Renowned musician and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker discusses his life story as an artist and entrepreneur. Topics include his early interest in drumming, growing up with jazz influence, the punk rock scene, playing music to a click track, skateboarding's impact on his music taste, the band's breakup and reunion, the importance of communication within the band, favorite drummers, overcoming fear of flying, productivity on the Queen Mary, and recovering from addiction's impact on creativity.
Travis Barker's fear of flying and addiction affected the band's ability to tour and record.
Matt Skiba joined Blink-182 as a replacement for Tom DeLonge after successful live performances.
The reunion of the original Blink-182 lineup was sparked by Tom's cancer diagnosis, leading to recording and writing new songs together.
Travis Barker believes in pushing creative boundaries and breaking free from genre expectations to create diverse and dynamic music.
Deep dives
Joining the Band
Travis Barker joined Blink-182 after playing shows with them when their drummer couldn't perform. He played on albums such as 'Enema of the State' and 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket' and the band saw increasing success.
Breakup and Reunion
The band went through a breakup after tensions and weird energy. They reunited after Travis Barker's near-fatal plane crash. They released albums like 'Neighborhoods' and an EP called 'Dogs Eating Dogs'. There were ups and downs in the band's relationship.
The Personal Challenges
Travis Barker struggled with a fear of flying and developed an addiction to cope with it. These challenges affected the band's ability to tour and record. The breakup and reunion were also impacted by personal issues within the band.
Transition with Matt Skiba
When Tom DeLonge couldn't participate in recording sessions, Matt Skiba filled in and played live shows with the band. The shows went well, leading to the band's decision to continue with Skiba as their new member.
The Future of Blink-182 and the Return of Tom
After several years of success with Matt Skiba as the replacement for Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker realized that the future of Blink-182 should involve all three original members. Despite some initial resistance from Tom, the idea began to gain traction when he expressed interest in playing music with the band again. However, before the reunion could happen, Tom was diagnosed with stage four cancer, which brought the band members back together. Eventually, after Tom regained his health, they started recording and writing songs together, leading to the comeback of the original Blink-182 lineup.
The Importance of Musical Exploration
According to Travis Barker, it is crucial for artists to explore their creative boundaries and push themselves to write the songs they might be afraid to write. He believes that this approach expands the possibilities of what a band can be and allows for a more diverse and dynamic sound. By constantly challenging themselves and breaking free from genre expectations, Blink-182 has been able to create music that spans a wide range of styles, from fast-paced punk rock to emotional ballads, and they strive to maintain this freedom and openness in their future music-making.
Travis Barker's Journey to Sobriety and Recovery
Travis Barker discusses his struggles with addiction and his journey to sobriety. He talks about the impact of drugs, including opiates and weed, on his life and music career. After his traumatic accident, where he was severely burned, he found himself heavily relying on medications and substances to cope with the pain and trauma. However, through the support of friends like AM (DJ AM) and therapy, he was able to break free from the cycle of addiction. Travis emphasizes the importance of finding healthier outlets for creativity and the positive impact it has had on his life. He embraces a sober lifestyle and encourages other artists to find their creativity and inspiration without relying on substances.
Travis Barker is a renowned musician best known as the drummer for the rock band Blink-182. His contributions to music extend beyond Blink-182; he is a member of the rap rock group Transplants, co-founded the rock band +44, and has been involved with Box Car Racer, Antemasque, and Goldfinger. Apart from music, he started his own clothing brand called Famous Stars and Straps in 1999 and created two record labels, LaSalle Records in 2004 and DTA Records in 2019. Travis shared his life story in a book titled Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums, providing insight into the multifaceted life of this influential artist and entrepreneur.
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