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BEST OF BLINK 182
Signature Licks
A step-by-step breakdown of Tom De Longe's guitar styles and
techniques. Thorough analysis of: Adam's Song · All the
Small Things · Anthem Part II · Dammit ·
Don't Leave Me · Dumpweed · First Date ·
Man Overboard · Pathetic · The Rock Show ·
Stay Together for the Kids · What's My Age Again? plus
an introduction and info on Tom's gear.
Inventory #HL 695704.
Book $22.95 (US)
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Blink 182
Wildly popular punk-pop outfit blink-182 (that's not a typo -
they don't capitalize it) occupies a nearly unique niche in rock
music. Taking the driving power chords of punk and steering clear
of seriousness (for the most part), they're often called the band
that made rock music fun again. Simple melodies and progressions
drive their songs, while lyrics that are often juvenile or off-color
make their tunes guilty double-entendre pleasures.
Blink-182 had its beginnings in San Diego in the summer of 1992
when Tom Delonge and Mark Hoppus first met, at the ages of 16
and 20, respectively, through an introduction from Mark's sister.
The two hit it off immediately and began collaborating on songs,
with influences from groups including the Descendents, the Cure
and Bad Religion. They found drummer Scott Raynor at a battle
of the bands, and named themselves Duck Tape.
They soon changed the name to Blink and in 1993 created a demo
tape, called Flyswatter, in Scott's bedroom. It succeeded
in getting them local gigs and building up a following, and they
recorded a second, better, demo tape entitled Buddha. They
managed to sell a good quantity of the tape at local stores and
gigs, and it ended up being released as a CD on the Kung Fu label,
courtesy of local punk band the Vandals.
By 1995 they'd been signed by independent Cargo Records, releasing
Chesire Cat, which sold far more than could've been expected,
and it got them radio airplay of the song "M&Ms,"
and then a video to accompany it - which was soon banned from
MTV because of it depicted a gunfight with girls. This only served
to enhance their reputation, and Blink was on its way to fame.
Around this time they had to change their name after being threatened
with legal action by an Irish band of the same name; they simply
added the number "182," which they've always claimed
has absolutely no hidden meaning or connotations. They toured
Australia with Pennywise and released the 7-inch disks They
Came to Conquer Uranus and Lemmings, and were approached
by several major labels. They accepted MCA's offer and the result
was their debut gold album Dude Ranch, with its hit single
"Dammit."
As blink-182's popularity increased, the grind of touring apparently
took its toll on the group, and drummer Scott Raynor bowed out.
He was replaced by Travis Barker from the band the Aquabats in
1998, and in 1999 the band recorded Enema of the State,
which went platinum and produced the hit singles "Adam's
Song," "What's My Age Again?" and "All the
Small Things."
The band's fondness for bathroom and sexual humor and antics has
gotten them in hot water with the press, but their reputation
for juvenile lyrics has endeared them to their hordes of fans.
Their live CD released in 2000, The Mark, Tom and Travis Show,
even featured obscene banter in between the songs.
The band's latest release, 2001's Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,
served to spread the group's popularity even more - and has been
hailed as their best effort yet, with evidence of an ever-so-slight
maturation in their songs' lyrical subject matter, while at the
same time they returned to their so-called "Southern California
punk roots." Meanwhile, Travis and Tom have launched their
own side project, Boxcar Racer, with a more straight-ahead punk
vibe that dispenses with the pop side of their other work.
Blink's next album is now in the works and is due out later in
2003.
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