Blink-182: A comeback that has thrilled up to three generations

If you thoroughly enjoyed music in the 1990s and early 2000s, the news of Blink-182's return must have totally rejuvenated you. To talk about the history and influence of punk rock is to mention, necessarily, this trio made up of Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, and Tom DeLonge, who after several years apart will do their thing again with multiple surprises and presentations.

Nostalgia is that ace up its sleeve that the entertainment industry does not hesitate to pull out, and whose consequences usually generate positive sensations in the public. Therefore, today more than ever it is important to remember the legacy that the American band has left in music, to the point of still being a reference for up to three generations. A world tour that will arrive in Latin America, new songs, and an album that is already one of the most anticipated, are some of the little things that are exciting millions of fans.

Although Blink-182 has always been active, the news of their return is made more relevant by two events in particular: the return of vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, as well as Mark Hoppus's victory over cancer. This will be the first time that the trio will be together since 2015 and they have already announced that their first song, Edging, will be released on their digital platforms, in addition to an album for which no further details are yet available.

Regarding their tour that will start in March 2023, the first countries they will visit will be Latin America. Mexico will have the opportunity to see them up to three times; they will visit Peru and Paraguay for the first time; in Colombia, they will say present at the Festival Estéreo Picnic; while they will land in Argentina, Chile, and Brazil thanks to Lollapalooza. The rest of the dates will take them to various locations in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and up to 15 countries in Europe.

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Band history and successes

The beginnings of Blink-182 date back to 1992, when three young people began to rehearse and improvise songs in the garage of a house. At that time, DeLonge and Hoppus teamed up with drummer Scott Raynor, who was part of the band until 1998. Throughout that journey, they offered concerts in small clubs where the punk rock style was strong, in addition to being able to publish two albums (Cheshire Cat and Dude Ranch) thanks to the record company Cargo Records.

Little by little they began to play on local stations, their records generated profits and the first concert tours in the United States were a reality. Raynor's departure ushered in Travis Barker, who subsequently played a major role in the band's worldwide success. By 1999 they released the album Enema of the State, which sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and brought them fame for their single All the Small Things.

The commercial success of Blink-182 was undeniable and that made them the pioneers of the punk movement at the time. With Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001) they revolutionized their style and opted for a concept inclined towards adolescent life, introducing stronger sounds and lyrics full of love, partying, and rebellion against the authorities. It quickly reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, was certified double platinum and sold over 14 million copies.

Three songs emerged from that album that not only led the different music charts, but also marked an era in the lives of millions of young people: The Rock Show, First Date, and Stay Together for the Kids. From then on, the band began one of the best tours of the genre together with Green Day, although that in turn meant the beginning of its decline.

In 2003, Blink-182 released their fifth studio album with darker and more mature airs, something that did not raise many spirits in their followers. That new facet made the homonymous album sell only 2 million copies in the United States, and whose great successes were Feeling This and I Miss You. At this point in their lives, the three members were more focused on their individual projects than establishing themselves as one of the best bands in the music industry.

Two years later they announced an indefinite hiatus that led them to meet again in 2009. Shortly after they released Neighborhoods (2011), an album that aroused little interest and sold less than half a million copies. The definitive departure of DeLonge made Hoppus and Barker hire Matt Skiba to keep Blink-182 on stage, later publishing the albums California (2016) and Nine (2019).

His influence in Latin America

How can a band that barely set foot in Latin America during its heyday have so many fans there? In fact, it was not necessary for Blink-182 to do multiple concerts in this part of the continent, since their influence was transmitted thanks to MTV and the hundreds of hours of music on the television channel. Hence, the trio became a symbol of an entire generation, and the news of their return excited millions of people in the middle of 2022.

The fact of having grown up with this punk rock band made many Spanish-speaking young people seek to fulfill the dream of being musicians. And it is that looking in that mirror prompted groups like Panda from Mexico, Infierno 18 from Argentina, or Don Tetto from Colombia to arrive on the music scene. For that and many other things, the return of Blink-182 is a reason to rock again like in the old days.