Blink-182 formed in 1992. The band released its first demo Flyswatter in May 1993. In February 1995, blink-182 dropped its debut studio album “Cheshire Cat.”

Tom DeLonge formed blink-182 while still in high school in Poway, California, a suburb of San Diego.

Before becoming blink-182, the band used several other names including “Duck Tape” and “Figure 8.” By the time the band released Flyswatter, the band members had settled on the name “Blink.”

However, after the release of Cheshire Cat in 1995, an Irish band using the name “Blink” since 1991 threatened legal action. This prompted the band to switch its name to “blink-182.”

There are many theories about what the band name means, but the truth is that the name means absolutely nothing.

In fact, the band published a book in 2001 entitled Blink-182: Tales from Beneath Your Mom where the band states the name was selected at random. Mark Hoppus, the only original member of blink-182 still in the band, confirmed this in a 2010 interview.

People throughout the world pronounce “blink-182” differently. In the United States, it’s often pronounced “blink one eighty-two” while English actor James Corden argued the name should be pronounced “blink one hundred and eighty two.”

Tom DeLonge, the band’s founder, says both parties are wrong. It’s supposed to be pronounced “Blink eighteen-two”:

It’s actually— Blink eighteen-two. People have all gotten this wrong for years. Sometimes this can happen with very complex, thoughtful and elevated art. https://t.co/jmsfv401KF

— Tom DeLonge (@tomdelonge) November 19, 2018

The original lineup of blink-182 included

• Guitarist and co-vocalist Tom DeLonge
• Bassist and co-vocalist Mark Hoppus
• Drummer and percussionist Scott Raynor

Raynor was fired in 1998 and replaced by Travis Barker, previously the drummer for The Aquabats.

DeLonge quit blink-182 in 2014 and was replaced by Matt Skiba, co-founder and guitarist of Alkaline Trio, the following year. In 2022, Skiba departed and Barker returned.

Travis Barker joined blink-182 in 1998 after Raynor was fired. Initially, he was just supposed to "fill-in" for Raynor during that year’s tour, but he instead became a permanent member.

Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus are co-lead vocalists for blink-182.

In 2005, Tom DeLonge left blink-182 for the first time, stating that touring was taking a toll on his family and that he felt his creative freedom was being stifled.The band subsequently went on an indefinite hiatus that lasted for four years.

The band reunited with DeLonge in 2009. In 2015, however, Delonge would leave a second time to focus on his company To the Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences, through which he publishes fictional and nonfictional books for children and adults, mostly about UFOs, aliens, and related conspiracy theories. To the Stars also includes aerospace and sciences divisions devoted to ufology and related research.

Blink-182 went on an indefinite hiatus in 2005 after DeLonge decided to leave the band. During the hiatus, DeLonge founded Angels & Airwaves while Hoppus and Barker went on to form +44.

Additionally, Barker appeared on the MTV reality show Meet the Barkers, expanded his personal brand to include a shoe line, and collaborated with DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) as TRV$DJAM.

Blink-182 reunited in 2009.

On September 19, 2008, Barker and Goldstein took off from Columbia Metropolitan Airport in a small Learjet 60. During take-off, a tire blew, causing the plane to crash into a fence where it burst into flames. Both pilots and two of the four passengers died before first responders were able to extinguish the flames.

Barker required multiple surgeries and blood transfusions for his burns and injuries, but he survived. Goldstein also survived but was prescribed prescription pain medication. As a recovering addict with nine years sober, this medication contributed to a relapse that ultimately took his life on August 28, 2009.

Mark Hoppus confirmed that he had been in treatment for stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma on June 23, 2021. This was three months after his diagnosis.

A spiral of mixed emotions stirred up across the internet when Barker and Kourtney Kardashian started dating. Some fans assumed that the relationship was staged while others felt "hurt" that he was being described as Kardashian’s husband in the media rather than for his accomplishments with blink-182.

After the initial announcement, much of the controversy subsided. The two had three different wedding ceremonies in 2022:

1. An unofficial ceremony on April 3, 2022
2. An official and legally recognized ceremony on May 15, 2022
3. A religious ceremony on May 22, 2022

The band’s 2023-2024 tour, however, has helped bring attention back Barker and blink-182 and away from his controversial relationships.

blink-182 has had 1,284 concerts.

blink-182 is most often considered to be Rock, Punk, United States, Pop Rock, Alternative Rock, Alternative, Punk Rock, Pop Punk, Alternative Metal, Modern Rock, Skate Punk, Socal Pop Punk, and Emo Pop.

The next blink-182 concert is on June 14, 2025 at Festival Grounds at RFK Campus in Washington, D.C., United States.

The last blink-182 concert was on November 09, 2024 at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico. The bands that performed were: Allison / Petey / Pierce the Veil / blink-182.

The songs that blink-182 performs live vary, but here's the latest setlist that we have from the November 09, 2024 concert at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico:

1. Rest In Peace
2. Feeling This
3. The Rock Show
4. Man Overboard
5. Aliens Exist
6. DANCE WITH ME
7. Bored to Death
8. EDGING
9. Up All Night
10. MORE THAN YOU KNOW
11. Stay Together for the Kids
12. Not Now
13. CAN'T GO BACK
14. I Miss You
15. Down
16. When Your Heart Stops Beating
17. There Is
18. FUCK FACE
19. ANTHEM PART 3
20. Always
21. What's My Age Again?
22. First Date
23. All the Small Things
24. Dammit
25. ONE MORE TIME
26. Chinga tu madre