Tom DeLonge Hopes Blink-182 Remains ‘Part of My Life’
Eight months after Tom DeLonge abruptly left – but did not quit – Blink-182, the guitarist has revealed that he still hopes the punk trio will remain “a part of my life.” However, DeLonge reiterated that a reunion is not imminent and probably unlikely. Speaking to NME, DeLonge admitted, “I loved that band, I started that band. That’s me. I named the band – that shit came from me. [Being in Blink] cannot be the only thing in my life, or can it be the absolute priority. But can it be a part of my life? Absolutely.”
Earlier this year, Blink-182’s attempts to work on a new studio album and tour were hindered because of DeLonge’s reluctance, as the guitarist was busy focusing on his own projects. Tired of waiting, Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker turned to Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba to fill in for DeLonge onstage. However, despite pleas from his band mates, DeLonge refused to contractually sever ties from the band while he worked on “four albums in one year.”
“For me it’s always a scheduling thing. At this period of my life, I have these 10 things that I’m doing. And the 10 things are very important to me and what I’m very passionate about right now – but I did this band thing for 25 years, so, give me a second, y’know,” DeLonge told NME. “It’s hard to be in a band because everyone’s got different lives and priorities and if they don’t match up, people get really angry and people get hurt and people get suspicious and that’s myself included. That difficulty is what makes bands have an edge and have something to say. That’s why Blink-182 works. If we were all hunky dory, it wouldn’t be the same.”
While DeLonge and his maybe-former band mates had entered into talks for a “friendly divorce,” the guitarist says he hasn’t talked to Hoppus or Barker since the recent acrimony. “We haven’t spoken since all that shit’s gone down – but that’s not un-normal,” DeLonge said. “The Rolling Stones would go three years without talking to each other, then Mick and Keith would be hugging and saying, ‘Fuck, I missed you.’ It’s just how it works.”
Hoppus and Barker are currently working on new material with Skiba while DeLonge recently released “Into the Night,” an Angels & Airwaves track tied to DeLonge’s novel Poet Anderson… of Nightmares.