UPDATE: Tom DeLonge says he’s still in the band. His Facebook message reads, “To all the fans, I never quit the band. I actually was on a phone call about a blink 182 event for New York City at the time all these weird press releases started coming in… Apparently those releases were ‘sanctioned’ from the band. Are we dysfunctional- yes. But, Christ….. #Awkward #BabyBackRibs”‘
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Pop punk is dead, guys.
Tom DeLonge, guitarist and vocalist for Blink-182, has left the rock band after co-founding it 22 years ago. The remaining members of the band, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker, has released in the wake of the news, reading, ”We were all set to play this festival and record a new album, and Tom kept putting it off without reason. A week before we were scheduled to go into the studio, we got an email from his manager, explaining that he didn’t want to participate in any Blink-182 projects indefinitely but would rather work on his other, nonmusical endeavors.”
The band adds, “No hard feelings, but the show must go on for our fans.”
DeLonge and Hoppus started Blink-182 in August 1992 while living in a suburb outside of San Diego, Calif.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Alkaline Trio‘s Matt Skiba will fill DeLonge’s place at the 8th annual Musink tattoo convention and music festival.
DeLonge is also the frontman for Angels & Airwaves. He also previously started Box Car Racer with Blink-182 drummer Barker in 2001.
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