History of Blink-182 in Timeline
Blink-182 is an American rock band formed in 1992, known for their pop-punk sound. The band's core members are Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker. Their music blends pop melodies with punk rock energy, and their lyrics often explore themes of relationships, adolescence, and immaturity. Emerging from the Southern California skate punk scene, Blink-182 gained fame through energetic live performances and a humorous, irreverent approach.
1981: US Record Companies attempt to jump on the punk bandwagon
In 1981, US record companies attempted to jump on the punk bandwagon, resulting in sanitized, castrated, shrink-wrapped "new wave" crap, according to NME.
August 2, 1992: DeLonge and Hoppus Meet
On August 2, 1992, Anne Hoppus introduced her brother Mark to Tom DeLonge, leading to their instant connection and the beginning of their musical collaboration.
August 1992: Band Formed in Poway, California
In August 1992, Blink-182 was formed in Poway, California. Tom DeLonge met Scott Raynor after being expelled from Poway High School.
1992: Band Formation
In 1992, Blink-182 was formed in Poway, California. The band blended pop melodies with punk rock, focusing on relationships and adolescence.
May 1993: "Flyswatter" Demo Recorded
In May 1993, Blink-182 recorded their demo tape "Flyswatter" in Raynor's bedroom, featuring original songs and punk covers.
1994: "Buddha" Demo Release
In 1994, Blink-182 recorded "Buddha" at Doubletime studio, which the band considered their first legitimate release.
February 1995: "Cheshire Cat" Released
In February 1995, Blink-182 released their debut album "Cheshire Cat". Also the band changed their name to Blink-182 to avoid legal issues with an Irish band also named Blink.
1995: Debut Album Release
In 1995, Blink-182 released their debut studio album, "Cheshire Cat".
1995: Cheshire Cat Album Era
In 1995, early albums such as Cheshire Cat were recorded with original drummer Scott Raynor and consisted of fast-paced, double-time songs.
1995: First National Tour
In late 1995, Blink-182 embarked on their first national tour, promoting the surf video "Good Times" with other bands.
1995: Raynor Returns
In mid-1995, after a brief relocation of Raynor's family, he moved back in with Hoppus. During that time the band recorded their first album.
March 1996: Major Label Bidding War
In March 1996, Blink-182 generated a bidding war among major labels like Interscope, MCA, and Epitaph, eventually signing with MCA.
1996: Partnership with UMG Leads to Sellout Accusations
In 1996, Blink-182 partnered with UMG, leading to accusations of selling out from the underground punk scene.
1997: "Dude Ranch" and Warped Tour
In 1997, Blink-182 released "Dude Ranch" and headed out on the Warped Tour.
1997: Second Album Release
In 1997, Blink-182 released their second studio album, "Dude Ranch".
1997: Dude Ranch Album Era
In 1997, Blink-182's album Dude Ranch was recorded with original drummer Scott Raynor and consisted of fast-paced, double-time songs.
1998: Travis Barker Joins
In 1998, Scott Raynor was dismissed and Travis Barker replaced him as the drummer for Blink-182.
1999: Rise to Fame and Public Image
In 1999, Blink-182 adjusted to larger venues and gained notoriety for juvenile antics, including a cameo in "American Pie".
1999: "Enema of the State" Success
In 1999, Blink-182 became one of the biggest international rock acts with the release of "Enema of the State", selling over fifteen million copies.
2001: "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket" Release and Tour
In 2001, Blink-182 released "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket", which reached number one in the U.S., and supported it with the Pop Disaster Tour with Green Day.
2001: Federal Trade Commission Report Condemns Lewd Lyrics
In 2001, a Federal Trade Commission report condemned the entertainment industry for marketing lewd lyrics to American youth, specifically naming Blink-182.
2002: Box Car Racer Side Project
In 2002, Tom DeLonge channeled his back pain into Box Car Racer, a side project with Travis Barker, creating a rift with Mark Hoppus.
November 2003: Release of the Untitled Album
In November 2003, Blink-182 released their fifth studio album, the untitled album, through Geffen Records. The album, featuring a "smiley face" logo on the cover, was inspired by experimental elements, lifestyle changes and the band members becoming fathers.
2003: Untitled Album Release
In 2003, Blink-182 released their untitled album.
2003: Radio Friendly Music
In 2003, Blink-182 was considered more radio-friendly than their predecessors and wrote catchy songs that were played by radio stations.
February 2005: Announcement of Indefinite Hiatus
In February 2005, Blink-182 announced an indefinite hiatus due to arguments regarding their future and recording process. Tom DeLonge's desire for creative freedom and to spend more time with his family clashed with Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker's preferences.
2008: Reunion Discussions Following Tragedy
In 2008, after the death of Jerry Finn and Travis Barker's near-fatal plane crash in September 2008, the members of Blink-182 met to discuss their hiatus and break-up, leading to initial discussions about a possible reunion.
February 2009: Reunion Announcement at the Grammy Awards
In February 2009, Blink-182 appeared on stage together at the Grammy Awards to announce their reunion after a five-year hiatus, marking a new chapter for the band.
October 2009: Reunion Tour of North America
From July to October 2009, Blink-182 embarked on a successful reunion tour of North America, marking their return to performing together after their hiatus.
2009: Most Influential Bands of the Past 30 Years
In 2009, Alternative Press ranked Blink-182 the fourth of the "30 Most Influential Bands of the Past 30 Years,".
September 2010: European Reunion Tour
From August to September 2010, Blink-182 continued their reunion with a European tour, showcasing their renewed collaboration to international audiences.
September 2011: Release of 'Neighborhoods'
In September 2011, Blink-182 released their sixth studio album, "Neighborhoods". Despite peaking at number two on the Billboard 200, the album's singles had modest chart success.
2011: Honda Civic Tour Headlining
In 2011, Blink-182 co-headlined the 10th Annual Honda Civic Tour in North America with My Chemical Romance, showcasing the band's continued presence in the music scene.
2011: "Neighborhoods" Release
In 2011, Blink-182 released the album "Neighborhoods".
2011: Neighborhoods Explores Darker Territory
In 2011, Blink-182's album Neighborhoods explored darker themes such as depression and loss.
2011: Blink-182 Most Influential Punk Band of the 1990s
In 2011, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times asserted that "no punk band of the 1990s has been more influential than Blink-182."
2012: "Dogs Eating Dogs" EP Release
In 2012, Blink-182 released the EP "Dogs Eating Dogs".
2014: Tom DeLonge Briefly Quits and Rejoins
According to Travis Barker's memoir, in 2014, Tom DeLonge abruptly quit Blink-182 sometime in mid-2014, only to rejoin the following day, highlighting the internal tensions within the band.
2014: Tom Delonge's Views on Mainstream Appeal
In 2014, Tom Delonge commented on Blink-182's mainstream appeal in an interview and how they don't want obstacles between the band and their audience.
January 2015: Planned Album Writing and DeLonge's Departure
In January 2015, Blink-182 planned to begin writing their seventh album. However, Tom DeLonge's manager informed the band he intended to spend more time on non-musical activities and indefinitely depart from the group.
March 2015: Matt Skiba "Fills In"
In March 2015, Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio was enlisted to "fill in" for Tom DeLonge for three shows, marking the beginning of Skiba's involvement with Blink-182.
2015: Matt Skiba Joins
In 2015, Tom DeLonge left the band and Matt Skiba joined Blink-182.
July 2016: Release of "California"
In July 2016, Blink-182 released their album "California", which became their second number-one album on the Billboard 200 and their first in 15 years. The lead single, "Bored to Death", became a major hit.
October 2016: North American Headlining Tour
Between July and October 2016, Blink-182 supported the album "California" with a large headlining tour across North America.
2016: "California" Album Release
In 2016, Blink-182 released the album "California" with Matt Skiba.
2016: California Aims for Universality
In 2016, the album California aimed for universality but also focused on miscommunication and loss of identity.
July 2017: European Leg of "California" Tour
In June and July 2017, Blink-182 continued to tour in support of "California" with a European leg, expanding their reach internationally.
2019: "Nine" Album Release
In 2019, Blink-182 released the album "Nine" with Matt Skiba.
2019: Release of "Nine"
In 2019, Blink-182 released their eighth studio album, "Nine", through Columbia Records, augmenting their pop punk sound with hip hop-inspired programming and electronics.
2019: "All the Small Things" Theme Song for Colorado Avalanche
In 2019, Blink-182's song "All the Small Things" became the theme song of the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche.
January 18, 2020: Last Performance With Matt Skiba
On January 18, 2020, Blink-182's last performance with Matt Skiba took place at iHeartRadio's 2020 ALTer EGO in Los Angeles, marking the end of his official tenure with the band.
June 23, 2021: Mark Hoppus' Cancer Diagnosis
On June 23, 2021, Mark Hoppus publicly confirmed his diagnosis with a rare form of cancer and that he had been receiving treatment for the last three months.
2021: Blink-182 a Generational Touchstone
In 2021, Sanneh called Blink-182 a "generational touchstone" in his book Major Labels, arguing their sound and humor aged gracefully.
October 11, 2022: Tom DeLonge's Return Announcement
On October 11, 2022, Tom DeLonge's official return to Blink-182 was announced, along with a world tour and plans for a new album.
October 2022: Social Media Teaser Campaign
In October 2022, Blink-182 began posting cryptic messages on their social media accounts and deleted all previous posts, fueling speculation about Tom DeLonge's return.
2022: Tom DeLonge Returns
In 2022, Tom DeLonge returned to Blink-182 after his departure in 2015.
October 20, 2023: "One More Time..." Album Release
On October 20, 2023, Blink-182 released their ninth album, "One More Time...".
August 2024: Future Plans and New Beginning
In August 2024, Tom DeLonge stated that Blink-182 will always be the priority and is looking forward to a whole new beginning for the band.
September 6, 2024: Release of "One More Time... Part-2"
On September 6, 2024, Blink-182 released a deluxe edition of their ninth studio album called One More Time... Part-2.
