Tom DeLonge: Box Car Racer Reunion? Blink-182’s Travis Barker Is Open To It
Is Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge looking to reunite his early aughts side project, Box Car Racer, with Blink and Box Car’s drummer, Travis Barker? That’s the latest speculation surrounding the former Blink guitarist and vocalist, DeLonge, and his erstwhile percussion partner and current Blink-182 drummer, Barker.
A new report from Alternative Press calls attention to Travis Barker’s comments concerning Box Car in a recent interview with GQ. When asked by writer John Lockett about the possibility of a Box Car Racer reunion with lapsed Blink leader, Tom, Travis didn’t rule it out; the drummer implied he’d be open to the idea.
.@tomdelonge reuniting Box Car Racer with Blink-182’s @travisbarker? https://t.co/7n6XnBie0W pic.twitter.com/fVe7wvrTPS
— altpress (@AltPress) August 20, 2016
As indicated by AltPress, a Box Car reunion previously seemed unlikely — it was DeLonge and Barker’s side band, sans Blink-182 bassist and singer, Mark Hoppus. Barker mentioned problems with Blink caused by Box Car Racer at the time, but praised the sound that Box Car developed on their 2002 self-titled album.
The absence of Tom DeLonge from Blink’s present-day lineup was seemingly the elephant in the room during Travis’ GQ interview. In a piece discussing Barker’s many tattoos, Travis also talked about the apparent likelihood of visiting a water park with Tom, a request tweeted to Barker by DeLonge mere months ago.
@travisbarker Let's go to Great Wolf Lodge in OC and do water slides together and post it for fans…
— Tom DeLonge (@tomdelonge) June 27, 2016
Travis Barker stated in the article that a reunion of Box Car Racer had been considered. However, having just released Blink-182’s latest album, California, with the rejuvenated Blink comprising of Hoppus and DeLonge’s replacement, Matt Skiba, Barker considered the previous difficulty caused by Box Car’s sole album.
“You know, it’s been mentioned [laughs]. That’d be cool, but it’s hard because the last one caused so many problems with Blink.”
Barker elaborated on forsaking Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus during Box Car’s inaugural run at the turn of the century. Initially intended as a Blink album, Box Car Racer eventually became its own project. At the time, the band featured Tom DeLonge as frontman and Barker on drums, i.e., two-thirds of Blink. Everyone but Hoppus.
“[Mark’s] not in the band, so would it cause a lot of problems? Would it not? I have no idea. It’s something I can’t even wrap my head around just because I’m so proud of this album that we’re currently supporting. But I love Box Car. It was a cool album and cool sound.”
Box Car Racer was active for only two years, 2001-2003, and released their eponymous album in May, 2002. Box Car Racer scored a No. 8 hit on Billboard’s alternative chart that June with its lead single, “I Feel So,” and the band toured with former Angels & Airwaves member David Kennedy on guitar and bassist Anthony Celestino.
The group parted ways in time for Blink-182’s regrouping and their 2003 self-titled effort, the album that would become their last until the reunion of DeLonge, Hoppus, and Barker in 2009. The then-reunited Blink-182 released Neighborhoods in 2011 and the Dogs Eating Dogs EP the following year. DeLonge was replaced by Skiba in 2015.
A special 90-minute episode of Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone on DeLonge aired last night on Audience Music. The feature delved into the creation of some of Tom’s best-known songs (Blink-182 hit “Stay Together for the Kids,” Angels & Airwaves’ “The Adventure”) and recounted his early years in San Diego, anchored by Blink’s 1992 start.
What would you think of a Box Car Racer reunion? Let us know your thoughts on Blink-182 in the comments.
[Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images]
