Its first 'hit,' 'Dammit (Growing Up)' from 1997's 'Dude Ranch,' caught the ear of MCA, and it was big-label clout that got MTV airplay for 'What's My Age Again?' The video, a 'Total Request Live favorite, featured the band members running around the streets of Los Angeles, mostly naked (skin-colored Speedos kept them from getting arrested). The band's high-energy sound was popularized through several independent albums and appearances in numerous skate, surf and snowboarding videos. 'We are multidimensional people, and we're not running naked and happy all the time, contrary probably to what most people thought about this band a good 10 or 12 years ago when we started.'īlink-182 was formed in 1992 by Delonge, bassist-vocalist Mark Hoppus and drummer Scott Raynor, who was succeeded in 1999 by Mohawk-sporting madman Travis Barker. 'We didn't just say, 'Hey, let's make a mature record!' We don't think like that,' Delonge says. Such titles would have reflected more of the South Parkian frat-boy material fans have come to love, but Blink-182's album, released in November, suggests its once-proudly arrested development has given way to a wiser worldview, evident in darker songs and more ambitious arrangements that expand the band's musical roots without abandoning them. On the other hand, they did toy with such titles as the Guns N' Roses-taunting 'Use Your Erection I and II' and 'Vasectomy, Vasect-a-you.' Sure, the San Diego-bred punk-pop trio chose to follow up its most successful albums, the mischievously titled 'Enema of the State' and 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,' with a recording that sported no title at all. This wraps up another edition of “Growing Up 90’s.TO SUGGEST BLINK-182 has grown up is oversimplifying, says guitarist-vocalist Tom Delonge, calling from Virginia Beach, where his band has just kicked off one of this summer's most anticipated tours, co-headlining with No Doubt.

While I was never the biggest Star Wars fan, I nonetheless appreciate those original movies, and Blink-182’s song still makes me chuckle as I listen through its charming and funny name-drops.Įvery night, I fall asleep with you, and I wake up alone…” The song is loaded with references to “the Holy Trilogy,” as Hoppus name-drops Han Solo, Alderaanians, the moons of Endor, the cantina on Mos Eisley, the deserts of Tatooine, and even throws in a more-than-vaguely racist line about “drinking Colt 45’s with Lando.” “A New Hope” is three minutes and forty-five seconds of fast and loud pop-punk glory (quite a long runtime when compared to most of the other songs on that album) with quite amusing subject matter.ĭude Ranch was and is one of the most important albums to me, loaded with lyrics about the pains of teenage heartbreak and longing, while balanced out with plenty of immature jokes. The band’s Mark Hoppus leads the listener through his fantasy about falling asleep and waking up next to the heroine from those legendary first three films. In honor of this week’s much-anticipated release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which is the seventh volume of every nerd’s favorite cinematic saga, The No Seatbelt Blog will remain in kind, by presenting a most appropriate song for this newest edition of “Growing Up 90’s.” From Blink-182’s seminal 1997 pop-punk album Dude Ranch came “A New Hope,” a deep track on the record about a pubescent obsession with Princess Leia.

Blink 182 songs about growing up