“Blink-182 to us is always just been three really close friends having a lot of fun.”
Pop Punk Ambassadors Blink-182 officially (?) split this week, with Tom DeLonge's "I'm-not-a-member-but-I-didn't-leave-the-band" departure setting off a media ping-pong match of name calling, accusations, and general vitriol.
Bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker will remain together as Blink-182, performing live with Alkaline Trio's lead vocalist Matt Skiba in March.
Getty Images Frank Micelotta
Blink fans weathered a similar storm in 2005 when the band went on hiatus. Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus formed +44, a band in the same pop-punk vein as Blink-182, while Tom DeLonge tried to reinvent the rock wheel with synth-heavy Angels and Airwaves.
Geffen
But once upon a time, the band got along pretty damn well, with Hoppus risking his own life and saving DeLonge from a dragon in an enchanted forest.
In spite of their sometimes crude, juvenile humor — or because of their crude, juvenile humor — Hoppus, DeLonge, and Barker formed seemingly strong friendships.
Getty Images Frank Micelotta
