This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply. Rolling Stone sat down with Travis Barker of Blink-182 to talk about, well, everything: He’s hopeful — not for the first time in his career — that he can help serve as a bridge to a wider world of rock. “Some of Jaden’s fans are like, ‘Whoa, Jaden invented a genre of music!’ So funny, but however they’re introduced to it, I’m fine with it,” Barker says. “Because I think even Blink was that. You know, a lot of kids discover Blink and then go back and discover the Descendents and Bad Religion and the Buzzcocks. So if kids listen to MGK and Jxdn and then discover these other bands, I mess with that. That’s cool.” And, Blink updates: While Barker’s other work continues to pick up speed, he’s eager to carry on with Blink-182. The band, which last released an album in 2019, recorded several songs with outside musicians — Grimes, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Tracy — but he’s not sure just yet how they’ll come out. He’s in regular touch with Blink singer Mark Hoppus. (Hoppus revealed that he’s undergoing chemotherapy for cancer several weeks after Barker spoke with Rolling Stone.) “I just spent the day with Mark a week ago,” says Barker. “Yesterday he was like, ‘Dude, congratulations. I’m so happy for you.’”As of late May, Barker’s plan was to spend time next year recording a full new Blink album sans collaborators, and then head out a world tour. “I think that’s going to happen more in 2022,” Barker says.”I have so many [other] things I’m obligated to do this year. I want to spend the right amount of time on the Blink album and make sure it’s one of the best pieces of work we’ve ever done…. It will be my priority. It will be the only thing I’m working o What about a Tom DeLonge reunion? Could a reunion happen? “Never say never,” Barker says. “I talk to Tom all the time. We send funny texts and stuff. The times of bad blood and the misunderstandings between us are so over with. It’s all love. We all three talk, and we’re all friends. So, yeah, I will never say never. I think if the time was right and it just made sense…” more Not all embedded content is displayed here. You can view the original to see embedded videos, tweets, etc.
Good to hear he’s not short-changin blink and when the time is right, he’ll be focused in on the new album 100%. I’m also loving his other projects. Kennyhoopla’s new EP “Survivor’s Guilt” has been on repeat since it dropped. The drums sound amazing on it. Kudos to travis & all of those involved with the project!
That part about fans of new artist’s music thinking the artist created it when it’s all a blend of influences from the past put together in a new sound, and how Blink was part of that too even if they’re looked at as the pop punk forefathers. Really hit the nail on the head. And having an open minded titan of the scene shepherding the new wave in is extra special and cool. I have my favorites from yesteryear and I can have those hipster “I liked it before it was cool” tendencies, but I try to step back and realize exposure of the masses to a wider range of music is a good thing overall.
Tom’s definitely coming back at some point as a full time member. The only way Tom doesn’t come back is if the band breaks up which is highly unlikely.
It makes sense why blink (tom) broke up. So much stuff in ones personal life can effect ones work life. And when you're younger you don't know how to juggle it. Tom clearly had personal stuff going on just like how Mark currently has personal stuff going on, just like how Travis had some stuff going on. We don't know the behind the scenes, but life is a sht show for everyone. Now that theyre older they know that and now can be more open about it to each other and in Marks case, to us as well.
The most perfect situation in my eyes would be for Mark to fully recover and have Tom rejoin, if and only if, they've sorted out all their differences and they have the ability to create from a happy place where they're collaborating in a healthy manner. I wonder if they'd keep Skiba or if he'd step aside if Tom came back.
Yeah, and honestly Skiba would be fine since he has his own legendary following with the Trio. While they're not on the same scale of huge as Blink, they're still a huge band in their own right. I think Dan and Derek would want him back too haha.
What happens to the Skiba-era music in that case? I really can't imagine Tom doing it, but coming up on 3 albums now, that's not nothing to just ditch from the sets forever.
I have to imagine that they probably want to put their friendship with Tom over making music together and potentially clashing creatively.
Idk about everyone else but I’d love blink with dual guitars. Don’t know all that much from the skiba era but I’d love to hear how it sounds as a 4 piece. Great to hear they are all on good terms, friendship should always come before business.
Blink as a four piece would be super fucking fun. Just imagine the beefy riffs. Let Tom sing only the choruses live. Mark does verses, Matt and Mark do screams and bridges. Holy shit, I think I LOVE this?
I think it's pretty unanimous if fans had a choice of Blink songs they'd mostly be from before those albums. As far as playing them on tour, they wouldn't play more than 3-5 and Tom could easily pick it up. Might actually be cool. Blink 182 is fine with Skeeba but to a lot of us it doesn't feel like Blink.
If Tom came back Skiba would leave and they would play zero of those songs. People on this site would miss them live but I don't think general audiences would
On topic though, I'm actually really liking what Travis is doing with all these kids. This sound coming back is so cool to me The song he did with Willow Smith is really cool too
To be fair, Hagar sang some Roth songs, and Cherone sang the whole catalog (briefly). David Lee Roth just couldn't hit the same notes as Hagar. Skiba doesn't have a unique vocal range or anything, so I could see Tom singing a few singles from that era. Hell, if Tom didn't want to sing Matt's parts, Mark could sing both parts if they really wanted to play Bored To Death or whatever. I remember people complaining that they couldn't differentiate Matt and Mark's vocals on that song anyway. Lol