blink-182 and Tom DeLonge are Back
Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker, photo by Jack Bridgland
It was announced earlier today that blink-182 would officially be reuniting with founding member Tom DeLonge. In their juvenile fashion, the three bandmates released a tongue-in-cheek video announcing their upcoming 2023 album and tour(dates listed below). The album's first single, “Edging,” will be released this Friday, October 14.
. Forming nearly 30 years ago in a San Diago garage, blink-182 has become one of the most influential bands of the late ‘90s and probably the most popular pop-punk band of all time. The group has sold over fifty-million albums and played to audiences worldwide. blink-182 released its first album, Chesire Cat, in 1995, followed by Dude Ranch in ‘97. But it was not until Travis Barker came on board to replace the group's original drummer, Scott Raynor, that blink-182 officially began to solidify their legacy as the silly yet undeniably electrifying trio of punk misfits. The group would release two of their most popular albums, Enema of the State and Take Off Your Pants And Jacket, before branching out into side projects in 2002. The following year they released their self-titled album before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2005. Barker was seriously injured in a tragic plane crash in 2008, prompting the band to reunite for the album “Neighborhoods” and sporadic touring throughout the 2010s.
DeLonge unceremoniously departed the band in 2015 by having his management team break the news to his former bandmates via email. The move left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. When asked about it during an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Barker said, “Why Blink even got back together in the first place is questionable.” After DeLonge exited the band, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker continued under the blink-182 banner, with Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio attempting to fill Delonge’s shoes.
The reunion announcement feels like a genuine mending of fences, prompted, no doubt, by Mark Hoppus’ recent battle with cancer. While blink-182 could have taken the easy road of a few choice festival dates playing their greatest hits, it seems the group has unfinished business. If the preview for their new single is any indication, the band has dipped into their early days when their sound was more punk than pop. Taking caution not to sound like a rehash of their former selves, this new album will undoubtedly please existing fans while gaining blink-182 a new legion of followers and, hopefully, usher in a new era for this monolith of a band.
Blink-182: 2023 Tour Dates
03-11 Tijuana, Mexico - Imperial GNP
03-14 Lima, Peru - Estadio San Marcos
03-17-19 Buenos Aires, Argentina - Lollapalooza Argentina
03-17-19 Santiago, Chile - Lollapalooza Chile
03-21-22 Asuncion, Paraguay - Venue TBA
03-23-26 Bogotá, Colombia - Estereo Picnic
03-24-26 São Paulo, Brazil - Lollapalooza Brasil
03-28 Mexico City, Mexico - Palacio de los Deportes
04-01-02 Monterrey, Mexico - Venue TBA
05-04 Saint Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
05-06 Chicago, IL - United Center
05-09 Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
05-11 Toronto, Ontario - Scotiabank Arena
05-12 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
05-16 Cleveland, OH - Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
05-17 Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena
05-19 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
05-20 Elmont, NY - UBS Arena
05-21 Boston, MA - TD Garden
05-23 Washington, D.C. - Capital One Arena
05-24 Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
05-26 Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Arena
05-27 Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
06-14 Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center
06-16 Los Angeles, CA - Banc of California Stadium
06-20 San Diego, CA - Pechanga Arena
06-22 San Jose, CA - SAP Center
06-23 Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center
06-25 Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena
06-27 Vancouver, British Columbia - Rogers Arena
06-29 Edmonton, Alberta - Rogers Place
06-30 Calgary, Alberta - Scotiabank Saddledome
07-03 Denver, CO - Ball Arena
07-05 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
07-07 Austin, TX - Moody Center
07-08 Houston, TX - Toyota Center
07-10 Tampa, FL - Amalie Arena
07-11 Ft. Lauderdale, FL - FLA Live Arena
07-13 Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
07-14 Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center
07-16 Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
09-02 Glasgow, Scotland - OVO Hydro
09-04 Belfast, Northern Ireland - SSE Arena
09-05 Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena
09-08 Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
09-09 Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
09-12 Copenhagen, Denmark - Royal Arena
09-13 Stockholm, Sweden - Avicii Arena
09-14 Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
09-16 Berlin, Germany - Mercedes-Benz Arena
09-17 Hamburg, Germany - Barclays Arena
09-19 Prague, Czech Republic - O2 Arena
09-20 Vienna, Austria - Stadthalle
10-02 Lisbon, Portugal - Altice Arena
10-03 Madrid, Spain - Wizink Centre
10-04 Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
10-06 Bologna, Italy - Unipol Arena
10-08 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
10-09 Paris, France - Accor Arena
10-11 London, England - The O2
10-14 Birmingham, England - Utilita Arena
10-15 Manchester, England - AO Arena
10-21 Las Vegas, NV - When We Were Young Festival
02-09 Perth, Australia - RAC Arena
02-11 Adelaide, Australia - Entertainment Centre
02-13 Melbourne, Australia - Rod Laver Arena
02-16 Sydney, Australia - Qudos Bank Arena
02-19 Brisbane, Australia - Entertainment Centre
02-23 Auckland, New Zealand - Spark Arena
02-26 Christchurch, New Zealand - Christchurch Arena
