Travis Barker reveals trio of special guests on blink-182's new studio album
The record is 60% done
blink-182 drummer Travis Barker has revealed the special guest performers on the pop-punk trio’s ninth studio album.
Travis Barker appeared on the Rock This podcast with Allison Hagendorf over the weekend to discuss rapper Trippie Redd’s new project ‘NEON SHARK vs. Pegasus’, which Barker has executive produced.
Naturally, the conversation moved onto blink-182 and Barker confirmed that the as-yet-untitled follow-up record to 2019’s ‘Nine’ is “60% done” and it features collaborations with a trio of special guests – serial hitmaker Pharrell Williams, rapper Lil Uzi Vert and electro pop musician Grimes.
Explaining that he, Mark Hoppus and Matt Skiba are “slowly finishing up” the album with a view to release it later in 2021, Barker said: “There’s like a song with Grimes right now that’s really, really cool that I love. There’s a song with Uzi that’s really, really cool that we did with Pharrell.”
Revealing more about the Lil Uzi Vert collaboration, Barker continued: “I mean, it’s not like Blink’s making a rap song or anything. It’s like bringing Uzi over to our world. So it’s more of a punk kind of like reggae feeling song. I don’t think Blink will ever be anything but a pop-punk band. I mean, that’s who we are. And I feel like our fans have kind of journeyed with us when we’ve done songs like ‘Miss You’ or ballads like ‘Adam’s Song’.
“But, like, we’re never going to veer too far off from what we are – like, I’m like a punk kid at heart, you know what I mean? Whether it’s like pop-punk with Blink or whatever with (Machine Gun Kelly) or whatever with Trippie, that’s where my heart’s at. Like, I was raised on rap music and punk rock music. It’s kind of all I know…”
Last August, blink-182 released the standalone single ‘Quarantine’, which was inspired by the boredom of lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic.
blink-182 through the years:
1992
blink-182 were formed in 1992, when Tom DeLonge entered a Battle of the Bands competition at high school and met drummer Scott Raynor. After befriending a fellow musician named Kerry Key and his girlfriend Anne Hoppus, she then introduced her brother Mark - and the rest, as they say, is history.
1993-1995
Between 1993 and 1995, the band began recording a lot of music. They released two demo tapes in 1993 - Flyswatter and Demo No.2 - and in 1994 recorded their debut album, 'Cheshire Cat', as well as performing their first big gig. The album was released in 1995 and embarked on their first national tour.
1996-1997
After a lot of touring, blink started work on a second album, and also signed to their first major label - MCA, who also looked after artists like Boston, Alice Cooper, Lynyrd Skynyrd and New Found Glory. The second album, 'Dude Ranch', was released in 1997 and was certified Platinum in the US, spawning singles 'Dammit' and 'Josie'.
1998
In 1998, Scott left the band, and Travis Barker - drummer for the band's tour-mates The Aquabats - stepped in, learning the 20-song setlist in 45 minutes. He joined the band full time in July.
1999
The band released their third album, 'Enema of the State', in 1999 - the first with Travis installed as the drummer. It was their most successful album to date, being certified 5× Platinum in the US and Platinum in the UK. It included singles like 'What's My Age Again?' and 'All the Small Things'.
2000-2001
They spent 2000 touring heavily, which included their first big headline tour, and in 2001 released 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket'. It had some of blink's most well-known songs like 'First Date', 'The Rock Show' and 'Stay Together for the Kids'. Travis and Tom also formed side-project Box Car Racer with guitarist David Kennedy.
2002-2005
blink went on a co-headlining tour in 2002 with Green Day, and Travis and Tom each spent time on separate side-projects. They returned to the studio in 2003 to make their self-titled fifth album, and co-headline a tour with No Doubt in 2004. Sadly, the trio disbanded in 2005 after Tom DeLonge quit, leaving fans all over the world devastated.
2005-2009: Side-projects
Travis and Mark formed new band +44, whilst Tom announced his own, Angels & Airwaves. +44 was made up of Travis and Mark, as well as guitarists Shane Gallagher from The Nervous Return and Craig Fairbaugh of Mercy Killers. They had successful singles like 'When Your Heart Stops Beating' and 'Cliffdiving'.
Angels & Airwaves
Tom formed Angels & Airwaves with Ryan Sinn, Atom Willard and David Kennedy in 2005, releasing successful singles 'The Adventure' and 'Everything's Magic'. Tom continued to work with the band even when blink reunited in 2009.
2009-2011
Tom, Travis and Mark reunited in 2009 following Travis' involvement in a near-fatal plane crash. He said at the Grammys, "We used to play music together, and we decided we're going to play music together again." They embarked on a Greatest Hits tour and put out sixth album 'Neighborhoods' two years later in 2011. The album has since been certified Gold, selling over 100,000 copies in the UK.
2012
After 'Neighborhoods' failed to perform as well as expected, the band admitted that it wasn't their "best effort", and split from their label Interscope. Mark told MTV News, "It's a very exciting time here. I feel like our band is in the best place it's been in a long time." They also released an EP entitled 'Dogs Eating Dogs' in December and reveal a seventh album is on the way.
2013
Sadly, the band don't make any progress on the seventh album, and Travis' fear of flying keeps him from being able to tour with the band in Australia, being replaced by Brooks Wackerman. Cracks began to show in the band once again after Travis had a Twitter argument about his no-show in Australia, and Tom and Mark even discussed kicking him out of the band.
2015-2016
Vocalist and guitarist Tom departed the group in 2015, and was replaced by Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba, and the band released seventh album 'California' in 2016. The album, which featured tracks such as 'Bored to Death' and 'She's Out of Her Mind', became their first Number 1 single since 2001 and even earned them a Grammy nomination.
2017-2018
The band spent most of the next two years touring, and also produced a deluxe version of 'California'. They played at various festivals and had a massive UK tour in 2017, and even had a residency at Las Vegas in 2018 entitled Kings of the Weekend.
2019
In 2019, Mark revealed that the band's eighth album was on the way, and was more 'aggressive' and 'darker' than their previous work.
2019
Not only is Mark working on the eighth album with blink, but he has also formed a new group with Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low. Their first EP, 'Strange Love', was released on 29th March.
2020: New single 'Quarantine' and upcoming EP
The trio released brand new track 'Quarantine' on 7th August 2020, all about - you guessed it - their time in the 2020 lockdown. Drummer Travis Barker described the track as "a blink favourite. It'll be like all our fan favourites. It's incredible."
Mark also revealed the band would be looking to release a new EP in 2021.
2021: Travis Barker reveals special guests on new blink-182 album
In February, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker revealed the special guest performers on the pop-punk trio's ninth studio album. He said, 'Nine' is "60% done" and it features collaborations with a trio of special guests – serial hitmaker Pharrell Williams, rapper Lil Uzi Vert and electro pop musician Grimes.'
2021: Mark Hoppus reveals cancer diagnosis
In June, vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus revealed to fans he was three months into a battle against cancer. He posted a statement revealing he felt 'hopeful'.
Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge were amongst the many sending their support to Mark.
2021: Mark Hoppus is cancer free
On 29th September 2021, Mark Hoppus announced that his chemotherapy has worked and he's cancer free! He wrote on social media: 'Just saw my oncologist and I'm cancer free!! Thank you God and universe and friends and family and everyone who sent support and kindness and love. Still have to get scanned every six months and it'll take me until the end of the year to get back to normal but today is an amazing day and I feel so blessed. Can I get a W in the chat?' Amazing news!
2022
The news every blink fan had been waiting to hear... Original member Tom DeLonge has reunited with Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker, with the trio announcing a 2023 UK arena tour. The band also released brand new music in the form of their track 'Edging' on 14th October 2022.
2022
In December 2022, Tom teased that a new album would be dropping in 2023, sharing a throwback photo of the band performing alongside the caption: 'New Album Coming in a few months.' This came just a few days after Travis and Mark teased a snippet of 'Anthem Pt.3' - follow-up to fan faves 'Anthem' and 'Anthem Pt.2' which appeared on 'Enema of the State' (1999) and 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket' (2001) respectively.
2023
Unfortunately, blink were forced to postpone the start of their reunion tour in South America in February 2023 due to Travis Barker's hand injury. Sharing a macabre photo of the swollen ring finger, Barker told his Instagram followers: 'I smashed my finger so hard I dislocated it and tore the ligaments. Less than two weeks later, Barker hurt his hand again and was due to undergo surgery shortly after.
October 2023
A long-awaited new album was released in October 2023 entitled 'One More Time' — which the band said was inspired by recent tragic events in their lives, including Mark's cancer diagnosis and Travis' plane crash. The album includes the popular ballad of the same name, 'One More Time', which includes lyrics: From strangers into brothers, from brothers to strangers once again. A nod to their earlier 'indefinite hiatus'.
2024
The trio continue their new tour, adding extra dates here in the UK. They also headline Reading and Leeds Festivals during the summer — while teasing snippets of new tracks through their merch vans. In September 2024, the fans get what they've been waiting for; eight new tracks drop on an album entitled 'One More Time Part 2'.