Tom DeLonge

Tom DeLonge

Tom DeLonge, 2008

Thomas Matthew DeLonge, Jr. (born December 13 1975) is an American musician, most famous for being a founding member of, and guitarist/vocalist in, Blink-182 between 1992 and 2005, when he left the band amid tension with other members. While still a member of Blink-182, he collaborated with former member Travis Barker in the side project Box Car Racer in 2002, releasing one self-titled album. Since leaving Blink-182, he formed the group Angels & Airwaves with former members of Hazen Street, The Distillers, and Rocket from the Crypt.

Early years

DeLonge was raised by his mother and father in Poway, California. He has an older brother, Shon, and a younger sister, Kari. Tom was expelled from Poway High School during junior year after being caught drinking at a school basketball game. He went to Rancho Bernardo High School, where he developed an interest in punk rock. Some of his influences have been Descendents, Screeching Weasel and The Cure. When he returned to Poway High School during his senior year, the students voted him Homecoming King, despite the fact he wasn't on the ballot.

Musical career

Blink-182 (1992-2005) and Box Car Racer (2002-2003)

When DeLonge attended Rancho Bernardo High School, he was introduced to Mark Hoppus through Hoppus' sister, Anne. In 1992, they met Scott Raynor and decided to form a band together that would become Blink-182. Raynor was replaced with Travis Barker in 1998 amidst many rumours of Raynor's possible alcoholism and drug addictions,Raynor allegedly left the band in favor of continuing his education rather then take a chance with a band he wasn't sure would make it, just as Blink-182 released Enema of the State, which was met with a huge amount of mainstream success, spawning three hit singles. Follow-up Take Off Your Pants and Jacket went straight to No.1 on the Billboard 200. After DeLonge and Barker participated in the band Box Car Racer, a side project created by DeLonge with his high-school friend David Kennedy in 2002. In 2003 Blink-182 released their final eponymous album. DeLonge then decided to leave the band, allegedly due to mounting tensions and communication difficulties, creating a rift between him and the other members of the band. Blink-182 announced an 'indefinite hiatus' in February 2005.

While there is no set plan for Blink-182 to reunite, the band's management commonly responds to questions about the possibility by saying "no one knows what tomorrow may bring". Barker stated in an interview "I guess we are seeing the real Tom", questioning DeLonge's attitude towards his former band, and his new project. Not long after the breakup, DeLonge said that he would like to eventually reunite Blink-182, but not until he continues his career in Angels & Airwaves for a while, because otherwise "it would be a waste of time". In a later interview, however, DeLonge confirmed that "Blink 182 was dead" and "...people ask me if I'm ever going back to Blink, there's just no possible way".

Angels & Airwaves (2005-present)

DeLonge is the lead vocalist and one of two guitarists in the alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. He formed the band with high-school friend and former Hazen Street and Box Car Racer bandmate David Kennedy on guitar, as well as former Rocket from the Crypt drummer Atom Willard and former The Distillers bassist Ryan Sinn. They released their debut album We Don't Need to Whisper on 20 May, 2006. During the recording of their second album, I-Empire (November 6, 2007), Ryan Sinn left the band due to personal reasons and was replaced by former 30 Seconds to Mars bassist Matt Wachter. Tom DeLonge still covers Blink-182 songs, such as "Down", "I Miss You", "Not Now", and "Reckless Abandon" with Angels & Airwaves, along with Box Car Racer songs "There Is" and "My First Punk Song". In 2008, Angels and Airwaves headlined the Vans Warped Tour.

Signature guitars

Fender Guitars worked with DeLonge to create the Tom DeLonge Stratocaster (signature guitar) which consisted of a solid alder body fitted with a single Seymour Duncan Invader Bridge pickup. It was controlled by a lone volume knob adding to its simple design. At first, the Stratocasters were fitted with an American 2-Point tremolo system and was later replaced by a hardtail bridge. Its neck was made of solid maple with a rosewood fretboard, although there have been some custom Stratocasters that were fitted with maple fretboards. The necks included a large 1970s "CBS" headstock.

Since 2003, with the recording of the untitled album, DeLonge also has a signature Gibson ES-333 guitar out available in brown with cream stripes. The Tom DeLonge Signature starts with Gibsons classic semi-hollowbody design and then extents it into punk rock with an overwound 'Dirty Fingers' humbucking pickup. Its thick, distorted tone is the signature sound of DeLonge's previous band Blink-182.

On Angels & Airwaves albums, We Don't Need to Whisper and I-Empire Tom uses his signature Gibson ES-333 which is custom made from the Gibson custom shop. Epiphone has since come out with a lower cost version of the Tom DeLonge signature guitar, manufactured overseas, but fitted with the same Dirty Fingers humbucker.

Personal life

DeLonge lives with his wife Jennifer, daughter Ava Elizabeth (born July 15 2002), son Jonas Rocket (born on August 16 2006), German Shepard Grey, and Labrador Retriever Chloe in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He supported John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election as a Democrat. In an interview with absolutepunk.net in January 2008, DeLonge voiced his support for Barack Obama for president. In the same interview, he also said "Hillary [Clinton] will actually do very well." He is the owner of Macbeth Footwear, which he founded together with Mark Hoppus and a friend, although he now runs the company without Hoppus. He has sold his share in Atticus Clothing, which he also started with Hoppus.

Other accomplishments

Tom directed the video for Taking Back Sunday's song "This Photograph is Proof" in 2004. Tom made a cameo appearance as the burger jungle drive thru clerk in the movie Idle Hands and in the movies Riding in Vans with Boys, The Urethra Chronicles and The Urethra Chronicles II: Harder Faster Faster Harder. Tom also made a cameo appearance in the blockbuster film American Pie with his fellow band-mates in Blink-182, acting in a scene while one of their songs, "Mutt", played in the background.

Discography

Tom DeLonge (foreground) with Blink-182 in 2003 playing for soldiers stationed in Iraq

For DeLonge's work with Blink-182, Box Car Racer, and Angels & Airwaves see Blink-182 discography, Box Car Racer discography, and Angels & Airwaves discography respectively.

External links

• TomDeLonge.com
• Angels & Airwaves
• Box Car Racer
• Blink-182
• Loserkids Online Store
• Atticus Clothing
• Macbeth Footwear