Not everyone who holds a drumstick can claim to be able to play the instrument as well as Travis Barker! He is the flawless drumming hero of the age, who reinforced the prominence of the drums. He was dubbed “Punk’s first superstar drummer” by Rolling Stone magazine. Barker has been playing the drums since he was four years old, a talented child. As time went on, he only improved and honed his talents to the point that he could compete with the best drummers in the world. Feeble, a school band, was Barker’s first gig as a drummer. After Feeble’s demise, he began to consider other possibilities. He eventually got a job with The Aquabats. A fortuitous appearance as a filler for Rayne in the band Blink-182 proved to be a watershed point in his career, as he was quickly enlisted by the band. The band grew in popularity as their tunes became great chartbusters on record after record. Aside from his work with the band, Barker has performed and collaborated with hip-hop musicians, alternative rock band ‘+44,’ rap rock combo ‘The Transplants,’ and alternative rock band ‘Box Car Racer.’ He even released a solo album in 2011 called ‘Give the Drummer Some.’ He has a clothing firm and a record label in addition to drumming.
Childhood and Adolescence
Travis Barker was born on November 14, 1975, in Fontana, California, to Randy and Gloria Barker. His mother babysat while his father worked as a mechanic.
When Barker was four years old, he got his hands on the drumsticks. Soon after, he began learning drumming from percussionist Thomas Hogan, who exposed him to a variety of styles and rhythms.
Apart from music, he was also into surfing and skating. However, when playing the drums, he realized oneness with his soul and therefore continued to perfect himself in the same.
Fontana High School provided him with a foundation in academics. He joined the marching band in high school and was exposed to regional competitions and festivals as a result. He traveled with his first band, Feeble, during his senior year in high school.
Career of Travis Barker
He worked as a trash man after graduating from high school until 1994, when he earned a brief spot with the punk band The Aquabats. He was eventually hired full-time by the band.
‘The Fury of the Aquabats!’ was his debut album with The Aquabats, released in 1997. During his time with the band, he was given the moniker Baron Von Tito.
In 1998, he received his first break when he was asked to stand in on drums for the punk rock band Blink-182. His ability to play the drums was demonstrated when he not only learned the drum tracks for 20 songs in 45 minutes, but also performed them flawlessly and with composure.
Tensions between Scott Raynor, the group’s original drummer, and DeLonge and Hoppus paid well for Barker, who easily replaced Raynor from the lineup. Blink-182 reached a new peak as DeLonge and Hoppus worked hard to improve their music in order to match their new drummer’s brilliance.
He continued to play for Blink-182 into 1998. He also filled in for Josh Freese for the band The Vandals towards the conclusion of the year.
MCA gave Blink-182 its first professional recording money, and the group sat for many sessions to finish writing and recording demos for the songs. In January 1999, he recorded the drum recordings at Chick Corea’s Mad Hatter Studios.
The group released the album ‘Enema of the State’ in June 1999 with the help of Jerry Finn, who helped polish the recordings and sound. The record became an instant hit, propelling the band to stardom.
The album’s three singles, ‘What’s My Age Again?,’ ‘All The Small Things,’ and ‘Adam’s Song,’ were all chart-topping hits. ‘All The Small Things’ was a number one success on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
The band embarked on its first tour in the fall of 1999, following the album’s full-throttle popularity. The band also made a cameo appearance in the film ‘American Pie’ that same year.
With his newfound celebrity and wealth, he was able to secure a luxury lifestyle for himself. He created a retail store, began teaching drum tuition, and organized a Guitar Center drum clinic in addition to playing in the band.
During their globe tours, the band performed to crowded audiences and sold out gigs due to their soaring popularity. The group caused a stir in the rock music industry when they came together.
Blink-182’s next album, ‘Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,’ was released in 2001, following the overwhelming success of ‘Enema of the State.’ The band, like its predecessor, found quick popularity and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album was certified triple platinum in three weeks.
He then collaborated with DeLonge, who was working on a solo project outside of Blink-182’s umbrella. As a result, Box Car Racer was released, and it became a big hit. DeLonge and Hoppus were irritated by it. Hoppus, who was not a member of the initiative, felt betrayed.
He recorded music for Transplants, a rap/rock band, in addition to his work with Blink-182. He was also a member of Dave Carlock’s band, The Distillers, and starred in one of Puff Daddy’s videos, ‘Bad Boy for Life.’
Blink-182 began work on their next album in 2003. Surprisingly, they skipped the traditional recording process in favor of converting a house into a studio. They released their fifth self-titled album, ‘Blink-182’, after months of hard effort.
‘Feeling This’ and ‘I Miss You,’ two of the album’s hits, ranked high on Billboard. Fans were dissatisfied by the band’s mature position, despite critical acclaim for their work.
Blink-182 officially disbanded in 2005, announcing a “indefinite sabbatical.” This came after the band was unable to reach a consensus on its future plans and recording sessions.
He was a part of the Transplants’ latest LP, ‘Haunted Cities,’ after the band disbanded. Following that, he worked with Hoppus to record music for their newly formed band, ‘+44.’ In February 2006, the team purchased their studio, Opra Music, and began recording.
‘+44’ debuted with the album ‘When Your Heart Stops Beating.’ The album was a middling hit, with acceptable critical and commercial reception. Meanwhile, his personal life took a turn for the worst when he became hooked to painkillers.
His life was cut short in September 2008 when he narrowly escaped a plane disaster. By November 2008, he had returned to playing the drums after weeks of treatment and surgery.
The unfortunate accident, on the other hand, had a beneficial outcome, as DeLonge, Hoppus, and Barker were able to put their disagreements aside and reconcile. Blink-182 made their first appearance at the Grammy Awards in 2009.
‘Neighborhoods,’ the reunited band’s sixth studio album, was released in 2011. The new album followed in the footsteps of its predecessors, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 charts and receiving positive reviews both commercially and critically.
In the meantime, he released his long-awaited solo debut, ‘Give the Drummer Some,’ in the same year. He has collaborated with a variety of musicians and bands in addition to his solo endeavors and Blink-182.
Aside from his musical ambitions, he owns ‘Famous Stars and Straps,’ a clothing and accessories firm, ‘LaSalle Records,’ and a restaurant in California called ‘Wahoo’s Fish Taco.’ He owns the apparel labels ‘Rogue Status’ and ‘DTA’ in collaboration with Rob Dyrdek. He also has his own drumming product line, which is sponsored by Zildjian.
Smash Works Blink 182’s single “Enema of the State,” released in June 1999, became a major hit and sent the band to the top of the pop punk charts. The three singles that were released were huge commercial successes. For the singles, the band went on to win a slew of prizes. The album went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide and had a significant impact on pop punk music in the years that followed.
Personal History and Legacy
During his lifetime, he married twice. The first was a nine-month relationship with Melissa Kennedy. He then married actress Shanna Moakler and had two children with her.
Their divorce was completed on February 11, 2008, despite repeated attempts to rekindle their marriage.
He had a complete 180-degree change in his life after the horrific and fortunate plane disaster. He became a fully vegan and overcome his painkiller addiction, which he had been suffering from previous to the tragedy.
Travis Barker Net Worth
Trivia
This well-known American musician and drummer from the band Blink-182 is afraid of flying. Worse, he was one of two survivors of a plane crash in 2008, greatly exacerbating his fear of flying.