Blink-182 Biography

Blink 182 is an American punk rock band formed in 1992. Before their commercial debut, the band gained recognition by playing various gigs and consecrating their energic music full of odd lyrics and “toilet humor”. They became insanely popular in the late 90s with hits like Adam’s Song and All the Small Things. The group split up in 2005 and reunited in 2009. Overall, they sold over 50 million albums worldwide.

Early Years & Breakthrough

Blink 182 was formed in the suburbs of San Diego by Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Scott Raynor. Their musical journey started by playing various gigs at local bars, and later, opening acts for the liked of NOFX and Green Day. In 1994 they released a compilation of demos, titled Buddha.

Shortly after, they released their debut studio album, Cheshire Cat. The album offered them exposure, which led to them touring with Pennywise and NOFTX during 1996-1997. In 1999, the group released their breakthrough album, Enema of the State. It was an immediate and major success, selling over 4 million copies. Furthermore, it spawned the iconic singles What’s My Age Again?, All the Small Things, and Adam’s Song. 

Success, Split & Reformation

Following up on that success, the punk rock trio released another album Take Off Your Pants. The album generated a popular single, Stay Together For the Kids. Moreover, in 2003 Blink 182 released a self-titled album, Not only was it a high-seller, it also generated numerous acclaimed singles. Even though Feeling This and I Miss You were the most broadcasted, Stockholm Syndrome, Down and Always also dominated the rock music charts. Additionally, the album featured Robert Smith of The Cure, on the song All of This.

In 2005, the group announced a mysterious hiatus. During that break, they focused on solo projects, such as Travis Barker’s second band +44. In 2008 the drummer went through a terrible plane crash. It took him 11 months to recover but, shortly after, Blink 182 reunited. They toured with Weezer and announced a sixth studio album. The album, titled Neighborhoods, came out in 2011. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 but received mixed reviews. In 2016, the group released their latest album, California. It topped numerous charts and turned out to be a bigger success. Consequently, the group embarked on a tour with All Time Low, A Day to Remember, and All-American Rejects.

Photo source: Discogs