Matt Skiba talks Blink-182: “It's a really amazing thing to be part of this family”
Blink-182 guitarist and Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba has opened up to Ultimate Guitar about his time in Blink-182—and the reaction from both Blink-182 fans and Alkaline Trio fans about his joining the band.
“Some people were [like], 'What the hell? What does this mean for Alkaline Trio?' In a very positive way it was, 'It's crazy. Is this going to work? Congratulations,’” Skiba explains. “There were some people who were like, 'This is an amazing fit,' and some Tom loyalists who were like, 'Fuck you! This is terrible.'
Read more: Blink-182 drop new song, announce deluxe edition of ‘California’
Matt Skiba, who joined Blink-182 two years ago, reflects back on his start with the band. After being asked to fill in for Tom DeLonge at Barker’s Musink Festival, they decided to go into the studio to see what they could do.
And thus, California came to be.
“Two years ago, Travis' Musink Festival that happens annually, Blink was scheduled to play it and shortly before the show Tom dropped out as far as I know. Tom quit the band just before the show and the guys hit me up and asked me to fill in so they didn't have to cancel their Musink Festival,” Skiba explains. “I very enthusiastically said, 'Yes, absolutely. I would love to fill in.' The shows went great and from there we decided to go into the studio and see how that went and clearly the record [California] has done very well and apart from that it's just something we're very proud of and had a very great time making.
Although he had never played any Blink, he explains that he couldn’t have felt more welcome by the band.
“The guys couldn't have made it easier [at the first rehearsals],” Skiba tells Ultimate Guitar. “I had never played any Blink. I may have been listening to 'em and had a guitar in my hand just by happenstance, but I never sat down to learn any Blink songs or try and figure out Tom's guitar playing until I was asked to fill in for the shows.”
“When the guys asked me to play with them, I went straight home after that lunch meeting and just started learning the songs. I had 30-something songs I was familiar with but it's one thing to hear music and another thing to learn how to play it.”
Of course, there’s the topic of fan reaction. Skiba explains that most were extremely supportive of his move, seeing that it’s an incredible opportunity for him as an artist—and that this doesn’t mean Alkaline Trio is done.
“I'm very happy and grateful to say that Alkaline Trio fans have been very, very supportive even when they do get a little homesick missing the band,” Skiba explains. “It's still very supportive and it's not like I'm not Alkaline Trio for some selfish or no good reason.”
Read more: Blink-182 offer explosive late-night performance on ‘Kimmel’—watch
Even more, he’s grateful to have become part of the family that is Blink-182. He tells Ultimate Guitar that he and Barker have become extremely close, and he’s just thankful that it’s been such a good ride so far.
“It's a really amazing thing to be part of this family and I very thankful to the Trio fans for backing me for the most part and being so supportive and loving through the whole thing,” Skiba says.
“It's been an incredible journey with these guys that started two years ago to the date actually.”
The band will be releasing the deluxe version of California May 19, and it’s complete with new artwork and 11 new songs.
Plus, they have already released two new songs—”Parking Lot” and “Misery.”
Check out the track listing and tour dates with Naked And Famous and Wavves below!
Tracklisting:
1. Parking Lot
2. Misery
3. Good Old Days
4. Don't Mean Anything
5. Hey I'm Sorry
6. Last Train Home
7. Wildfire
8. 6/8
9. Long Lost Feeling
10. Bottom of the Ocean
11. Can't Get You More Pregnant
12. Bored to Death (Acoustic)
Tour dates:
4/19 – Flagstaff, AZ @ Northern Arizona University
4/21 – Amarillo, TX @ Aztec Music Hall
4/22 – Rogers, AR @ Wal-Mart Amphitheater
4/23 – Springfield, MO @ Shrine Mosque
4/25 – Pelham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheater
4/26 – Charleston, SC @ N. Charleston Coliseum
4/27 – Knoxville, TN @ Civic Coliseum
5/2 – Pensacola, FL @ Pensacola Bay Center
5/3 – Tallahassee, FL @ The Pavilion
5/4 – Orlando, FL @ Orlando Fairgrounds
5/9 – New Orleans, LA @ UNO Lakefront Arena
How stoked are you for the deluxe edition of California? Let us know in the comments below!
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