Everyone remembers Blink 182, that pop-punk trio who made waves with hits like "All the Small Things" and "Feeling You." The time of Blink 182 was the time of innocence, the time of chasing girls, and the time when you could act like the teenagers you were appealing to. That, according to ex-frontman Tom Delonge, is all "bullsh*t."
It has now been close to two years since the relatively mysterious breakup of Blink 182 and a lot has occurred since. (Check out Hoppus' interpretation of the events.) Drummer Travis Barker had a minor fling with The Transplants before forming Plus 44 — or (+44) — with Mark Hoppus, and they are set to release their debut album. Former co-frontman Tom Delonge, on the other hand, has gone on to form a U2-influenced rock supergroup, Angels and Airwaves. Everyone who has been following the continuing melodrama that is the breakup of Blink would know over the past year or so, Delonge has become somewhat egocentric.
His latest example of this was at a recent concert, in which he lashed out against his former band, a stir that was filmed by an audience member, and subsequently uploaded to Youtube. Halfway through an Angels and Airwaves song, Delonge ripped into a rant about his hatred for "bullsh*t pop bands and their bullsh*t pop songs" or, in full: "I do not want to be in a bullshit pop band with some bullshit pop songs while you drive your fucking bullshit car and sing along to it like you're some 14-year old girl."
In writing, the effect seems to be lessened somewhat. The video puts it better:
Of course, on the one hand, these comments can be taken simply as referring to the vast array of pop-punk bands now sprouting up everywhere, rather than Blink 182. According to a friend of mine, the setlist performed by Angels and Airwaves during their recent Sydney tour included a minor reference to older Blink material, and would suggest Delonge didn't mean his own band. Unfortunately, Delonge's recent egocentric antics could lead anyone to believe that, perhaps, while he has a deep hatred for his former band, he remains in love with his own material; it's been done before.
The truth? That will probably come six months down the track in a Myspace comment of some sort.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Berlin
I don't think The Transplants were ever a fling for Barker, James -- it's always been a side-project for him and Armstrong and Aston as they're all involved in multiple bands.
2 - Katie McNeill
He has always been in love with his own stuff. But for the most part it's pretty good. Most of the time.
I think it's kind of sad though that in a middle of a song he had to stop and rant at the crowd.
3 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
The best fling Mr. Barker had was with The Vandals or w/ his ex on their TV show...
Honestly, though, what does Delonge think he's producing now... Some really grown up talented music? HA!!
4 - Steve Hardy
If Tom Keeps this attitude he is more likely to lose any remaining fans he has rather than gain fans from the middle aged U2 meatload ect......... fanbase . To think years ago he laughed at that sort of thing , I think what really sucks the most is all this bickering and namecalling in interviews about ex bandmates so if they could all be civil to each other it'd be a step in the right direction . When I picked up kerrang this morning and there was +44 on the front and the heading read Fuck Tom Delonge I just thought how sad it is how its come to this
5 - L
FYI- the name of the song is "Feeling This"...not "Feeling You"
6 - James Hutchinson
Apologies, with that song I went off pure memory rather than cross-checking even with my own copy of the album.
7 - Jon
Whatever. It is all pretty childish. I am pretty much one of the biggest Blink-182 fans you could find. I just think its ridiculous that nobody can be honest enough to just say everything that happened and for all 3 to at least confirm that it is the truth. As fans in the meantime, we listen and support the two new bands that have come out of this argument, silently hoping that both fail and result in Blink 182 reforming. This, sadly, on the evidence of the video and interviews with AVA and (+44) is less and less likely, if not impossible to happen.
Tom deLonge should really remeber why he is where he is and who put him there. his "shitty pop songs about girls" gave him a life that all fans of Blink 182 dream of and aspire to and he effectively pissed it all away.
That is fine if he felt that he had to pursue a new direction, but why alienate your fans who treat you like a God and fucking support whatever you do, not matter how shit, controversial or different it may be.
The fact is people liked Blink 182. People love them. They are popular not just because of the music, but for who they are to their fans and what, for the majority of their career together, they gave to their fans live. No matter how average their music could sound when played live on an of day, their banter and togetherness and comfort of being onstage together would turn a mediocre show into a memorable one for any fan who took their interest further than the fron cover of a cd or one of their singles that got overplayed on the radio.
Blink 182 deserved to be massive and deserved their success. Mark, Tom and Travis all deserve the right to go their different ways if it is what they feel is best. But they do not really have the right to alienate their fans to whom the three mean the world in terms of icons.
Tom de Longe deserves to lose his fans for that comment, but at the same time, if he thinks he is having a pop at Mark and Travis or (+44), he should remember who penned 50% if not more of Blink's "pop shit".
At the end of the day. I, as a fan would support any of those three guys to the hilt as musicians. It just makes you have less respect for them when one of them does somethin like that.
P.S. I sing along like a 14 year-old girl. Whats wrong with it?
8 - anon-82
hei,u ra seiffish worker.i was alaways a good fan of u but not now
9 - James
what happened to tom all he cares about right now is himself, when asked about the breakup he gives bullshit vague answers to avoid the question, why doesnt he just straight up tell what he thinks of his old band in an interview than in a damn concert from another country, his new music sucks ne way, how can he do that to his fans and what i dont get is that he sings the blink song down at ava concerts, if youre gonna play blink songs y breakup? i hope tom realizes how selfish he is and i hope he and mark and travis can make up and reform blink 182
10 - josh
TOM NEEDS A HAIRCUT!
11 - Lyndon
Personally.Mark and Travis want blink to workout. Tom is being a douchebag cocksucker obviously,he got his fucking MANAGER to call Mark telling him the band was over, and they have not spoke since that. And the material they were writing for new songs,Tom used in Angels and Gaywaves. +44 Is great,And I enjoy alot how they make constant references on how big of a douchebag tom is,and how they can't stand him anymore. I hope Tom loses fame,and Mark gains fame,and Tom runs back to mark like a sissyfaggot, telling him "blink182 should be remade" well fuck that. The greatest hit album was toms idea in the first place. ending blink182 for good.
12 - Sam
I think one of those comments hit the nail on the head; what the hell does Tom think he's doing now, making masterpieces or something? AVA is poppier than Blink 182 in most respects. The reason why it isn't labeled such is that it's too boring and not catchy enough to be pop. At least Blink had some fast stuff and they could keep your attention (well, at least until the end of their career. That last album was absolutely pathetic.)
13 - justin
well i think tom is just posing trying to be some one hes not hes tom delonge he ditched the two most amazing musichins in the world for some fucking emo fags and he cant say ne thing about pop punk cause he is the one who started blink so and when his new band mates get sick of him wher does he have to go you just cant keep quiting and starting new bands so we will see.
14 - Jason Herron
Travis is a god!!! as for mark hes just as goood but i was a little dissapointed with tom i have a band created of the blink 182 style and im the bass guitarist of the band i loved tom in the old days but he stoped the greatest music ever mark and travis should go on tour without him and find a replacement but i can see the respect for tom but he disrespected blink and all the fans
15 - Logan Smaltiak
I personally am not a huge fan of the whole fight between the two bands, and am also not a fan of Toms new style of Anti-Warism. I don't get it! He used to act like he didn't care at all what was going on in the world with blink 182, so i think thats a little messed up.
16 - tech
Just worked w/AVA over the weekend at the Next Big Thing. They were great...wish the FOH mixed in front than the side. Tom was great...about those comments about him having a big ego isn't true. During the My Chemical Romance set a security personnel told him to stand behind the taped area (side of stage) w/everyone else (artist's guest passes)...so he stood there watching like everyone else (no rockstar attitude). I talked to security to let him through. After he went through, he shook my hand and gave me a thumbs up. He went on to talk w/ Jared Leto. Cool guy!
17 - Steve Hardy
I Just Hope That Both bands especially Tom Can put aside their Differences and Just make up before its too late cos then there will be no going back and Life is too short so even if it isn't possible for blink to get back together if they could Just make up and be friends again that would be something cos its really depressing to watch video's of them and see just how great they were together and how things are with them right now
18 - Greg
yeah..he nvr said that blink was a bullshit pop band. remember blink made fun of bullshit pop bands in all the small things video? so i guess mark, tom, and travis all agree on that dont they. people are once again makin a pathetic attempt to trash tom.
19 - natt
i think that tom delonge will never read this so fuck him, i love the old tom .. love the jokes.. i really think that TOM DELONGE WITHOUT MARK AND TRAVIS IS NO ONE!!! and.. he'll call them some nearly day (i hope so)... he has to change some attitude i cant belive all the things he said..
he's and asshole...!!!!
20 - Garrett
yeah i still love blink and still listen to there shit every day...i must say that even though i love all of them BOTH of there new bands pretty much suck...but if i had to choose i would choose +44 they at least have a few good songs on the cd...the fact is they can all make new bands and do all the shit they want to but they will never have the success of blink...ever...as for toms comments here...i think he is full of shit and has a big ego...i think deep down he really does miss blink and wants to get back togather put that would be to big of a blow to his pride since he started it all..they should just quit bull shittin with each other...sit down, talk about it and work it out...and make a new cd called "the reunion" or somthin like that
i have heard that blink has put aside there differences and is in the process of making one final cd called "one for the kids" and then after that they will officially announce the breakup of blink
i think thats cool and all cuz they should do one for the fans..not just leave us out in the cold like they have done but if they are still mad at eachother it will reflect in the CD and it will just be shit
oh and FUCK TOM he needs to remember how he got to be the person he is now....i just flushed all my respect for him down the toliot
FUCK YOU TOM I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL FOR BREAKING BLINK UP...AND YES IT IS YOUR FAULT...AND I HOPE YOU READ THIS AND IT EATS AT YOUR SOUL YOU WORTHLESS PEICE OF SHIT
21 - jonny
why can't tom stop making boring music plus 44 are amazing
22 - jonny
fuck you josh i have hair like tom
23 - jonny
big brother just started
24 - jonny
tom did break up blink he got his manager to call mark and that sex monkey travis to say he was no longer a member of blink182. he couldnt even do it face to face. tom you chunkey monkey you ruined my life
25 - catie
i think Tom Delonge is as fit as much as the next person.I luv AVA and I luv (+44).They r totally different to each other, so I dnt prefer one of them .
I hope they do bring out another last album, but not a half assed attempt, a decent thing that we can all remember them by.
If toms as great as he says heis then he will be bessie mates with Mark and Trav again cos lifes to short to forget about the people who helped make you.They always tlked about how they wudnt let anything get in the way of their friendship.I do think it was tom's fault Blink broke up but I got over it.I still luv blink and always will, n i listen to dere shit evryday but i ust realli hope they can make up.all u lot r doin is provin that u can stop talkin about Tom!!