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Tom Delonge - Vocals/Guitar Mark Hoppus - Vocals/Bass Travis Barker - Drums
Over the years Southern California has given the world some great bands, and in 1992 San Diego gave us Blink-182...an up and coming punk band, with something in their music people wanted to hear.
Shortly known as just Blink, the guys(Tom Delonge, vocals/guitar: Mark Hoppus, vocals/Bass: and Scott Raynor, Drums) were forced to add the purely random number 182 to avoid a lawsuit by an Irish band also called Blink. Some fans swear 182 is the first number to pop into their minds, and others claim it is the number of times Al Pacino says Fuck in the film 'Scarface'----Whatever the reason, we love the number!!!!!
In the fall of '92 the band self-released a demo called Flyswatter, which caught the attention of a record label. By '94 they had released their first album Buddha (later re-released in '98), which was not much of a success; but later in the year they signed with Grilled Cheese (a division of Cargo Music). They then promptly released their second album Cheshire Cat. Soon they were being featured on skate, surf, and snowboarding videos. They also were included on the popular Warped Tour, along with bands like pennywise, MxPx, and Reel Big Fish.
Finally hard work paid off in 1997 with the release of Dude Ranch. Other than just making them better known, the album caught the attention of larger record labels. MCA signed them in a joint effort with Cargo Music in anticipation for their next album being bigger.
Unfortunately during this merge the band experienced a transition that would luckily not hurt them. Scott Raynor made the decision to continue his education, and left the band for college. Travis Barker (formerly of the Aquabats) joined as the new and very talented drummer. Of course he was just in time for the the next album release. The world got a taste of the new Blink-182 in the summer of 1999.
The album was titled Enema of the State, which went multi platinum world wide; and won them the 2000 MTV best group video for 'All the Small Things'.
There was no doubt that Blink-182 had arrived! The band quickly followed up the 400 million copies success of Enema of the State, with a limited edition, Live album called 'The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (the enema strikes back)' in the fall of 2000.
In a whirlwind of success the guys released the cleverly titled Take off Your Pants and Jacket, in the summer of 2001. The album debuted at No. 1 on the 200 album chart. After touring world wide, the every energized band returned once more to the studio ready to work on their next album. It eventually took over two years to complete, and was released in October 2003.
The self-titled album shows us a more mature Blink-182, with songs of heartache, problems, and basically life; but still included the the signature riffs associated with the band. Blink-182 has proven (when not many bands can) that though they have matured and become a bit more serious with their music; they haven't lost the status of rowdy rockers with quirky lyrics, and off-the-charts sense of humor and entertainment.
The band (still residing in Southern California) keeps us all on the edge of our seats waiting to see what will happen next; and wondering when we will be able to add another album to the ever so listened to CD's we all keep close to our players!!!
Blink-182, once the inspired, has now over the years become the inspiration. Inspiration for all those guys and girls out there who are willing to pick up a guitar (or sit behind a drum set), and pull together a band!!
Michelle Roberts November 2004
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