When Blink 182 announced their hiatus (also known as the time when Tom DeLonge’s ego grew to epic proportions and he decided he hated everyone and was going to do his own thing) about four years ago, millions of little bratty punk children wanted to cry themselves to sleep while pondering all the small things and what their age was.
That was it, punk music in any form was doomed, rock would never be the same, there was no hope for anyone.
And then, lo and behold, Travis Barker, 33, Blink 182’s resident drummer extraordinaire (as well as the drummer for Transplants, +44 and various rappers) went and nearly got himself killed and caused DeLonge, also 33, to realize that maybe life is valuable. So, on Feb. 8, 2009, Blink 182 officially announced that they were back, and everyone in the music world rejoiced (at least a little bit).
So of course, freshly reunited, Blink was pretty much obligated to go on a national tour to reconnect with all of their fans who had been getting just a little bit tired of the side projects that were almost (but not quite ever) as good as Blink.
This lead to me standing at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls on Sept. 30, waiting eagerly for a show that was supposed to take place on Sept. 2 and was supposed to involve Weezer and Taking Back Sunday and instead was opened by Fall Out Boy, who was SUPPOSED to open with All-American Rejects who just happened to have a medical emergency that eradicated them from the third leg of the tour; all of those happened, of course, after DJ AM, Barker’s close friend, up and died.
The show went on and it was a magnificent evening for all of those who attended.
Mark and Tom actually looked like they were enjoying each other. The jokes were rampant – disregard the fact that these guys are going on 35 or 40 and are married and have families: that doesn’t matter. The jokes were rampant throughout the night, often coarse and uncalled for but uproarious in nature. The fans around us (those dedicated thousands who stood on the lawn) plus those in the pavilion ate up every second, every word and every note that spewed forth.
And, let’s be honest, there was never a bad, boring or misplaced song. Perhaps the most poignant, perfect moment of the night was actually when “I Miss You” came through the speakers. A song that was originally written as a love song with a slow beat, it was obviously a moment of remembrance in honor of DJ AM, and, very appropriately, it was Travis who started the song. Additionally, the backdrop of LED lights and screens projected “I MISS YOU” with little flourish, adding to the moment.
Tom’s more successful moment reunited with his two best friends?
It was likely during “Anthem (Part Two),” at which point Tom snarled much like his old self and proclaimed:
“If we’re screwed up, you’re to blame.”
I mean, it’s Blink 182. How much more fitting is that?
How the bratty punk children joyously wept. Now, if only I could tell you about the couple I had the privilege of standing next to all night…
But that is certainly another story for another day.