blink 182

Blink-182 is an American punk rock band from Poway, California, formed in 1992.[2] The band formed as "Blink" with vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Scott Raynor.[3] In 1998, midway through a U.S. tour, current drummer Travis Barker replaced Raynor. Blink-182 are recognised as a key pioneer of contemporary pop punk music, influencing various acts over their career.[4]
After releasing debut album Cheshire Cat (1994), the band achieved relative success with Dude Ranch (1997), now having sold over a million copies. However, the trio achieved even greater success with the multi-platinum selling Enema of the State (1999). Their following two albums maintained their popularity; Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001) and Blink-182 (2003) before DeLonge left the group in early 2005, initiating an indefinite hiatus. DeLonge went on to form Angels & Airwaves, while Hoppus and Barker continued playing music together in +44. On February 8, 2009, Blink-182 announced that they are continuing as a band, with the brief statement posted on their website saying "To put it simply, We're back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album."[5]
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Formation and early releases: 1992-95
1.2 Dude Ranch and Enema of the State: 1996–2000
1.3 Take Off Your Pants and Jacket and Blink-182: 2001–04
1.4 Hiatus and solo projects: 2005–08
1.5 Reformation and sixth studio album: 2009–present
2 Band members
3 Discography
4 Musical style and influences
5 In other media
6 Awards and nominations
6.1 MTV Europe Music Awards
6.2 MTV Video Music Awards
6.3 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
6.4 Teen Choice Awards
7 References
8 External links
[edit]History

[edit]Formation and early releases: 1992-95
After being expelled from Poway High School, Tom DeLonge attended Rancho Bernardo High School where he became friends with Anne Hoppus. DeLonge often expressed wanting to be in a band, so in August 1992 Anne introduced him to her brother Mark Hoppus, who also wanted to be in a band.[6] The two played for hours in DeLonge's garage, showing each other songs they had previously written, and writing new songs together. One of these songs would eventually become what is now "Carousel".[7] That night the two decided they needed to officially start a band, so DeLonge recruited friend Scott Raynor, who he had met at his school's Battle of the Bands competition. The three began playing together and called themselves Duck Tape, until DeLonge thought of the name Blink.[7]
The band practiced constantly, which angered Hoppus's girlfriend.[7] She told him he had to choose between the band and her, so he left the band just as it was starting. DeLonge then informed Hoppus that he borrowed a 4-track from a friend and he and Raynor were using it to make a demo tape. Upon hearing this, Hoppus decided he would leave his girlfriend and return to the band.
In May 1993, the band recorded their first demo tape Flyswatter in Raynor's bedroom. A 4-track was used to record the material, which resulted in poor sound quality. According to Hoppus, only a small number of demos were released, primarily to their family and friends.[citation needed] The same year, the band recorded another demo tape, this one untitled and known simply as Demo #2. It featured re-recordings of a few Flyswatter songs, and also included new songs, some of which would go on to be re-recorded and re-released on the band's albums Buddha, Cheshire Cat, and Dude Ranch. Buddha was released on cassette in 1993 with around 1,000 copies of the tape produced by Filter Records, an independent record company headed by Hoppus's boss. It was remastered and re-released on Kung Fu Records in 1998 (with three of the original tracks omitted and two new tracks added).
In 1994, the band signed with Cargo Music and recorded their debut studio album Cheshire Cat in three days. The album contained a number of updated versions of songs such as "Carousel", "Strings", "Sometimes", and "T.V." that had appeared on the Buddha demo as well as some originals. "M+M's" and "Wasting Time" were released as singles, but both failed to chart. Shortly after the release of Cheshire Cat, the band was threatened with legal action by an Irish pop band of the same name. In order to avoid a legal dispute, the band appended "182" to the end of their name.[8] In 1994, the band released a split EP with Iconoclasts titled Short Bus. The 3-track EP They Came to Conquer... Uranus was released the next year.
[edit]Dude Ranch and Enema of the State: 1996–2000
After moving to Encinitas, California, the band recorded the album Dude Ranch in 1996 with producer Mark Trombino. Blink-182 recorded the album under Cargo Records, but signed with MCA in 1998 in order to handle increased distribution. The album was released in 1997 and was relatively commercially successful, selling 1.5 million copies worldwide. The single "Dammit" did well on U.S. modern rock charts, and the band received a small degree of mainstream success.
After the album's release, midway through a U.S. tour in 1998, drummer Scott Raynor left the band. Raynor had a serious drinking problem and was asked to go into rehab. Raynor claims he agreed to go to rehab, but that DeLonge and Hoppus were doubtful of his sincerity and subsequently fired him over the phone.[9] Hoppus and DeLonge asked drummer Travis Barker of Blink-182's support band The Aquabats to fill in for Raynor for the remainder of the tour. After the set, Hoppus and DeLonge sat down and discussed Barker joining the band. The next day he was offered the position and consequently left The Aquabats.
For the 1999 album Enema of the State, the band hired Jerry Finn as producer. The album propelled the band into the mainstream, generating the hit singles "What's My Age Again?", "All the Small Things" and "Adam's Song", and an incredible amount of airtime on radio and MTV. Enema of the State went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide making it the band's best selling album. "Adam's Song" caused a stir in 2000 when it was set to replay indefinitely on a stereo as 17-year-old Greg Barnes hanged himself in the garage of his family's home.[10] Demos for the album were leaked as the Enema of the State Demo. It consists of eight demo recordings of some album tracks, plus an instrumental titled "Life's So Boring" which did not make the album.
In 2000, the band released The Urethra Chronicles, a DVD which features behind-the-scenes information, and The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!), Blink-182's sole live album, featuring songs from their three full-length records, including all their greatest hits coupled with previously unreleased material. The album quickly went out of print. The album also included one new studio song, "Man Overboard", among the live renditions. A demo of this song was previously featured on the Enema of the State Demo cassette.
[edit]Take Off Your Pants and Jacket and Blink-182: 2001–04
The band continued its commercial success with Take Off Your Pants and Jacket in 2001, which was a small change from their direction in Enema of the State. The album sold more than 350,000 copies in the first week. It contains the hit singles "The Rock Show", "First Date" and "Stay Together for the Kids", while "Anthem Part 2" also received radio airplay. The album has sold approximately 4.5 million records worldwide, while going double platinum in the US. The album was released on three different CDs: yellow, red and green versions, each one featuring two unique bonus tracks. A European tour in winter 2001 was delayed in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Rescheduled dates in early 2002 were also canceled due to DeLonge's back problems.
In 2002 while after taking some time off from Blink-182, DeLonge and Barker released a new album with their side-project Box Car Racer.[11]
Blink-182 co-headlined the Pop Disaster Tour with Green Day in 2002.[12] The tour was documented on the DVD Riding in Vans with Boys. The band made a cameo appearance on the 300th episode of The Simpsons playing "All the Small Things" at a party held in Tony Hawk's loft.


Blink-182 performing live in 2003.
Recording of the band's next record began in early 2003. On November 18, 2003, they released their eponymous fifth studio album, which spawned the hit singles "Feeling This", "I Miss You", "Down" and "Always". According to Barker, the album was supposed to represent a "new" Blink-182.[13] Robert Smith, whose band The Cure is often cited as a major influence, appeared on "All of This".
In November 2003, the band embarked on the "DollaBill" tour, named for the ticket cost of $1 each. They played ten club shows throughout the US and one in Canada.[14] Blink-182 toured with No Doubt in the summer of 2004.[15]
[edit]Hiatus and solo projects: 2005–08
Tensions between the band members arose when DeLonge found the desire for a half-year respite from touring to spend time with his family, despite a planned spring U.S. tour, coupled with Hoppus' feelings of betrayal after the formation of Box Car Racer. Further problems arose in discussions regarding the band's future recording endeavors. In mid-February 2005 the band inexplicably canceled a performance at Music for Relief's Concert for South Asia (a show put on by Linkin Park to aid victims of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake). This made their previous show on December 16, 2004 at the Point Depot in Dublin, Ireland, their last live performance. The planned tour was canceled and on February 22, 2005, after much tension, their band manager called Hoppus and Barker to tell them that DeLonge had quit the band.[16] After this Blink-182 announced an indefinite hiatus.
After the break-up bandmembers embarked on other projects. DeLonge's new band, Angels & Airwaves, released three albums: We Don't Need to Whisper (2006), I-Empire (2007) and LOVE (2010). Hoppus and Barker's new project +44 released their first album When Your Heart Stops Beating on November 14, 2006. Unlike Angels & Airwaves, it is not known if +44 will release anymore material in the future.
Geffen Records released a Greatest Hits compilation on November 1, 2005. It is essentially a collection of the band's singles. After many criticisms about the track listing from disappointed fans, the song "Carousel" was added. A previously unreleased track was included on the CD, "Another Girl, Another Planet" (a cover song originally by The Only Ones). The song was also used as the theme song to Barker's new reality TV show, Meet the Barkers. Also included was the previously issued "I Miss You" B-side and Blink-182 UK bonus track "Not Now". The album reached number 6 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.[17]
On August 21, 2008, Jerry Finn (Blink-182's producer) died of a cerebral hemorrhage.[18] This would later be one of the catalysts for all the members of Blink-182 communicating again in September 2008, which would be the first time Tom would communicate with his bandmates in over three years.
Travis Barker barely survived a plane crash on September 21, 2008, after performing an event with Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell. Adam Goldstein (better known as DJ AM) and Barker were the sole survivors. Barker sustained second and third degree burns on his lower body and torso and expected to recover within a year. While in the hospital, Mark Hoppus and former bandmate Tom DeLonge visited, allowing the band to reconcile and patch up their differences.
[edit]Reformation and sixth studio album: 2009–present
At the 51st Grammy Awards ceremony on February 8, 2009, all three members of the band appeared onstage for the first time since December 2004.[5] Barker announced the band's reformation, stating that "we used to play music together, and we decided we're going to play music together again," with Hoppus adding, "Blink-182 is back!" A message appearing on the band's website the same day confirmed the reformation and added that the band was in the studio writing and recording a new album and preparing for a world tour.[5] The band also updated their "smiley face" logo to feature six arrows instead of the previous five.[19]
During an interview after their reunion announcement, Travis confirmed that they had been in the studio since December 2008 writing and recording new material. Each member had brought in their own musical ideas and songs, while also writing new material together. Blink 182 also revisited older demos they had written in 2004, before they went on indefinite hiatus.[20] A new single, titled "Up All Night," has been announced for the new album. On January 25, Tom DeLonge stated that blink-182 was in discussion to release a new album in 2011.[21][22] On January 26, however, Hoppus stated via Twitter that 2011 is "too far away" and will do everything he can do to release the new album in 2010. [23]
The summer tour was at first mentioned during the reformation, though no concrete information was given until April 7, 2009 when website buzznet.com stated that Weezer would be supporting Blink-182 on their upcoming tour. The May 28, 2009 issue of Rolling Stone magazine later added Fall Out Boy, in addition to Weezer, as an opener for the tour.[24] Official tour dates were announced on May 15, 2009 on Billboard.com; the tour lasted from July 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada and ended on October 3 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. [25] In December 2009, Hoppus announced that the trio will embark on a European tour in Summer 2010.[26][27]
[edit]Band members

Current
Tom DeLonge – vocals, guitars (1992–2005, 2009–present)
Mark Hoppus – vocals, bass (1992–2005, 2009–present)
Travis Barker – drums, percussion (1998–2005, 2009–present)
Former
Scott Raynor – drums, percussion (1992–1998)
Session
Roger Joseph Manning Jr - keyboards (1996–2005, 2009–present)
[edit]Discography

Main articles: Blink-182 discography and List of Blink-182 songs
Cheshire Cat (1994)
Dude Ranch (1997)
Enema of the State (1999)
Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001)
Blink-182 (2003)
[edit]Musical style and influences

Blink 182's musical style has been described by various sources as "pop punk",[28][29][30] "punk rock",[31][32][33] "punk revival",[34] and "skate punk".[8] The band have particularly been cited for their influence on contemporary pop punk music.[4] Bill Lamb of About.com described the bands sound as being, "marked by a radio-friendly sheen, but it still maintains much of the speed and attitude of classic punk rock".[35] Tom DeLonge cites punk rock bands Descendents and Screeching Weasel as influences,[36] although the band's songwriting and production are driven by a pop sensibility. They typically combine elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees, as is most pop punk. Blink-182 is known for their simple melodies, teen angst and lyrical toilet humor. They often targeting subjects such as love and growing up. These being fused into multiple hit singles such as "Dammit", "What's My Age Again?", "All the Small Things", "Adam's Song", "The Rock Show", "First Date", "Stay Together for the Kids", "Feeling This", and "I Miss You". When playing live, the band typically play their songs at a faster tempo and often replace certain lyrics with toilet humor and various gags.[37]
[edit]In other media

Blink-182 made a cameo appearance in the 1999 comedy hit movie American Pie. They appear in a scene while they're interrupted rehearsing to see a webcast on a computer. Mark, Tom, and Travis all feature in the scene, along with a fake extra band member. In the movie credits, drummer Travis Barker is wrongly credited as former Blink-182 drummer Scott Raynor, even though Raynor left the band a year earlier in 1998. Also, when their song "Mutt" is credited, Travis Barker's name is misspelled as "Travis Barkor".
In 1999 the band appeared at the end of the 2nd episode of season 3 of Two Guys and a Girl, "Au Revoir, Pizza Place", in the episode they perform "What's My Age Again?" in the nude at a party at the pizza place, this is the last time the pizza place is featured in the show.
In 2001, Mark Hoppus' sister released a book about the genesis of the band entitled Blink-182: Tales From Beneath Your Mom.[38] As of 2006, another book has been in the works. Before Travis Barker's plane crash his assistant Chris Baker was helping with the project. In February 2009, Chris Holmes wrote on his blog disclaiming that the book "is so un-official"[39]
In 2003, the band appeared on an episode of The Simpsons, "Barting Over".
The band also performed a skit on Mad TV, "Leave it to Blink-182".
The band is also working on a documentary movie, currently titled The Blinkumentary, about their recent reformation and reunion tour. On August 26, 2009, an official trailer for the documentary was posted on the production company's official Youtube page.[40] A second trailer appeared on November 7, 2009,[41] and then a third trailer appeared on January 10th 2010.[42]
Blink-182 is one of the bands to be featured in a documentary about modern punk music. The film, entitled One Nine Nine Four, was due to be released in 2009 but has been delayed. Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk will narrate the film, which will also feature other punk acts such as Rancid, Bad Religion, Green Day, NOFX, and The Offspring.[43]
[edit]Awards and nominations

Blink-182 has had the most success at the Teen Choice Awards, winning three awards: Choice Rock Group (2000) and Best Rock Group (2001) for the band, and Choice Love Song (2004) for the song "I Miss You". "All the Small Things", a single from the band's Enema of the State album, received three nominations from the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000: Video of the Year, Best Pop Video, and Best Group Video, which it won. Overall, Blink-182 has received seven awards from ten nominations.
[edit]MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1994 by MTV Europe. Blink-182 has received two awards.[44][45][46]
Year Nominated work Award Result
2000 Blink-182 Best New Act Won
2001 Blink-182 Best Rock Act Won
[edit]MTV Video Music Awards
The MTV Video Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by MTV. Blink-182 has received one award from four nominations.[44][47][48]
Year Nominated work Award Result
2000 "All the Small Things" Best Group Video Won
Video of the Year Nominated
Best Pop Video Nominated
2002 "First Date" Best Group Video Nominated
[edit]Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards is an annual awards show organized by Nickelodeon. Blink-182 has received one award.[44][49]
Year Nominated work Award Result
2001 Blink-182 Favorite Band Won
[edit]Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards is an awards show presented annually by the Fox Broadcasting Company. Blink-182 has received three awards.[44][50][51][52]
Year Nominated work Award Result
2000 Blink-182 Choice Rock Group Won
2001 Blink-182 Best Rock Group Won
2004 "I Miss You" Choice Love Song Won