Movies

Blink-182 saved Mark Hoppus’ life when he had cancer. His new book helped him heal

BBG News

In September 2021, I was wrapping up six grueling months of chemotherapy. The band Blink-182 had reunited, and it seemed like fate itself brought guitarist Tom DeLonge, who departed in 2015, drummer Travis Barker, and me together again after a challenging decade.

In June 2021, Hoppus was diagnosed with a specific type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and underwent intensive treatment until he was pronounced cancer-free. To manage the strain and fatigue, his physician advised him to write. Initially used as therapy, this practice eventually evolved into the book “Fahrenheit-182,” which chronicles his life journey – from being a military child, a teenager with a penchant for punk music and skateboarding, to a popular rock musician with legions of fans.

In my memoir, I recount how at age 53, the aftermath of my parents’ divorce and my discovery of punk rock became intertwined. Bands like Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Dead Kennedys, and NOFX were instrumental in this transformation. Yet, it was the behind-the-scenes love story of Blink-182 that truly captivated me – a trio composed of Hoppus, DeLonge, and Barker. However, as we know, even the strongest relationships have their ups and downs, and these were no exception. In retelling these trials, Hoppus has made an effort to understand and empathize with everyone involved in this journey.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can relate when Hoppus expresses that writing the book was an incredibly therapeutic process for him. His aim was to be impartial in the narrative and avoid portraying any characters as villains because, having navigated our shared past, I don’t believe there were villains among us. Instead, I view Blink-182 as a source of immense blessings.

He shares, “When my cancer miraculously went into remission, making me feel like I had narrowly escaped a dangerous situation, I felt an overwhelming desire to share the story of Blink-182 from someone who was actually part of the band. Not just my personal tale, but the band’s narrative as a whole – the triumphs, the struggles, the camaraderie, the friendships, and more. I hold Tom and Travis in such high regard, and I wanted to tell our story truthfully, as it has unfolded so far.

Instead of avoiding stories about breakups, reconciliations, and legal and personal conflicts among friends and bandmates, he openly shares them. However, a sense of melancholy permeates these tales, not acrimony or accusation.

In the past, I found myself delving into topics where Tom and I once clashed, but I made sure to present his viewpoint honestly. The same approach applied to Travis and our band’s disputes. This exercise allowed me to reevaluate experiences that significantly shaped my life from a fresh perspective, understanding arguments we had from others’ points of view. It helped me find closure on old grudges and animosities, offering a therapeutic experience in the process as I wrote.

1/7
Mark Hoppus, born in Oakland, crawls outside the family trailer.   (From Mark Hoppus)
2/7
He was a skater boy.  (From Mark Hoppus)
3/7
Blink-182 with Alyssa Milano on the set of the “Josie” music video.  (From Mark Hoppus)
4/7
Blink-182 and Janine Lindemulder at a photo shoot for the “Enema of the State” album cover.  (From Mark Hoppus)
5/7
Mark Hoppus holds his newborn son, Jack, at the hospital.  (From Mark Hoppus)
6/7
Mark Hoppus, Matt Skiba and Travis Barker at the top of the Empire State Building in New York.  (From Mark Hoppus)
7/7
“Possibly the worst day of my life,” writes Mark Hoppus. “Sitting on the bathroom floor, vomiting, hair gone, hopeless, filled with chemo drugs.”   (From Mark Hoppus)

Hoppus exhibits a talent for narration, a skill that’s unlikely to catch fans of the band off guard given their memorable and quotable song lyrics.

Raised in Oakland’s Ridgemont neighborhood, which had just been turned into a suburb in 1970, Hoppus reflects, “It’s a longshot to survive in the desert. In this barren landscape, nothing flourishes or endures. Yet I managed to make it through. It seems like one-in-a-million events happen to me frequently.

Entertainment & Arts

Travis Barker is a resilient individual who thrives on overcoming obstacles. Currently, he’s on tour with Blink-182 (leaving the drumset untouched by any cleaning efforts), and anticipating the arrival of a baby with Kourtney Kardashian.

Hoppus excelled academically and achieved great things, but his life took a turn when his parents divorced. This meant he had to move frequently between their different residences, adapt to their new spouses, and spend much of his time away from his cherished younger sister Anne.

By 1992, the rebellious skateboarding teen, sporting spiky hair, heeded his parents’ requests and signed up for college in San Diego, bringing him closer to his mother and Anne. A former high school musician, Hoppus was resolute on becoming “a band member.” He envisioned himself and his friends as a united force against the world, emulating the spirit of the Ramones.

Anne’s boyfriend introduced Hoppus to the local guitarist DeLonge, who shared the same ambition to become part of a band. Together they found a drummer initially, but he was later replaced by Barker in 1998 during their tour promoting their second album, “Dude Ranch.

Hoppus describes in his book how Tom and he quickly formed a close bond and musical partnership. He had an entire circle of friends, a band of reckless skateboarding outlaws who lived without rules. They were my kind of people. I fit right in with them. We spent those hot, free-spirited weeks scaring the residents of San Diego. We were young, reckless, and full of energy, and nothing could stop us.

Blink-182 became well-known for their lighthearted punk songs filled with boyish charm, which bucked the grunge trend of the early 90s to reach the top of Billboard charts and achieve platinum sales. Over three decades, they’ve navigated through both personal and professional upheavals; the bond between Hoppus and DeLonge was as tumultuous and intense as a marriage. For years, they lived in tour buses and small hotel rooms, experiencing the highs and lows of fame, dealing with record label pressures, unpredictable fan reactions, and DeLonge’s interest in UFOs and aliens. When DeLonge formed other bands like Box Car Racer in 2001 and Angels & Airwaves in 2005, it appeared that Blink-182 might not endure the strains of their personal and professional differences.

Despite the internal conflicts within Blink-182, their fans continued to show unwavering enthusiasm. Since their early days playing on small stages in bars or through word of mouth and cassette tapes at parties, these teenagers have stayed dedicated to the band for many years. Similarly, Mark Hoppus has remained just as devoted to his fans.

Hoppus explains, “Right from the start, folks could send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope to my PO box, and I’d return it with cool stickers or band-made newsletters. As for our merchandise, we always sold them at shows ourselves. Nowadays, I spend almost every day on Discord, interacting with fans and answering their questions.

He remarks, “One aspect I admire about Blink is the lack of distinction between us as a band and our audience. I’m not fond of using the term ‘fans,’ as I view Blink-182 more as a communal event where everyone is invited. It’s heartening to see people taking ownership of our music and our band.

Books

In his recently published autobiography, Mike Campbell, a band member from Heartbreakers, shares stories about the ups and downs he experienced while collaborating with Tom Petty.

Despite some turbulence in the music media, Blink-182’s comedy has consistently irked certain critics. However, what truly angers Hoppus is the undermining of the band’s punk rock authenticity. In 2023, The Guardian criticized them as “their act becoming tiresome at times.” A year later, their closing performance at Lollapalooza was deemed “uncomfortable and distasteful” by a reviewer.

Currently, they remain indomitable as a group, according to Hoppus. He expresses that Blink-182 serves as the core for each member, and over the past 15 years, since their initial breakup, everyone has experienced a sense of loss regarding Blink-182. This loss has made us appreciate our band more, and we’ve come to understand the unique camaraderie that arises when the three of us collaborate. When we exchange ideas in the studio, and they connect, there’s no sensation comparable to it. It surpasses any drug. Leaving a studio with a song we adore, which didn’t previously exist, is simply… astonishing.

In 2023, the group’s ninth studio album, titled “One More Time…”, highlighted their distinctive fast-paced guitars, powerful drums, and exceptional songwriting skills. This was their third number-one album, as it debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart a week after its release. It marked a significant accomplishment for the band, as they hadn’t reached such heights since their albums “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket” in 2001 and “Enema of the State” in 1999.

30 years ago, selling albums like “Dude Ranch” and touring weren’t as chaotic as they are now. In fact, their second album went gold within just eight months of its release, surpassing the 500,000 sales mark. After this success, the band devoted themselves to a tireless effort to gain global recognition.

Music

In spite of a chaotic shift in band members back in 2015, they’ve continued to be a mainstay in rock music, and their latest record addresses contemporary tunes and the tragic issue of multiple shootings.

According to Hoppus’ writing, we grabbed every opportunity to join tours and festivals. Immediately after our album was released in June of ’97, we spent another summer on the Warped Tour. Following that, we embarked on a U.S. tour with Less Than Jake, and then we traveled to Europe for about a month. To round off the year, we played all the rock radio Christmas shows that record labels encourage you to participate in, supposedly to help airplay of your songs.

Following this period, feelings of solitude and a lack of moorings prompted Hoppus to compose “Adam’s Song,” reflecting on the thoughts of ending his own life. The song’s success was both rewarding and tinged with sadness, and its raw emotion hasn’t faded over time.

He admits he struggles greatly with it. He composed that song during a deeply troubled period. While our group was gaining momentum and had secured a major label deal, he felt incredibly isolated upon returning home from tour. In the silence of an empty house, he experienced professional success yet grappled with personal emptiness in many aspects. Each evening on tour, he would begin performing the song by expressing, “I wrote this song during a difficult time in my past, and it helped me then. This band, Tom, and Travis rescued me once before when I was battling cancer. This song is about that emotion.

Hoppus frequently weaves anecdotes about near-life-saving incidents and his remarkable good fortune into our conversation, as well as in his book. In fact, that serendipitous event from 2021, when the idea for “Fahrenheit-182” was born, marked the start of a series of events, and the momentum hasn’t slowed down since then.

According to Hoppus, since the band got back together three years ago, there’s been no sign of slowing down, which is fantastic. Also, unlike his farewell, this book simply marks a significant point in our journey.

Hoppus will be discussing “Fahrenheit-182” at the Wiltern at 4 p.m. April 20 .

Read More

2025-04-07 13:32

Previous post Silver and Blood redeem codes and how to use them (April 2025)
Next post Robert Pattinson’s new movie Mickey 17 is already available to watch at home