Tracey Cheek, Staff Writer
“All The Small Things” are truly unfolding this week with Blink-182 drama. Back and forth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram – the band is having some serious problems due to an unplanned press release earlier this week from guitarist Tom Delonge’s publicist. According to the release, Delonge “left the group indefinitely.”
Singer and drummer – Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker–are insisting that Delonge has quit the band. According to Hoppus, they were set on recording a new album and playing at the upcoming Musink Festival, but the guitarist kept pushing it off. However, “quitting” is not what Delonge intended by his actions. The other non-musical endeavors that he is currently working on include comics, books and a film. He has claimed that he wants to spend his time pursuing those aspects of his life. The press release apparenlty went out without Delonge knowing and he was just as surprised as his fans when it was announced.
The band used social media to try and keep the fans in the loop, but it lead to more suspicion and confusion. Some tweets were deleted, and long Facebook posts were made. Delonge posted a photo on Instagram saying he, “never quit the band,” and also called the band “dysfunctional.” Mark Hoppus responded to that post saying, “actions speak louder than words,” and that they intend to stand by the original press release that states Delonge is leaving the band indefinitely. Travis Barker added to this by publically stating, “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.”
Remember, there are always two sides to every story. However, Blink-182 is not making it clear whose side is validated. Either way, the bickering has left behind disappointment for longtime fans of the band.
Tom Delonge tweeted in efforts to defend himself, throwing in that at one point the band was considering giving the drummer the boot. The tweet, since deleted, said, “a year ago Mark and I spent a week on the phone with managers debating parting with Travis… don’t pretend there isn’t more to this story.” The drama may actually go as far back as about ten years ago when Delonge took a break to pursue his other band, Angels and Airwaves. Perhaps with all of this drama, the band should really ask themselves one question – “What’s My Age Again?”
It seem that Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker will carry on the band until these problems are solved. Alkaline Trio’s guitarist, Matt Skiba, will temporarily replace Delonge at the upcoming festival the band was scheduled to play. Tom Delonge’s lengthy Facebook post sums up the bands issues saying, “And even as I watch them act so differently to what I know of them to be, I still care deeply for them. Like brothers, and like old friends. But our relationship got poisoned yesterday. Never planned on quitting, just find it hard as hell to commit.”
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