Fun, fast and melodic, with a finger for detail and a
fistful of happiness - its San Diegos Blink-182.
Mark Hoppus (bass, vocals), Tom Delonge (guitar,
vocals) and Scott Raynor (drums) met four years ago
at an annual Future Proctologists of America camping
trip. Gathered around the campfire, these disturbed
kids recognized in one another the same love for
songs involving girls, friends, life and chronic
diarrhea. On that night, a legend was bom.
After a short-lived turn as El Cuatro and the
Cajones, a mariachl band available for weddings,
birthdays and ritual circumcisions, the boys put aside
their sombreros and plugged in their amps, hoping to
spread their goodwill, positive attitude and fondness
for toilet humor throughout the world.
Since those early days four years ago, Blink-182 has
had the opportunity to tour extensively throughout the
US, Canada, Japan and Australia with bands like
(and including) Pennywise and NOFX. Heavily
involved in the surf, skate and snowboarding scenes,
Blink-182 has been included on Taylor Steeles surf
video tours and on the 96 (and again in 97) Warped
Tour. With the help of Billabong, the boys always try
to look their best, despite the difficulties of life on the
road and the hassle of trying to find pants that fit their
peculiar groin regions.
Over the years, Blink-182 has released a number of
7s, and in 1994 they released their first full-length
album, Cheshire Cat, on Grilled Cheese (a division of
Cargo Music). In 1996, they signed a joint-venture
record deal with Cargo Music and MCA Records.
When questioned about the direction he would like to
see the band take both musically and artistically,
Mark, the grandfather of the group at 25 comments,
Well, its nothing major. I try to eat right and I work
out a couple of times a week, but only on my right
side, so Im basically only building up one butt cheek.
And I could kick your ass with it right now! Scott, the
baby at only 18, says nothing, having been raised by
a tribe of mimes in the hills of Poway. His parents
threw him out of the home when he was only four
weeks old after they caught him urinating on himself.
Tom, the middle child at 21 is perhaps the proudest of
his band, explaining, We try our hardest in
everything we do, and have a lot of fun at it. By the
way, did you know that Mark only exercises one butt
cheek?
Brought together so many nights ago by the light of
the campfire, these boys have a promising future
ahead of them. They have dedicated their young lives
to playing fun, positive, energetic music for anyone
brave enough to lend them an ear. And now with the
release of their newest album, Dude Ranch, they are
set to conquer the hearts and souls of America, the
world and eventually Uranus.
