blink-182 is a rock band formed in Poway, California in 1992. Their current lineup consists of bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker.
The band's original lineup consisted of Hoppus, DeLonge, and drummer Scott Raynor. Barker joined the group in 1998. On February 22nd, 2005, it was announced that the band was on an indefinite hiatus. During this time, DeLonge formed Angels & Airwaves, while Hoppus and Barker formed +44. The band confirmed their reunion on February 8th, 2009, ending the hiatus. The band's first release after the reunion would be 2011's Neighborhoods. In 2012, the band self-released their first EP, Dogs Eating Dogs. In January 2015, DeLonge left the band once again and was within days announced to be replaced by Matt Skiba from the band Alkaline Trio for a few shows, becoming an official member shortly after. The band played their first shows with Skiba in March 2015 and would release their first album without DeLonge, California, in 2016. The band's latest release, Nine, was released on September 20th, 2019. In October 2022, it was announced that DeLonge had rejoined the band in addition to an upcoming album and world tour throughout 2023 and 2024. On October 20, 2023, the band's ninth studio album, One More Time..., was released.
Band members
Current
- Mark Hoppus – vocals, bass (1992-2005, 2009-present)
- Tom DeLonge - vocals, guitar (1992-2005, 2009-2015; 2022-present)
- Travis Barker – drums (1998-2005, 2009-present)
Former
- Scott Raynor – drums (1992-1998)
- Matt Skiba – vocals, guitar (2015-2022)
Studio albums
Main article: Full discography
| Title | Year | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire Cat | 1995 | 
|
| Dude Ranch | 1997 | 
|
| Enema of the State | 1999 | 
|
| Take Off Your Pants and Jacket | 2001 | 
|
| blink-182 | 2003 | 
|
| Neighborhoods | 2011 | 
|
| California | 2016 | 
|
| Nine | 2019 | 
|
| One More Time... | 2023 | 
|
History
Formative years (1992-1995)
An early blink-182 show at the Soul Kitchen in 1993.
Blink-182 originated in Poway, California, located in the northern part of San Diego. In August of 1992, guitarist Tom DeLonge was expelled from Poway High School due to his intoxication at a basketball game, leading him to attend another school, Rancho Bernardo High School, for a semester. During a Battle of the Bands competition, DeLonge met drummer Scott Raynor. Additionally, DeLonge befriended Kerry Key, who shared his interest in punk rock music. Key was in a relationship with Anne Hoppus, the sister of bassist Mark Hoppus, who had recently moved to the area from Ridgecrest, California. Both DeLonge and Hoppus grew up listening to punk rock, with a particular fondness for Descendents and The Cure.
On August 2, 1992, Hoppus was introduced to DeLonge by his sister, Anne. The two connected and played together for hours in DeLonge's garage, co-writing songs and exchanging lyrics. Hoppus fell from a lamppost in front of DeLonge's house, injuring his ankles and ending up on crutches for three weeks in an attempt to impress DeLonge. Raynor joined the two, and they practiced together in his bedroom, spending time writing music, seeing movies and punk concerts, and playing practical jokes. They went through various band names, including Duck Tape and Figure 8, before DeLonge settled on "Blink." Hoppus' girlfriend gave him an ultimatum to choose between her and the band, which led him to shortly leave Blink. After promptly breaking up with his girlfriend, Hoppus returned to the band. DeLonge and Raynor borrowed a four-track recorder from Cam Jones, a friend and collaborator, and recorded a demo tape called "Flyswatter" with Jones on bass in May 1993. The tape was a mix of original songs and punk covers, recorded in Raynor's bedroom.
A poster for an early blink-182 show at Soma.
Blink began scheduling performances and were frequently on stage every weekend, performing at various venues such as Elks Lodges and YMCA centers. DeLonge persistently called San Diego clubs and local high schools, promoting the band as a "motivational band with a strong anti-drug message" in hopes of playing at school assemblies or events. They soon became part of a local circuit that included Ten Foot Pole and Unwritten Law, eventually landing a spot as the opening act for shows at Soma, a well-known all-ages venue. Hoppus' manager at the record store provided the band with a loan to record a demo at a local studio, Doubletime, resulting in their first official release, Buddha, in 1994. In the same year, drummer Raynor's family moved to Reno, Nevada, causing him to briefly leave the band and be replaced by musician Mike Krull. After saving enough money to fly Raynor out to shows, he moved back to San Diego and lived with Hoppus in mid-1995. During that time, Blink recorded their first album, made their first music video, and continued to build a larger fan base. With the help of O from the local punk band Fluf and Brahm Goodis, a friend of the band whose father was the president of Cargo Records, they were signed to the label on a trial basis. Hoppus signed the contract as DeLonge was at work and Raynor was still underage. The band quickly recorded their debut album, Cheshire Cat, at Westbeach Recorders in Los Angeles in three days, featuring both new tracks and re-recordings of songs from their previous demos. Their first single, M+M's, received airplay on local radio station 91X, and Cargo provided a small budget for a music video. The record also caught the attention of an Irish band with the same name, leading Blink to add the number "-182" to their name after Cargo threatened to change it for them.
Early success (1996-1998)
A flyer for the December 8-10, 1995 dates of the Good Times tour.
In late 1995, blink-182 embarked on their first national tour, promoting the surf video Good Times alongside bands Unwritten Law, Sprung Monkey, and 7 Seconds. Good Times, directed by filmmaker Taylor Steele, was friends with DeVoe. In anticipation of this tour, the band invested in their tour van, affectionately christened the "Millennium Falcon."
Fletcher Dragge, the guitarist of Pennywise, had belief in blink-182's potential and insisted that Kevin Lyman, the founder of the Warped Tour, include the band in the 1996 lineup, predicting their meteoric rise. That year, blink-182 embarked on an extensive tour circuit, with numerous domestic shows both within and outside the Warped Tour, international gigs, where their humorous on-stage antics won them a following but also garnered ridicule, leading to their being considered a humorous novelty act by some.
By March 1996, blink-182 had generated significant buzz in the music industry, sparking a bidding war among major record labels, including Interscope, MCA, and Epitaph. MCA won them over by offering complete artistic freedom, ultimately securing the band's signature. Raynor had a strong affinity for Epitaph and felt somewhat detached from the band's decision to sign with MCA. The group, disappointed by Cargo's distribution and lack of faith in their potential, was resolute in their choice. Following relentless touring, the trio began recording their next album, Dude Ranch, during a month-long session in late 1996 under the guidance of producer Mark Trombino. The album hit the shelves the following June, and the band embarked on the 1997 Warped Tour. Their track Dammit, the album's second single, received extensive airplay on modern rock radio stations. Dude Ranch achieved gold status by 1998, while the band's rigorous touring schedule strained their relationships. Raynor, grappling with personal issues and alleged excessive drinking, was dismissed by DeLonge and Hoppus in mid-1998. Travis Barker, the drummer for tour-mate The Aquabats, swiftly stepped in for Raynor, mastering the 20-song setlist within 45 minutes before their first performance. In July of that year, Barker officially became a full-time member of the band, and later in the same year, the group entered the studio with producer Jerry Finn to commence work on their third album, Enema of the State.
Gallery
Main article: Blink-182 Gallery
