film | |
| 2019– 2020 |
Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation | Yes | Yes | History Channel mini-series | ||
| 2023 | Monsters of California | Yes |
See also
In Spanish: Tom DeLonge para niños
