Blink-182 at Musink

Musink. The 8th annual music and tattoo festival was hosted by Travis Barker and featured bands like Rancid, Bad Religion and blink-182. It was a three day event lasting from March 20-22. I had the pleasure of seeing my favorite band, blink-182, at the festival for the second time that week (I also saw them at The Roxy which I blogged about in my last post). Not only did I see my favorite band, but I got my first tattoo! It's on my left wrist and it's the album art from blink's self-titled album. I was tattooed by Baba from Vintage Tattoo who did an amazing job. I'm truly in love with how it looks. How many people can say they got a blink tattoo at a festival that blink played at?

Let's make this last forever

The setlist for Musink was very similar to the setlists from the previous shows that week in Hollywood and San Diego. Restrained by a strict hour and fifteen minute stage time, blink played fast without making the night seemed rushed. Mark sported a bass named the "Bassola" which was designed by Greg "Craola" Simkins and is currently being auctioned off here to raise money for cystic fibrosis. Travis played on a tall platform for everyone inside The Hangar to admire. Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio filled in for Tom DeLonge, and while he added his own character to the band that people weren't used to, he helped make the night special to everyone who attended.

That night was Travis Barker's night. He hosted this entire festival which was filled with everything he loved: punk music, tattoos and old cars. Travis began his night by playing a 45 minute set with Yelawolf, a rapper from Alabama and close friend of Travis'. He then continued to play flawlessly for a little over an hour with blink-182. Seeing Travis play in person cannot be compared to anything else. It's easy to get lost in watching his technique and admiring his focus. It's great to see his kids air drum beside him and cheer him on.

The biggest question everyone was asking was how would Matt Skiba do filling in for Tom? He did amazing, and he did amazing for many reasons. One of the most important reasons, that I also mentioned in my review of the show at The Roxy, is that Matt did not try to be or act like he was replacing Tom. His voice was louder than it was at The Roxy and stronger than at both warm up shows. It was great to notice and visibly see him become more comfortable on stage. Since he is already a popular musician in his own band, he has his own way of performing on stage that he brought to blink. His vocal and guitar sound were neat and professional, but it was also obvious that he was having fun. The crowd gave him a warm welcome with a Skiba chant that made me happy, so I can only imagine what it made Matt feel. As I also mentioned before, there were many people sporting the Famous/Matt Skiba collab shirt that said "Who the fuck is Matt Skiba?" across the front. Some performers from the previous night were also wearing it! There was no awkwardness or tension with Matt being on stage because he put on an amazing, memorable show and that is all a fan could ask for.

Blink-182 are definitely at their best when they have big stage. I'm not saying they are bad at a small stage like at The Roxy, but they definitely seem to have more fun since they have more space to run around. Alright, I'm mostly just talking about Mark. He was all over the place that night, but it was great because the amount of fun he was having was could be seen on his face and how he played. Matt moved more than he did at the two previous shows which added even more energy to the stage.

Just as in the warm up shows, they played "Happy Holidays, You Bastard" with the lights off. I was so stunned by just how fast they played. Their strict time limit caused them to play a lot of the songs faster, but like I said, it never felt very rushed. They cut out both "Hearts All Gone" and "M & M's," but they did an impressive total of 22 songs. The songs that really stood out from all the others were "Always," "Dysentery Gary" and "Man Overboard."

I noticed at The Roxy that Matt added his own little touches to "Always," but they were even more noticeable at Musink. This is one of the songs that Matt impressed me the most. Matt also made the guitar at the end of "First Date" sound differently from what I'm used to. I'm not sure if it was how the song was supposed to be played or if it was just how Matt played it. Something that I have seen a lot of people say and I agree with is that one of the best things about Matt's performance is that we were actually able to hear what he was saying compared to when Tom performs live. So maybe that's why the guitar may sound different/clearer, because Matt takes the time to play it has accurately as it is supposed to sound. I know that Tom has the capability of playing like that, but it seems that over the years he doesn't put as much focus into how he performs. Following "First Date," Mark handed the mic to Travis who said hey to Musink. Travis is a man of many words.

In Mark's podcast where he interviewed Matt, Matt said that his favorite song to rehearse was "Dysentery Gary" and I don't think I have to guess why that is. The guitar in that song must be a fun challenge for any guitarist to learn and the song mostly features Tom's vocals. It's also quicker than most blink songs which makes it a great song to keep the audience and band energized.

Photo by Erik Voake

Blink skipped over the whole "okay this is our last song, just kidding, we have two more songs" trick in order to save time and be able to play their entire set. "Man Overboard" was a tough song to hear just like it was at The Roxy. It applies so well to the drama happening with Tom at the moment. Of course I missed seeing Tom on stage, but I'm not going to lie and say that Matt did a bad job like a lot of people are trying to convince themselves. Matt was without a doubt impressive on stage and he helped Mark and Travis put on an incredible show. All I know for sure is that I don't want blink to stop performing and touring, but I also want everyone to be happy with where they are.

It was obvious that something was wrong with Matt's guitar as they started "Reckless Abandon," and Mark even poked fun at it in the beginning of the song. However, Matt still played without pause even though his guitar was out of tune. He eventually switched out guitars near the end of the song, but I still find it fun to watch how bands handle little difficulties like that.

Blink ended the night with an encore, performing "Violence," "Dammit" and "Family Reunion." The confetti rained down on all the fans and Mark shouted "See you all next time!" Their energy never wavered throughout the entire night and it made me unbelievably happy to see all of them perform with such passion and smiles on their faces. I hope there will be many, many, many blink shows to follow this one.

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I'm still in shock that I was able to see these guys perform twice in less than one week. It's also very possible and most likely that Musink was Matt's final show filling in for Tom. The fans are left with many questions of what's next, but there hasn't been any concrete answers. In an interview at Musink, Travis said that blink wanted to record another album and there is a chance that they will go on tour with A Day To Remember who opened up for them during their warm up shows.

My blink tattoo :)

Matt Skiba will release his album "Kuts" under his band Matt Skiba and The Sekrets. In his interview with Mark, he talked about how Alkaline will be performing every single one of their eight studio albums in concert. They'll be touring starting at the end of April in cities like Cleveland, Boston, San Francisco, Santa Ana and other places then continue to do some shows in the UK during this summer. After seeing Matt live twice, I've been listening to a lot of Alkaline lately and they are a really talented band. I definitely suggest checking them out, especially their latest album "My Shame is True" and the album "From Here To Infirmary."

I'm going to wait for some definite blink news to be released, and then make a post about the recent drama and what may lay ahead.


Until next time,
Nikole

Sunday's Seven Songs (March 1)

Today's weather is absolutely perfect, despite the clouds taunting me with no rain. The day's not over yet so I'm still crossing my fingers for a storm.

Changing subjects, Tom Delonge announced more information on his new album - "Demos, Odds and Ends." The album is set to be released on April 21. I was disappointed because he kept talking about March 1 so I thought the album was going to be released today. There are a few snippets in the video introducing the album and the sound seems really promising. I don't know how I couldn't love it though. The only thing that makes it less great is that it is neither Blink 182 nor Angels & Airwaves (however, it is AvA's label). Tom kind of led people on to believe that the album would be streamed so he got a spew of negative comments from people saying that they refuse to "give him anymore money" and stuff like that. I never considered him streaming the album since he is so adamantly against the idea of streaming. The first song from the album is supposed to be available on March 9, followed by a second song on March 23, a third song on April 6, then the full album on April 21. For more information on the album, go to tomdelonge.me .

After weeks of Netflix binging, I was able to catch up to the finale of Parks and Recreation. I can definitely say that it is one of the best shows I have seen. There was never a lull in the plot and it makes you laugh at the dumbest things at times. I can't imagine a better finale for the show - every loose end was tied up and you were left not needing any more. I will miss Pawnee and the awesome people in the Parks department. Since finishing the show, I've decided to try to cut back on Netflix (gasp). Instead, I decided to start reading again. AP Lit has caused me to sort of resent reading because I am not fond of the selections, so I decided I'm just going to make some time to read what I want to. I finally finished The Maze Runner and, while it had it's slow parts, it was a great story with an ending that made you wanting more (thankfully, there is a sequel). Next, I decided to start reading the Divergent series. I got hooked the second I started reading. I finished the first book, all 500ish pages, in three or four days. Now I'm on the second installment of the series, Insurgent, which is supposed to come out in theaters this month.

On a side note, I've also been listening to Jack and Alex's (of All Time Low) podcast, "Full Frontal." I am not a big podcast listener because it usually can't keep my attention. Jack and Alex are hilarious though. My favorite parts of their episodes are when they talk about what they are doing on tour and their music segment. It's great to listen to how much music means to them and their takes on different artists.

Okay, I know this is a longer intro than usual, but I felt like talking about what's been going on. Instead of listing seven songs that I have listened to this week, I am putting my music library on shuffle and listing the first seven songs that appear.



1) Enthused by Blink 182
This song comes from Blink's "Dude Ranch" album that debuted in 1997. Eighteen years old. This album captures so much of what early Blink was - three kids just out of high school, playing music and having fun. It shows the stupid humor that surrounded the band. At this time, Scott Raynor (not Travis Barker) was on drums. Most of the songs, like Enthused, are pretty short and emphasized with loud guitar riffs and Tom's unique vocals. The most well known songs to come out of this album are Pathetic, Dammit, and Josie (one of my favorite songs).

2) Listener (Acoustic) by The Technicolors
Only about a month left until I see these guys open for The Maine! The acoustic version of this song, which is also the title of the album, makes me crave rain even more. It's the kind of music that makes me want to go to a coffee shop, watch the rain, and read or something else that's pretty laid back. The vocals are simple and quiet for the most part, giving the song almost a lullaby quality.

3) Drunk (Cover) by 5 Seconds of Summer
Even though they are a huge band now (currently performing to giant crowds all the way in Japan), I have every one of their covers still on my phone. It's a nice reminder that they went from doing small covers of their favorite artists to selling out arenas (and also getting recognized by those same artists years later). This particular cover is by Calum Hood, and I almost forgot how much his voice has improved (even though it was still great then) and how much confidence he has gained since recording this.

4) American Idiot (Live Cover) by 5 Seconds of Summer
I am not even surprised that 5SOS came up twice. This is without a doubt my favorite cover from them. It captures the real sound that they are meant for (and hopefully the sound that they are leaning towards in their next album). Even though their covers of What I Like About You and Teenage Dream were great songs for a live performance, their cover of American Idiot just seems to fit so much better. Maybe that's because Green Day were the ones to really invent pop punk. They sound like they are having the time of their lives during this live cover. I still can't believe I got to see them perform it live back in November.

5) That Girl by All Time Low
It seems like people either love or hate "Dirty Work." I have seen comments leaning both ways, but never in the middle. I am definitely one of the people who loves it. I love that I can still hear the same energy in All Time Low's music since their first EP to their latest single. This is a song that is definitely meant for turning up the volume as high as it can go and shouting the lyrics. The sound and rhythm and beat of the songs is so catchy, you can't help singing along.

6) Ready to Run by One Direction
I used to refer to One Direction as a guilty pleasure, but I don't know why I have to be guilty for liking them. Their music is upbeat and carries a lot of energy in it. This song is from their latest album, "Four," which the group actually had a hand in the songwriting (which I was relieved to find out). I love that the song is relatively fast, yet it still has a very recognizable acoustic guitar in the chorus.

7) Berzerk by Eminem
Well, this is very different from the other songs. Hearing this song instantly makes me think of road tripping to California with my best friend and turning up the music and acting a lot cooler than we really are. How could you not get into this song? The chorus is easy enough to learn quickly and before you know it, you know all the words.


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I almost forgot that today is the first day of a new month. February felt like a brutally long 28 days despite being the shortest month. Here are a few things are coming up in March:

March 13, 14, 15 - Pot of Gold Festival (including Fall Out Boy!!)
March 17 - Sleeping with Sirens new album, "Madness"
March 22 - MUSINK FESTIVAL WITH BLINK 182 FT MATT SKIBA

March 31 - The Maine's new album, "American Candy"

You could probably tell which I am most excited for. It has been three and a half years since I last saw Blink 182 during the Honda Civic Tour. Only three weeks from today and I will be seeing them. I still can't really believe it's going to happen.

Anyways, that is all for Sunday's Seven Songs (and a kind of long update on other things).


Until next time,
Nikole xx

Sunday's Seven Songs (Week Three)

Happy Sunday! I have a new update for my upcoming shows which I am super excited about. Tonight, I saw Run 2 Cover open up for Escape the Fate and The Family Ruin. I always love supporting local bands. Today I got tickets to go to Alt AZ's "Festivaltaz" on April 10 which includes performances from Death Cab for Cutie and Panic! At The Disco!! So far I have a concert every month until August. My life basically revolves around concert countdowns, but I'm not complaining.

With that said, here are my seven songs for the week:


1) Some Boys by Death Cab for Cutie

I know some songs by Death Cab for Cutie, but when I decided earlier this week that I will be going to the music festival hosted by Alt AZ, I felt I should get to know the band some more. I am so happy I made that decision. I've had their latest album, "Codes and Keys," on repeat all week. Their music reminds me of the early days of The Black Keys and also someone else who I just can't put my finger on. "Codes and Keys" has a relaxed vibe, but it doesn't put you to sleep. Listening to the album makes me a lot more excited for the music festival!

2) Lakehouse by Of Monsters And Men

My friend recommended this song to me in the beginning of the week and it really stuck in my head. Everyone knows the radio hits from this band like "Little Talks" and "Dirty Paws," and I feel like this song could have been a big hit just like the other two. The chorus is energetic, but not in the typical "gym playlist" energetic way. The album is really good to listen to in the morning to wake you up. I was disappointed to find out that the band only has one album that's been released (and I haven't heard of anything happening in the studio as far as I know).

3) Act My Age by Hoodie Allen

I first heard Hoodie Allen on the radio with his song "All About It" featuring Ed Sheeran. So I decided to give his album a look and it turns out I totally love it. It's not often that I find someone in the rap genre that I like. I'm honestly shocked that Hoodie Allen isn't more well-known than he is now because I can see a lot of his songs becoming big radio hits.

4) Stray Heart by Green Day

Green Day will forever and always be one of my favorite bands. There's never a time where I don't feel like listening to this band and the past few days I decided to put their 103 songs on my phone on repeat. There's a song for every emotion - from soft and thoughtful like the classic "Time of My Life" to the angsty (is that the right word?) and energetic "Know Your Enemy." "Stray Heart" leans more to the soft side, but I can easily say that it is one of my favorite GD songs. I can't wait to find out what the band has in store for 2015.

5) Someday by Run 2 Cover

I'm actually blogging from the concert right now as I write this because my sister, friend and I mostly came for R2C and the other bands aren't really our taste. R2C changed their sound for the show tonight and I totally loved it. They are currently touring with loud ("screamo"- I hate that descriptive but I don't know what else to call it) bands and Christian seemed to have picked up a bit of that technique in vocals. They also did covers of Bowling for Soup's "1985," Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" and Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean."

6) Budapest by George Ezra

The first time I listened to this song, I wasn't much of a fan; however, the more 93.3 played it, the more it grew on me and now I love it. I constantly have it stuck in my head and I'm singing along with Ezra on the radio. I'm curious now to look up what other songs Ezra has released because the vocals and lyrics of "Budapest" are really chill and I don't mind listening to it on the radio everyday on the way home from school now.

7) When Songs Collide - "Fat Lip" and "Feeling This" 

I stumbled upon this mashup by accident on tumblr and I'm completely obsessed with it. It combines the guitar riffs and drums and bass of "Fat Lip" with the vocals from "Feeling This" and it makes a oerfect combination. Tumblr is a great place for finding new music or mashups or anything really.

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It's really weird blogging from a concert - I feel guilty, to be honest. I promise I am almost never on my phone during a concert because it's all about being in the moment, but it's hard to be in the moment when you can't sing along to the songs. Right now people are moshing and I can't really understand what's being sung. Anyways, this post probably has more mistakes than usual because I'm typing from my phone, but there was no way I was going to miss my weekly post. I also realized on my way to the show that I'm missing the Grammy awards tonight! So it looks like I'll have to get caught up on who won in the morning. 

Well, that's all for this Sunday's Seven Songs! I hope you liked my music suggestions. 

Until next time,

Nikole xx

Sunday's Seven Songs (Week Two)

Happy first day of the month! First of all, I have to acknowledge that today was the Super Bowl. I'm not really a football fan, so I wasn't that passionate about who won or lost. Anyways, a big congrats to the New England Patriots. They came back from losing by 10 points in the fourth quarter so, needless to say, it was an exciting finish.

On Friday night I went to the Super Bowl party in downtown Phoenix where The Technicolors and Walk the Moon put on amazing performances. I've kind of been obsessed with The Technicolors this week. I recently discovered them and I am so happy I did because I enjoyed their show much more than I would have and I get to see them again on April 3 when they tour with The Maine! The music I listened to this week was also influenced by the Blink-182 drama that has been going on since Monday and has continued to escalate. I blogged about some of the situation in my last post but a lot has happened since then so it really isn't that up to date. In other big news, I got tickets to see Blink-182 featuring Matt Skiba on March 22 at the Musink Festival!

With that said, here are my seven songs for the week:


1) Sweet Time by The Technicolors

I can't believe I just now discovered this band. You know that feeling where you are trying to figure out what you want to listen to, but you can't find that one song/album/artist that fits what you're looking for? There's probably a better way to word that. Anyways, this is that band for me. The way that Brennan Smiley's voice (which my dad described as a cross between Led Zeppelin and the lead singer from Stone Temple Pilots) is perfectly reflected in the instruments and the lyrics is just what I was looking for. The music is very relaxing and calming, and also comforting in a way. The album "Listener" came out in 2012 and the band is expected to release some new music this year. Their show at the Super Bowl party was great and they didn't disappoint. I can't wait to see them again on The American Candy Tour.

2) What Went Wrong by Blink-182

The title itself sums up the reason why I am listening to this song. This entire Blink-182 mess has me constantly thinking What went wrong?? Mark, Tom and Travis were best friends. Especially Mark and Tom who have known each other since high school. I watched their show at Big Day Out in Australian in 2000 (my favorite show of theirs) and it's amazing how so much can happen between then and now (granted that things really started falling apart only a few years later during their first split). I love this song because 1) it's from my favorite album (Take Off Your Pants and Jacket) and 2) it's a "secret" song. It's not something you can buy on iTunes. It was originally released as a bonus song on the hard copy album. It's an acoustic song and you can start to hear how the band was drifting towards a more serious tone in this album. Anyways, I love this band. To see them argue publicly like they are doing now tears me apart.

3) Not Now by Blink-182

Usually I'm going to try not to repeat an artist on the same post in my Sunday songs, but this is an exception. The main reason I chose this song was for the music video. It flashes back to some of the most memorable times in Blink-182 history and the song itself is meaningful. This was released as a single not attached to any other album and I like it that way because it stands out. Despite the drama that is happening now, the song comforts me because I'm reminded that whatever happens to the band, the music they've recorded and the shows they played will last forever.

4) There Is by Box Car Racer

Box Car Racer is a band composed of Tom Delonge and Travis Barker of Blink-182 along with guitarist David Kennedy. The band was active between 2001-2003 which marked the years leading to Blink's first breakup. Box Car Racer just might be my favorite Blink side project. The lyrics are meaningful and the songs are packed with emotion. The music video is also worth watching because the emotion of the song is emphasized by looking at the band perform outside in the rain, seeing the expression on Tom's face and the story line that goes along with the video. Also, out of every artist I have ever heard, Tom's voice is honestly my favorite. I can't explain exactly why it is, it just is. And this song, like "Not Now," is comforting. The thought that you aren't alone in how you feel and that you can still find hope.

5) Little Death by +44

+44 is made up of Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker along with guitarists Shane Gallagher and Craig Fairbaugh. They were active between 2005-2009 during the Blink haitus. Mark commented that he will never consider +44 as being "done." Their entire album (they only had one) is mostly filled with sadness and I can't help but think it was largely influenced by the Blink break up. It's nice to hear more of what Mark is capable of vocally because he tends to stick to one sound (vocal range?) in Blink. The song feels like it has a deeper meaning than what I understand it as which is really what makes the album unique. There are a lot of songs out there where they seem pretty easy to decode, but that isn't the case with +44.

6) Everything's Magic by Angels & Airwaves

I've already had one post dedicated to this band and their most recent album, but as a recap, the band was started by Tom DeLonge and is one of the huge reasons he has been less committed to Blink. This song is featured in my favorite AvA album, "I-Empire," and is definitely in my top 3 AvA songs. Like "There Is" and "Not Now," the song is really uplifting. It has the same theme of "you're not alone" within the lyrics. It's one of those songs that can instantly lift my mood. I can remember the first time hearing this song and I instantly knew that this is a song that I will never get tired of.

7) Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons

Yesterday I watched the new movie, "Project Almanac," and it was by far one of the best new movies I have seen in awhile. The reason I bring it up is because the soundtrack is probably 99 percent Imagine Dragons, including songs from their new album that debuts later this month. It got me thinking about their first album in 2012 and how much I loved it when it first came out. Hearing the new songs in the movie created some high expectations for "Smoke + Mirrors." (On a side note, I highly recommend seeing Project Almanac. You get totally absorbed in the movie and forget about everything else. Also, the actors are all new - no one famous - and they did an amazing job for their first big break.)

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I was worried that I was going to slack on the Sunday songs, and I'm glad to find out I'm not. I know this is only the second week, but I'm really happy with this weekly post idea. Again, if you have any song suggestions, leave them in the comments and I will check them out. Or if you listened to any of the songs I mentioned, you should let me know what you think of them.

Anyways, I wish everyone a good week.


Until next time,

Nikole xx

Blink-182 Lives On

Let's start with what we know for sure first.

Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker announced earlier today that Tom DeLonge "indefinitely" left the band and Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio will replace him for an upcoming show at the Misink Festival in March. Twitter erupted in chaos. It was 2004 all over again. Theories of a breakup and angry questions thrown at DeLonge were everywhere. Just a couple of short hours later, DeLonge posted an update on Instagram that read:

To all the fans, I never quit the band. I actually was on a phone call

about a blink 182 event for New York City at the time all these weird

press releases started coming in... Apparently those releases were 

'sanctioned' from the band. Are we dysfunctional - yes. But, Christ.....

#Awkward #BabyBackRibs

About two hours ago, Rolling Stone released a new interview with Hoppus and Barker clearing up all the rumors. Hoppus even tweeted a link to the interview saying "This is the real deal." In summary, Hoppus and Barker explain that Blink-182 have been trying for the last two years to get in the recording studio to work on a new album. On Christmas Eve, the three of them signed a new record deal. Things were looking up for the band until over time Delonge distanced himself.

There's a flurry of e-mails going back and forth for clarification about

the recording and the show and [DeLonge's] manager sends [an e-mail]

back saying, "Tom. Is. Out." Direct quote. This is the exact same e-mail we

got back in 2004 when Tom went on indefinite hiatus before. -Hoppus

The fans could see that the band wasn't doing that great. We've been hanging around since December 2012 (September 2011 since their last full album) for a taste of something new, but we've been left with nothing. It's not that the band left without saying goodbye. It was obvious to see who was and wasn't dedicated to the band just by looking at the time they saved to go to a studio or what they posted on social media. 

It's hard to cover for someone who's disrespectful and ungrateful.

You don't even have the balls to call your bandmates and tell them

you're not going to record or do anything Blink-related. You have

your manager do it.... Why Blink even got back together in the first 

place [after the first hiatus] is questionable. -Barker

Everyone knows that when Travis speaks up, things are serious. When I first heard all of this news, I couldn't see how Blink-182 could continue. That was before I realized just how committed Hoppus and Barker are to keep the Blink legacy going. If they are this willing to keep going, keep recording, keep playing, then there is no way in hell that I could ever stop supporting this band. Blink-182 means more to me in more ways than I can even explain. There has never been nor will there ever be a band that could be compared to Blink. They began my love for music which I will someday combine with journalism to make a career. I don't know who I would've become or where I would be today if my dad hadn't started playing "What's My Age Again?" or "All the Small Things" during car rides. That may sound dramatic, but we all have that something that means so much to us that we just can't find the right words to explain how it makes us feel. 

I just want to go out and play Blink songs. I want to go out

and play the songs that we've been spending the last 20 years

of our lives writing. That's what Travis and I want to do. -Hoppus

Reading that Rolling Stone article brought up so many mixed feelings. I'm overcome with pride towards Hoppus and Barker that they have finally decided to say something about the matter and directly confront DeLonge in a way that he can't ignore. Also, the fact that they want to continue doing Blink. There are no words to describe how much that means to a fan. We all saw an ending coming, but (for me at least) this has the chance to become a happy ending. Blink-182 is not over. On the other hand, I am overwhelming disappointed in DeLonge. I understand that he has other projects that he may be more committed to, but he could have at least had the decency to directly tell not just his bandmates, but his friends, what the situation was. Mark and Tom have known each other since high school. I don't know any of them personally and I may just be a fan, but I am pretty confident that Mark and Travis deserved better than this. There was no need for his manager to speak for him. Then he posts on Instagram talking about how everything is fine when that entire statement was just one huge lie. Even in the Alternative Press magazine, only Tom was quoted and he directly said that Blink-182 were going to get an album out this year. He just failed to mention that Blink did not include him anymore. 

I just wish Tom does whatever makes him happy and stops

holding back Blink-182 from what we all agree that we're going

to do: play shows, record music, continue this legacy and have

a good time doing it. -Hoppus

To Mark and Travis: I will never stop being a fan of Blink-182 and I could never stop supporting you guys. I wish you and Matt Skiba the best of luck at Musink and I hope I get the chance to get tickets and see you guys. 'Thank you' isn't enough to express how grateful I am that Blink-182 is not dead. Let's continue the legacy.

Long Live Blink, 

Nikole xx

(*I understand that there is Tom's side of the story. Even on Twitter and Instagram, a lot of people have been picking 'sides.' After this Rolling Stone release, I felt I understood more of the situation and it explained a lot of questions I had about the band during the last two years. As far as I know, Tom hasn't released any official statement other than his Instagram post. 

**All of the quotes I used besides Tom's came from the Rolling Stone article which can be found at http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/blink-182s-hoppus-barker-blast-ungrateful-disingenuous-tom-delonge-20150126 )