Punk Rock Gods
Blink 182- the band that got me into rock
The start of Blink 182 was when Tom Delonge got his first guitar, a firened of his worked for a dump and found a totally working guitar that had been thrown away. Before learning guitar Tom showed no interest in instruments apart from annoying his parents playing a tuneless trumpet in the middle of the night. But Tom really got into guitar. He was from a nurturiing family but was a problem child, he got expelled from school for drinking at a basketball game.
Mark got his first bass when he was 14, in return for his help painting a house his dad's helpers bought him a bass and amp. Both boys got into Punk, got together and started jamming in garages and writing there own songs. Pretty soon they were playing for anyone willing to listen
They soon realised they'd need a drummer, and Tom knew a kid at school who played drums. His name was Scott and he became blink's first drummer. He was into metal but also liked some punk bands like Green Day so said he'd drum for them
They played in high schools saying that they were an "anti-drugs band" to be allowed to play. They didnt't want money and riches yet, they just wanted somewhere to be able to play.
They soon started playing at local clubs playing for all ages, they got a deal with Grilled cheese music and brought out a demo tape. This soon resuted in "Flyswatter" and "Budda". Both albums were brought out under the name blink, but after threats of lawsuits from a techno band under the same name they added 182. They then got the attention of bigger record companies and brought out "Dude Ranch"
When on tour for "dude ranch" Scott regulary went home and Travis Barker would fill in for him. He learnt Scott's drums quickly and often played them better than him. When Scott left to go back to school Travis was the ideal replacement
In 1999 the new line up released "enema of the state" some of blinks best songs such as "all the small things" and "adam's song". In 2000 they released a live album "the mark tom and travis show".
2001 marked the release of "take off your pants and jacket", with more classics like "Rock show" and "first date" but also more serious songs such as "stay together for the kids".
In 2002 Blink 182 teamed up with Green Day for the pop disaster tour. They were also joined by Jimmy eat world and saves the day. They band then too some time out to spend time with their families as they now all had young kids
To start on their next album the band rented a house in San diago, inbetween writing they played for the U.S navy and as a way of paying back their fans they played a number of $1 shows across america. They then released there self titled album "blink 182".
Recently Blink 182 have announced they're on "indefinite hiatus" and little is known on wheither or not their ever get back together again. There had been many rumours of power struggles in the band. Tom has announced he's now working on a project called "Angles and airwaves" and Mark and travis are currently working together on "Plus-44" Both bands are set to release new albums in 2006. But it seems Blink 182 has come to an end
Did you know?
182 is just a random number, it's only there because they couldn't be called just blink as they'd get sued
Blink 182 was once called Duke tape, and figure 8
Blink 182 were in american pie as a garge band when travis was in the band. But in the credits it says Scott not Travis
Mark won't sing unless he brushes his teeth first
All the members in Blink have tattoes apart from Mark
Travis teaches drum lessons
And he's been playing the drums since he was 4 years old
Tom chose the name "blink" but only because he likes short verbs.
For more blink info-
http://www.blink182.com/home.asp
http://www.punkdisasters.com/index.php
