After an extensive four-year hiatus, Blink 182 has finally returned.
“To put it simply, we’re back,” the band wrote to fans on its Web site. “We mean really back. Picking up where we left off and then some.”
Formed in 1992, pop-punk trio Blink 182’s original lineup consisted of Mark Hoppus on bass, Tom DeLonge on guitar, and Scott Raynor on drums.
The band’s first studio album, “Cheshire Cat” was released in 1994, but was not prosperous.
Blink inched closer to garage-door liberation with the release of “Dude Ranch,” a slightly more successful effort.
The single, “Dammit,” positioned Blink a few steps higher on the mainstream scale, setting them up for what would eventually become absolute punk rock triumph.
Raynor recorded and toured with Blink until 1998, when he entered rehabilitation for alcohol abuse mid-tour.
Travis Barker, then of The Aquabats, replaced Raynor permanently.
With the addition of Barker, Blink’s success multiplied 10-fold.
“Enema of the State,” released in 1999, was the breakout album that boosted the trio into mainstream popularity.
This album is arguably the best the band ever made. It is Blink in its truest form, boasting songs like “Dumpweed,” “All The Small Things” and “Going Away To College.”
“Enema” brings back memories only a Blink album would, such as driving for the first time with your license and blasting “What’s My Age Again?” while you and your friends celebrated your first glimpses of vehicular independence or impromptu trips to the skate park to see that cute guy skim the half-pipe.
Blink’s only live album, “The Mark, Tom and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!)” followed “Enema” and featured live concert performances of songs from “Enema,” “Cheshire Cat” and “Dude Ranch.”
Achieving even greater popularity was the studio effort, “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket” in 2001, spawning greats such as “The Rock Show” and “Online Songs.”
With the release of “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,” the band moved forward with its sound into more advanced drum parts, new DeLonge/Hoppus vocal harmonies and a fair amount of deviation from the 4-chord wonder anthems that initially propelled the band into punk rock fame.
Blink displayed its most musically advanced sound yet in the 2003 release of its self-titled (or untitled, depending on who you talk to) album.
With the release of this last album, the band’s sound became more multi-faceted and accessible to its ever-growing audience.
Robert Smith of the Cure lent his vocals in the track, “All Of This,” and Blink continued to show the world a more progressive version of its incredible musicianship.
Since the beginning, DeLonge and Hoppus have grown immensely in their vocal tonality, and to this day, Barker boasts some of the greatest drumming skills in the industry.
Blink plans on touring this summer, releasing a new album and attending a yet unnanounced music event.
Undeniably one of the best pop-punk rock bands of all time, Blink’s return is long overdue.
The four-year hiatus has seemed like ages, and there’s no better time than now to get back in
the game.
Welcome back, guys.
