Since 1992, Blink-182 has done a spectacular job of helping to bring and keep punk rock into the spotlight and even, dare I say, mainstream.
Back in the early days, Tom DeLonge used to try and book gigs by calling Blink-182 a “motivational band with a strong anti-drug message”. Almost makes them sound wholesome, right?
While they started to get some recognition with 1997’s Dude Ranch LP and the single “Damnit (Growing Up)”, they really exploded in 1999 with Enema of the State and huge songs like “All the Small Things” and “What’s My Age Again”. The latter, according to Mark Hoppus, was considered autobiographical about the difficulties of maturing, and of course how can you forget the video of them running naked in the streets. See? Wholesome!
What we loved about Blink-182 is that they were smart mouthed, snot nosed, punk ass kids and they made the music to go with it. It was a welcome addition for Gen X’ers who longed for the punk we grew up on, and brought in a new generation, the Warped Tour generation, of kids into a genre of music that allowed you to express yourself without sounding “scary” like metal. That’s the glory of punk. It allowed you to sneer, flip off and essentially say “nanny nanny boo boo” to the adults, the authority figures, to “The Man”.
Like many bands, life takes a toll and in 2005 the band took an “indefinite hiatus”, which is the nice way of saying no one was getting along anymore, ideas were clashing, visions were different. During this time of course, Travis Barker was one of two survivors of a fatal plane crash. Blink-182 reunited in 2009 for the Grammys, but the tension was too much. Tom DeLonge spit again and started chasing UFOs. Mark Hoppus announced a cancer diagnosis in 2021. All things that will make men grow up pretty damn fast.
It also made them realize that life is too short and they still had music to create together. Hoppus is now cancer free, DeLonge is back in and work began on a brand new album.
October of last year, “Edging” was the first new song in seven years and it was the smart mouthed, snot nosed, punk ass Blink-182 we’ve come to love.
Just a couple of weeks ago, a new song started swirling social media. “One More Time”. Upon listening, tempo and texture wise, it took me back to “I Miss You”, the ballad and very UN-blink sounding song that came from their fifth, untitled album.
Then I listened again. Like, LISTENED and it punched me right in the feels. There is no question that this song is autobiographical. But unlike the previous alleged autobiographical, immature “What’s My Age Again”, “One More Time” is this band’s story. From being friends, to brothers, to strangers and back again, even references Travis’ plane crash and Mark’s cancer. This is THEIR story. The story of them as men, as bandmates, as husbands and fathers and grown-ups and knowing that life is just too damn short.
Give it a listen, I dare you not to feel some kind of way. And if it’s too emotional for you, Blink-182 also released another song from the upcoming album that will trick you in the beginning, but like any good punk rock song, will kick you in the teeth.
One More Time, the album, will be released on October 20th.
