Travis Barker is cecognized as ‘Punk’s first superstar drummer’ by Rolling Stone magazine, he is the immaculate drumming star of the era, who reaffirmed the status of the music of the drums.
Travis Barker was born on November 14, 1975 to Randy and Gloria Barker in Fontana, California. While his father was a mechanic by profession, his mother babysat.
Young Barker got his hands on the drumsticks when he was four. No sooner, he started learning the drumming skills from the drummer Thomas Hogan, who exposed him to the different styles and rhythms.
Music apart, he was interested in surfing and skateboarding as well. However, deep inside, he found oneness with soul while playing the drums and thus continued to master himself in the same.
Academically, he gained preliminary education from Fontana High School. It was while at school that he joined the marching band and thus was exposed to regional competitions and festivals. In his last year at school, he toured with his first band, Feeble.
Career
Graduating from high school, he worked as a trash man until he found a temporary place in the punk group, The Aquabats in 1994. Eventually, he was recruited full time by the band.
In 1997, he recorded his first album with The Aquabats titled, ‘The Fury of the Aquabats!’ It was during his tenure with the band that he earned the nickname Baron Von Tito.
He earned his first breakthrough in 1998 when he was recruited to fill-in on the drums for the punk rock group, Blink-182. Remarkably talented, his skill at playing the drums surfaced when he not only learned the drum tracks for 20 songs in 45 minutes but played the same with complete perfection and poise.
Tensions between Scott Raynor, the original drummer of the group, and DeLonge and Hoppus turned profitable for Barker as he comfortably replaced Raynor from the group. Blink-182 received a new high as DeLonge and Hoppus worked hard to play better music so as to match with the perfection of their new drummer.
Throughout 1998, he continued to play for Blink-182. During the year end, he filled in the place of Josh Freese for the band, The Vandals, as well.
Blink-182 received its first professional recording budget by MCA, following which, the trio sat for multiple sessions to complete writing and recording demos for the songs. He recorded the drum tracks at Chick Corea’s Mad Hatter Studios in January 1999.
With Jerry Finn’s assistance who helped polish the recordings and the sound, the trio released the album, ‘Enema of the State’ in June 1999. The album was an instant hit and catapulted the band to instant stardom.
The album’s three singles titled, ‘What’s My Age Again?’, ‘All The Small Things’ and ‘Adam’s Song’ were major blockbusters. The song, ‘All The Small Things’ became a number one hit on the Modern Rock Tracks and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
It was after the full-throttle success of the album that the band ventured on its first tour in the fall of 1999. Same year, the band made a guest appearance in the movie ‘American Pie’.
Works
‘Enema of the State’ released by Blink 182 in June 1999 became a major hit and catapulted the status of the band to become the biggest pop punk band of the era. The three singles released were major commercial blockbusters. The band went on to receive multiple awards for the singles. The album sold over 15 million copies worldwide and had a considerable effect on pop punk music thereafter.
Failed Marriage
He twice married in his lifetime. The first was to Melissa Kennedy, which lasted for a mere nine months. He then married actress Shanna Moakler, with whom he fathered two children.
Despite several attempts of rekindling their marriage, their divorce was finalized on February 11, 2008.
It was after the tragic and fortuitous plane crash that he experienced a 360 degree turn in his life. He turned to be a complete vegan and overcame the painkiller addiction from which he suffered prior to the accident.
This famous American musician and drummer of the Blink-182 fame has a fear of flying. What’s worse, he is one of the two survivors of a plane crash in 2008, which only worsened his phobia to flying
He made his money thanks to his career as a musician and record producer, as well as the MTV reality series Meet the Barkers.
Travis gained popularity for playing drums in the band Blink-182 but since then he went on to launching the clothing and accessory line Famous Stars and Straps.
In 2019, he set up his own record label DTA Records in partnership with Elektra Music Group.
