Kingston​​blink-182

​​blink-182

blink-182 set off the 1990s storm of pop-punk, blazing a trail in the genre with electrifying riffs and memorable lines—“Fuck a Dog,” anyone? The band has seen some lineup changes over the years, but its core trio (Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Travis Barker) has mostly stood the test of time. As of 2015, DeLonge left the band to pursue other projects.

Founded in 1992 in Poway, California (a suburb in San Diego), DeLonge, Hoppus, and former drummer Scott Raynor formed the band in Raynor’s bedroom, writing songs for their demos, and playing practical jokes along the way. Initially, under the name Blink, the trio was forced to change the name to avoid a lawsuit with the Irish pop-rock group of the same name, so they added “182” at random (fans continue to speculate what “182” means to this day).

After releasing their demo album Buddha, blink-182 released Cheshire Cat in 1995 under Cargo Records. While not a major success at the time, the album generated buzz from the Southern California punk scene and major labels alike. After being signed to MCA Records, the band released Dude Ranch in 1997 with the hit singles “Dammit” and “Josie”.