Blink 182: Confusion Reigns, Is Tom DeLonge In Or Out?

Fans of pop punk band Blink 182 will be scratching their heads today as some news reports claim that guitarist Tom DeLonge has left the band whilst others have DeLonge denying the reports. What seems certain is that there is a sizable rift within Blink 182. The Mail claims that the confusion began when Blink 182 members, Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus, released a statement on Monday saying that DeLonge is to be replaced by Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio at the eighth annual Musink tattoo convention and music festival.

The Barker and Hoppus statement explained that “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 into 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 endeavors.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, DeLonge then took to his Facebook page to deny that he had quit Blink 182. DeLonge said “To all the fans, I never quit the band. I actually was on a phone call about a Blink 182 event for New York City at the time all these weird press releases started coming in… Apparently those releases were “sanctioned” from the band. Are we dysfunctional- yes. But, Christ….. #awkward.

Rolling Stone are reporting that in an exclusive interview Hoppus and Barker set the record straight on the band’s inner turmoils, album delays and ongoing frustrations. The duo explained that the members of Blink 182 have not spoken in person for months with their communication all done by e-mail. They claim that e-mails from DeLonge’s managers state unequivocally that “Tom. Is. Out,” and “Tom is out indefinitely. For the foreseeable future, Tom is done.”

When asked about DeLonge’s claims that he didn’t quit Blink 182 Barker said that Tom was disingenuous, disrespectful and ungrateful.

Barker said “I think he’s just bummed because Mark and I were finally honest.” We always covered up for him before. It was always, “We’re going to record an album,” then “Tom refuses to get into the studio without a record deal.” So everyone does hella amounts of work to get a record deal and now Tom isn’t part of Blink-182. “It’s hard to cover for someone who’s disrespectful and ungrateful. You don’t even have the balls to call your band-mates and tell them you’re not going to record or do anything Blink 182 related. You have your manager do it.”

According to the Independent, Barker concluded by saying “why Blink 182 even got back together in the first place is questionable. It’s humiliating to be in a band where you’re apologizing for one person all the time.”

It seems that the future of Blink 182 will be decided by lawyers and managers. It’s hard to see how a rift of this size can be filled. Only time will tell if this marks the end of Blink 182 but it is hard to see a way back for DeLonge.

[Image – EotBar.Com]