Blink-182 Go Folk?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Upcoming Releases, Folk, Pop, Rock,

Blink-182 are heading in a "very folky" direction with their new EP. The "What's My Age Again" rockers may be best known for their pop punk tracks, but have written one song with a surprising new sound for their next release, which will come out over Christmas.

Speaking about their "folky" track, drummer Travis Barker explained, "It's way out. We all had some ideas. I went in the studio and I was just playing around. I had my electronic kit and I just played a straight drum pattern over it, and it sounded crazy. It changed the entire shape of the song."

Travis, 36, added that the band have recorded five tracks so far which he thinks are better than material on their last album, Neighborhoods, released in 2011, because the band - which also includes Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge - were together in the studio, rather than working independently and emailing ideas. "To me already, this EP is a hundred times better than Neighborhoods, because we're all in a room together. There's some songs on there that I love, but for the most part it was disconnected. When we're not in the studio together, you don't have the opportunity to gel off each other," he told Rolling Stone.

Click to continue reading Blink-182 Go Folk?

Gallery: Blink-182 Go Folk?

Travis Barker Plays Like He’s Going to Die

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Rock,

Travis Barker plays every show "like he could die."

The Blink-182 drummer performs with as much energy and power as he possibly can at every concert, preparing for each as if he were a boxer. "It's like you're getting ready for a fight. I lock myself in my room, warm myself up for an hour and go out there and do the damn thing. I always play like I could die out there and give it my all. And there's only three of us up there - it's an awesome feeling."

Travis - who is in the band with Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus - is playing with Blink-182 at a number of European festivals, and loves the reaction the group get. "I really enjoyed our last trip to Europe. It was crazy playing for 200,000 people. It's insane. You don't have festivals like that in the US. Rock is alive and kicking ass in Europe. It's bigger than ever. It's like the ocean - you can see people for days," he added.

Click to continue reading Travis Barker Plays Like He’s Going to Die

Gallery: Travis Barker Plays Like He’s Going to Die

Blink 182 Cancels US Tour

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Alternative, Pop, Rock,

Blink 182 have canceled a series of tour dates after Travis Barker had to undergo emergency surgery.

The "All the Small Things" band's drummer had have an urgent medical procedure on his tonsils, forcing them to cancel all further shows in their current US tour, which runs until the end of the month.

"The band apologizes for any inconvenience as a result of these cancellations and thanks their fans for their ongoing support," a statement on the band's website reads. The note added Travis' "recovery period is expected to extend beyond the scheduled tour dates."

It is not yet known if the band's later dates in the UK and Europe, starting in June, will be affected by Travis' condition. The group - which also includes Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge - have already had to reschedule their tour once, after it was originally supposed to start in July last year, but dates were pushed back in order to allow the group to finish sixth album Neighborhoods.

Gallery: Blink 182 Cancels US Tour

Blink 182 to Last Forever

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Pop, Rock,

Mark Hoppus says Blink-182 will last "forever."

The bassist is thrilled the group's much delayed 20th anniversary tour is finally starting and wants to keep playing with guitarist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker for as long as fans will have them around.

"As long as we're having fun, I can see us going forever. That's the goal. To tour as long as it's fun. I hope that lasts forever. Our relationship is really strong. It's strange to think I'm still touring with these guys I was friends with twenty years ago. So much stuff has happened in our lives and we're still here together. We've come to respect each other a lot more: Our differences, our talents, our weaknesses. It's been a long road together. I can't wait for the summer. It'll be well worth the wait. We had to postpone the tour we had planned for last time because the record wasn't done yet which was a very difficult and painful decision but we ended up writing some of our best on the album during that period. There's going to be a lot of really cool lights, lasers, movie screens, new songs, old songs and a lot of really dirty jokes."

Click to continue reading Blink 182 to Last Forever

Gallery: Blink 182 to Last Forever

Blink-182 Cancels Concert to Mourn

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Artist News, Concerts / Tours, Rock,

Although they found the strength to perform over the weekend, Blink-182 has decided to cancel an appearance Monday night in New York. The group made the decision based on the “circumstances surrounding the unfortunate and untimely passing” of their friend DJ AM.

On Saturday, drummer Travis Barker - who survived a deadly plane crash last September with Adam Goldstein - and the rest of his band members paid tribute to the disc jockey at a concert in Hartford, Connecticut. An emotional Mark Hoppus told the attendees that they had “lost a really dear friend” right before leading them into a moment of silence.

“We thank all of our fans for their support in this tough time,” the group said in a statement about this evening’s gig. Other acts still on the schedule include Weezer, Taking Back Sunday and Chester French.

Read More | People

Gallery: Blink-182 Cancels Concert to Mourn