Blink-182 (formed 1992)
Blink-182 is a Californian pop punk band that rose to fame with hits such as 'All The Small Things.'
Formation: Blink-182's first demo tape was recorded in 1993, under the name Blink. Named 'Flyswatter', the tape was mainly distributed amongst family and friends, because of the poor sound quality of the recording. Later that year, they recorded 'Demo #2'. The latter recording featured a number of songs that would go on to form their debut album.
Buddha was released by Filter Records in 1993 and later re-issued in 1998.
The Breakthrough: The band signed to Cargo Music in 1994. Their debut album for Cargo, entitled Cheshire Cat, was reportedly recorded in just three days. Two singles were released from the album ('Wasting Time' and 'M&Ms') but neither track reached the charts.
The band changed their name to Blink-182 to avoid confusion with an Irish band by the name of Blink. In 1994, the band released a split EP with Iconoclasts entitled 'Short Bus'. They then released their own three-track EP the following year, with the name 'They Came To Conquer. Uranus'.
The album Dude Ranch was released in 1997. Originally intended for release under Cargo Records, the band later signed a deal with MCA in order to increase their distribution levels.
Drummer Scott Raynor left the band in 1998, half-way through their US tour. Hoppus and DeLonge invited Travis barker to join the band (they knew Barker as he drummed for their support band, The Aquabats).
1999 saw the release of Blink-182's Enema of the State, which saw the band soar to mainstream success, with the release of singles such as 'All the Small Things', 'Adam's Song' and 'What's My Age Again?'
Blink-182 released a 'behind the scenes' DVD in 2000, entitled The Urethra Chronicles. That year, they also released The Mark, Tom and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back), a live album featuring versions of their biggest hits to date.
The band continued their success in 2001 with the release of Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. The band released the album in three different versions. Each version contained a different coloured CD and two different bonus tracks. Their promotional tour for the album suffered a number of setbacks, including being delayed because of the September 11th terrorist attacks and the rescheduled dates being delayed because of DeLonge's back troubles.
In 2002, Blink-182 toured with Green Day, as documented on the Riding In Vans With Boys DVD. Following the tour, DeLonge and Barker spent some time working on their side project, Box Car Racer.
The next year, the band released their next album, which was untitled. The album spawned the singles 'I Miss You', 'Down' and 'Feeling This'.
The Break-up: Although it was not known at the time, Blink-182's gig at The Point Depot in Dublin, would turn out to be their last. In February 2005, the band's manager telephoned Hoppus and Barker to inform them that Tom DeLonge had left the band. Although it was initially marketed as a hiatus, the band has yet to reform and it is now widely considered to be a permanent break. In 2005, Geffen released a Greatest Hits collection.
Life After Blink: In November 2005, Tom DeLonge announced the arrival of his new band, Angels and Airwaves. The band has released two albums, We Don't Need To Whisper and I-Empire.
Hoppus and Barker's new band, +44 also emerged in 2005 and released the album When Your Heart Stops Beating.
Travis Barker was involved in a plane crash in South Carolina in September 2008. His personal assistant was killed in the crash, along with three others. Barker was released from hospital in mid-October and it has been reported that he is due to make a full recovery.
Biography by Contactmusic.com
