blink's DeLonge finding new path with Angels & Airwaves
By JIM TRAGESER - Staff Writer | ∞
Former blink-182's DeLonge finds new outlet in Angels & Airwaves Maybe Tom DeLonge's post blink-182 project, Angels & Airwaves, is simply a response to his first band ---- a chance to get it right.
In contrast to the high-gloss patina of the neo-progressive rock sounds of A&A, Poway native DeLonge said that first band, formed his sophomore year of high school, wasn't cohesive enough to even have a sound.
"I don't think there was even a discernible style, because we were all so bad," he said last week by phone from the road, where the band was on tour. (They play tonight at Soma in San Diego.) "The drum player just wanted to do drum fills, and the other guitarist just wanted to play solos."
DeLonge ---- who still lives in North County, when he's not on one of his interminable tours ---- said his interest in music was sparked by his older brother's affinity for punk rock.
"I think the first record I bought was U2, 'Joshua Tree,' in seventh grade," he said. "No, wait, I might have bought a punk rock record before that, but my mom took it from me and threw it away because it had a song called 'No Moms.' "
DeLonge quickly graduated from listening to music to teaching himself to play guitar. By his sophomore year, he had formed the above-mentioned first band. Not long after that, he was playing his first shows around the county.
"I played at a bar in downtown San Diego, and nobody was there," he said of his first public gig. "And when we were finished, the bartender got done cleaning up the bar and said, 'I hear something in you guys.'
"Our second show, they cut us off after one song and gave me a Snapple. They really hated the music, and it was way too loud."
But DeLonge kept plugging away ---- not because he dreamed of becoming a rock star, he said, but simply because he was having fun.
"Things kind of happened slowly; you keep hammering away. Sooner or later you're able to afford gasoline or you're able to afford Taco Bell.
"You don't really aim at (becoming a star), because you don't really think it's possible. So you just keep doing it until it's not fun anymore, but it always stayed fun. There was always something to look forward to."
By the early '90s, DeLonge had hooked up with Mark Hoppus and Scott Raynor to form the beach punk trio blink-182. The band's fourth album, 1999's "Enema of the State" (the first with new drummer Travis Barker), pushed them into the realm of bona fide rock stars. Together with South Bay's P.O.D., blink-182 put San Diego's music scene on the national (and international) map in ways that previous breakout local acts such as Mojo Nixon, the Beat Farmers and Lucy's Fur Coat had never quite achieved.
"San Diego had a really, really good scene for awhile, and we were really lucky," he said of that success he found with blink-182. "I think the whole of Southern California is a good breeding ground for music."
After blink-182 announced an indefinite hiatus in spring 2005, DeLonge quickly resurfaced with his current combo, Angels & Airwaves, joining forces with guitarist David Kennedy, ex-Rocket From the Crypt drummer Atom Willard and bassist Ryan Sinn, who have since been replaced by Matt Wachter. Two albums into the project, DeLonge and his new bandmates are still pursuing DeLonge's oft-stated plan of melding the grand, overarching themes of bands such as Pink Floyd and U2 with a grittier, punk-influenced sound ---- a sort of prog-rock for punkers.
"It was just really about finding guys who liked the same kind of music and wanted to do something that was genuine to where we were in our lives," DeLonge said of putting A&A together.
If there's one thing that's changed in his transition from his old band to the new one (other than the obvious stylistic shift), it's the writing of new songs, DeLonge said. With blink-182, DeLonge said band members would bring their finished songs to rehearsal, as well as write together. With Angels & Airwaves, things are much more collaborative, he said.
"It used to be a little bit of both, and now we get in the studio and just create together ---- so it is a bit different."
Angels & Airwaves with Meg & Dia, The Color Fred, Ace Enders
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: SOMA San Diego, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd., Suite I, San Diego
Tickets: $27.50
Info: (619) 226-7662 or somasandiego.com
Web: angelsandairwaves.com
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Skeeter wrote on Mar 14, 2008 6:05 PM:Nicely written piece. I find Tom to be very inspiring. Although I loved Blink-182 and I was very angry about their break-up, I gave each ex-member the benefit of the doubt, I don't blame any of them for the break-up because I think their immatureness as a whole forced them to split. Tom's family, Mark's family, and even Travis' family all needed attention and I think the time they got off helped them and their families. As for AVA, I love them! Their sound is second to none and my mood changed whenever I hear their music. I could be so P.O.ed and I put on the Adventure and I'm in my own world happy and content. I hope they last many more years because they are just AWESOME!!! and their love shows can't be beat
b182 wrote on Mar 14, 2008 6:25 PM:tom you have it all wrong blink 182 was great in so many ways cause kids could relate to it not that junk about magic you make now
to the greatest band ever wrote on Mar 15, 2008 2:27 PM:Blink 182 was...interesting. But Angels & Airwaves is one of the best bands I have ever heard. You say kids could relate to Blink 182...yes, they could. But why perpetuate the sorrow and anger they feel toward others? When you're famous, kids look at you as a role model, so why would you want to push them toward hate? Angels & Airwaves has created something inspirational. It makes you think about your life, and it has certainly made me aware of what I can do, and that it doesn't help to sit around and be mad at the world. When I listen to their music, I'm happy. Blink 182 sounds like a pretty big mess of sad, angry guys yelling about why the world sucks. There's a purpose to A&A's music. Grow up, be great in your own way, be who you are. Take some time to listen to the message they deliver. Take a page out of Tom's book...you decide who you want to be, you decide to be angry or sad or happy. And that you should do great things. It's not junk. As for "Everything's Magic"...the song isn't junk that is literally about "magic"...listen to all of the words. I love Angels & Airwaves. Definitely my favorite band ever.
Einstein wrote on Mar 16, 2008 7:18 AM:Tom is genius. Like the Beatles he keeps innovating and his songs keep improving. And when blink 182 reunites they'll be selling out stadiums. Rock on.
nofan wrote on Mar 16, 2008 10:06 AM:Tom, like axl rose, breaks a good thing up because he thinks he is more important than he really is.
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