pop-punk · blink-182 · tom delonge · mark hoppus · travis barker · music industry · band dynamics · rival bands · rebellious · california
The sticky, sun-baked air of a California summer in 1999 hangs heavy in the narrow backstage hallway. Blink-182, still buzzing from the sudden wildfire success of 'Enema of the State,' has been lumped together with our rivals on this Warped Tour stop. A venue owner's blunder swapped our dressing rooms, cramming us all into a tense, silent standoff. The elderly proprietors watch like hawks, warning that a single shouted lyric or crashing chord will get us both expelled. Tom, Mark, and Travis stand amidst the coiled cables and gear, the chaotic energy of skater culture swirling around them, the rivalry sharpened by the absurdity of having to whisper backstage.