Tom DeLonge Says He’s ‘Not in the Way’ of Blink-182’s Evolution
Saying it's "really hard" to express his artistry to his satisfaction within Blink-182, former member and current ufologist Tom DeLonge recently spoke to the NME about his new Angels & Airwaves song "Rebel Girl" ahead of that band's first tour in seven years. But while DeLonge's current outlook may not "fit as well with the things [Blink] want to do," he contends that he fully supports his old band's musical evolution.
In fact, the erstwhile Blink member conveyed his excitement in watching Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker and his replacement Matt Skiba (also of Alkaline Trio) expand in their craft. The disclosure followed recent hints towards DeLonge's possible return to Blink-182 after he told an interviewer he plans on rejoining his previous band at some point in the future. For now, however, he seems content to watch from the sidelines.
"I'm excited for my brothers in Blink to evolve, do what they want to do and create art the way they want to create it," DeLonge offered. "And I'm not in the way of that, in any way, shape or form. I completely support them. The better they do, the better it is for all of us."
He continued, "People can see the creative differences when they listen to the Blink stuff and they listen to what I'm doing with Angels & Airwaves. They can start to understand why I didn't fit as well with the things they want to do. I just have a lot to say. I have a lot of emotions I want to get out. It's really hard for me to do that in that specific arrangement but it doesn't mean I don't care about them, love them and want them to succeed. It just means I want my own canvas to paint on. There's something that's burning inside of me that's so big, I'm going to explode if I don't get it out."
Blink's evolution can be heard in latest single "Blame It on My Youth," and the band hit the road this summer with Lil Wayne. Earlier this month, Hoppus said rumors surrounding DeLonge's return were "completely unfounded."
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