Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker recently spoke to Yahoo! Music about the replacement of Tom DeLonge. Barker explained, “We’ve been trying to do this for X amount of years, he’s quit three times, we have to get to a healthy place and just move on. [But] I’m in no way, shape, or form mad at him. If anything, I just wish he would own up to not wanting to be in the band and go do his other stuff. There’s a sympathy card he’s pulling right now. And that doesn’t even really piss me off, it’s just kind of childish. But if years down the line it makes sense, I’ll never say never.”
As previously reported, Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus parted ways with guitarist DeLonge after he apparently refused to get back into the studio with the guys to record a new album. According to Barker and Hoppus, DeLonge did not show an interest in the band anymore. “It was just like, you’d drive to Orange County to practice, drive an hour and a half to get there, dude’s upset, bummed-out or venting about something. We’re all, ‘Everyone’s got their issues, let’s just play music and have fun and be happy and kick ass.’ So it feels good to have that.”
Tom DeLonge Is Leaving Blink 182…Maybe?
The remaining members of Blink 182 have lined up Alkaline Trio guitarist Matt Skiba as a temporary replacement for DeLonge for their upcoming shows in San Diego and at the Musink Tattoo Convention and Music Festival, both scheduled for this weekend and apparently the band is thrilled. Barker states, “[Matt] is killing it. It’s one thing to have someone there that is not only motivated and stoked to be playing, but he just sings on key; harmonies exist now,” he said. “It’s 100 per cent different and it’s awesome. It’s kind of like when something happens to you and you’re like, ‘Damn, this is the way it should be.”
Meanwhile, Tom DeLonge announced that his upcoming solo album To The Stars will be released April 21st.
[via Yahoo! Music]
– Marisa Frydman (@musicalmarisa)