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12 of Tom DeLonge’s best Blink-182 moments

Given recent developments, it’s easy to forget that when Blink-182 worked, it really worked. Whether he “quit” or got axed, Tom DeLonge went from the nasal-voiced urchin guitar player to a visionary when it came to epic riffs and heartfelt lyrics. As the saga of his departure continues to unravel, let’s remember his greatest contributions to this landmark trio.

The chorus on “Josie”

Up until this fun and frantic track off 1997’s Dude Ranch became a single, casual listeners might have thought Hoppus was the sole singer in the band. In comes the reassuring chorus from DeLonge: “I know that everything, know that everything, everything’s gonna be fine.” He had a runty charm.

 

The opening riff to “M+M’s”

Admit it: Your eyes bug out in awe every time this one comes on. DeLonge’s mighty, blistering hammer-ons easily place him among the best punk axemen out there. The rest of the song is cleverly adolescent, but it’s the guitarist’s magic on this one that melts your face.

 

The chorus of “I Miss You”

Don’t waste your time on me, you’re already a voice inside my head,” he sang in this decidedly goth late-era number. Draped in black and white, Blink took on a whole new persona with the song and video, showcasing DeLonge’s desire to explore the world beyond profanity-laced shenanigans.

 

Getting a signature Fender in 1999
This beauty was pearly and simple: Just one volume knob occupied the pick guard. But with this Stratocaster, guitarists could recreate the raucous sounds of Blink’s best work. The kicker? The frets have smiley faces on them. The official make is rare and expensive, but custom designers sell replicas for around $500.

 

Founding Atticus
DeLonge formed this distinct clothing company with Hoppus and their pal Dylan Anderson in 2001 and turned on a generation to unique print tees. Named for the heroic father figure in Harper Lee’s lit classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus clothed daring youngsters and collected rad tunes from Alkaline Trio, the Used and other usual suspects for their compilation discs.

 

The “Stay Together for the Kids” riff

Melancholic plucking personifies the anguish children of divorce might feel. The solemn, powerful song from Take Off Your Pants and Jacket was another triumph in DeLonge’s pool of standalone progressions. Plus, his outburst in the chorus of “When you’re dead and gone, will you remember this night?” shoots straight to the heart.

 

The chorus of “Mutt”

Let’s not forget what a brilliant joker DeLonge could be. This one off Enema of the State takes the cake. “She’s open, waiting for more. And I know he’s only looking to score,” was a favorite line of teens back in the day. This saga of a mismatched, reckless, exhibitionist couple was a bright spot in Delonge’s repertoire.

 

The lip ring
Consider it his Marilyn Monroe beauty mark. DeLonge did for lip rings what Slash did for top hats.

 

“Always”

This gorgeous good-bye on Blink’s untitled 2003 release is a high point in DeLonge’s catalog. “Come on, let me hold you, touch you, feel you, always,” is the kind of impassioned plea that echoes with every left behind lover.

 

“Ghost On The Dance Floor”

This lead track off Blink-182’s comeback album, Neighborhoods, was a prime cut that linked Blink and Angels And Airwaves. It had the giddiness of Blink and the upper-crust production of AvA. Hearing DeLonge sing in his lower register gave even the most skeptical listeners an appreciation for his maturation.

 

Overcoming a Vicodin addiction
Around the same time Blink originally dissolved and Angels And Airwaves surfaced, DeLonge was fighting a years-long battle with painkillers. A chronic back problem led to his addiction, but in 2005, he quit cold turkey. He details his struggle in a 2008 interview with Alternative Press (and also comments on that year’s speculation of a Blink reunion).

 

“I’m Lost Without You”

I swear that I could go on forever,” DeLonge insists in the haunting closer of the untitled album. It’s a chilling notion considering Blink-182 was the last studio record they’d put out until 2011. The ballad expertly showed the guitarist’s flair for the dramatic. It’s a tearjerker and a phenomenal sendoff.

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