Original Blink-182 member Tom Delonge has left the group. According to band sources, he will be gone “indefinitely”.
The change was set in motion this morning when KROQ first revealed that the 8th Annual Musink Festival in Orange County, CA (March 20 to 22) would include Blink-182 with Matt Skiba of the Alkaline Trio.
The word spread quickly that Delonge wasn’t going to be playing with the group which forced the other band members, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker, to issue a statement:
Matt Skiba of the Alkaline Trio will join Blink-182 in replacement of Tom DeLonge at the 8th annual Musink Music and Tattoo Festival. “We were all set to play this festival and record a new album and Tom kept putting it off without reason. A week before we were scheduled to go in to the studio we got an email from his manager explaining that he didn’t want to participate in any Blink-182 projects indefinitely, but would rather work on his other non-musical endeavours.” Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus plan to honor all Blink-182 commitments including the Musink Festival and are excited to have singer/guitarist Matt Skiba join them for this project. “No hard feelings, but the show must go on for our fans.” Additionally, Skiba will continue to make new music and tour with the Alkaline Trio.
Travis Barker is the curator for the festival so it was important that the band stay on the bill.
Blink-182 was formed in 1992 in Poway, CA and released their first album, Cheshire Cat, in 1995. Their 1999 album Enema of the State included the number 6 hit All the Small Things. The followup, 2001’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket topped the Billboard Albums chart. Delonge formed his band Angels & Airwaves in 2005 when Blink-182 went on hiatus.
UPDATE: Tom DeLonge denies leaving Blink-182
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