- Pop Punk band formed in 1992, from Poway CA. The original members were Tom DeLonge (guitars, vocals), Mark Hoppus (bass guitar, vocals) and Scott Raynor (drums). Raynor was fired in 1998, replaced by Travis Barker. DeLonge was the frontman until 2015 – his inability to commit to future albums and tours forced him from the band, and he was replaced by Matt Skiba.
- DeLonge and Raynor met in high school at a Battle of the Bands competition. Hoppus met DeLonge soon after, and the three formed an immediate friendship, with their mutual like of punk rock music. DeLonge and Hoppus soon started co-writing songs. The songs were typical of Southern California punk – more melodic than New York City punk. By 1993, they had recorded the demo tape Flyswatter in Raynor’s bedroom, and they started playing clubs in San Diego.
- As they became more popular, they signed with an independent label and recorded their debut album (under the band name Blink), Cheshire Cat, in 1995. The album received little airplay, but is considered iconic by fans of the band. It caught the attention of the Irish band Blink, who threatened a lawsuit. The band then added the random number -182.
- After a tour that increased their visibility, they signed with a major label that could support major distribution of their work. They released their second album, Dude Ranch, in 1997, and their popularity grew after the single Dammit received more radio airplay.
- By 1999, the group became rock stars with the release of Enema of the State. The album cover featured porn star Janine Lindemulder dressed in a nurses uniform, putting on a rubber glove. Three singles were huge – What’s My Age Again?, All the Small Things, and Adam’s Song. The album sold over 15 million copies, and Blink-182 had become one of the biggest rock bands at the turn of the century,
- The follow-up album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket debuted at #1, and 3 hit singles The Rock Show, Stay Together for the Kids and First Date continued their legacy as mainstream pop-punk stars. Their fifth album in 2003, named Blink-182, maintained their pop punk sound while including some more experimental sounds. Fans supported it, but some were less enthusiastic. The band also was showing cracks under the stress of constant travel. By February 2005, the band went on hiatus, then soon broke up, as DeLonge feuded with the rest of the band.
- After a plane accident nearly killed drummer Travis Barker, the three band members reconnected and showed interest in reforming. They did a reunion tour in 2009, and recorded a new album, Neighborhoods, released in 2011. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, but the singles were only modestly successful. Meanwhile, tensions began to build again between the band members.
- In 2015, they planned to work on their seventh album, but DeLonge was not cooperative in scheduling. Subsequently, Hoppus and Barker ousted DeLonge, and they recorded California with a new guitarist, Matt Skiba. Released in 2016, this album was very successful – it became the band’s second #1 album, and the single Bored To Death was their first #1 single in 12 years.
- Blink-182 has its place in music history as a second-wave band in pop-punk. Many reviewers considered them a joke act, largely because they seemed to be having so much fun at what they were doing. They are fun to watch – the What’s My Age Again? video of them running naked through the streets of LA is infamous.