On his website, blink-182 singer/bassist Mark Hoppus responded to something I posted in a blog yesterday. I had blithely suggested that his band receive a slice of the economic stimulus package so they wouldn’t have to reunite and release one subpar album.
More blink-182 on SPIN.com: >> Rock Stars Benefit from Obama Stimulus Plan! >> Mark Hoppus on blink-182 Reunion >> Travis Barker Talks Plane Crash, RecoveryHoppus was adamant: “More like SEVERAL TERRIBLY subpar albums,” he corrected me.
Here, I must take issue.
Blink-182 are well above par. As scores of their outraged fans were quick to remind me, this band does indeed rock — and did for twelve years and seven albums. My (light-hearted) suggestion was not prompted by the quality of their catalogue, but the shotgun-wedding looks on their faces when they announced reunion plans onstage at this year’s Grammy Awards. Shifty body language, monotone speech, and daunting medical bills do not augur a labor of love (as opposed to the vibe I got two years ago when I interviewed an infectiously enthusiastic Tom DeLonge about his second Angels & Airwaves album).
Still, blink fans seem more than psyched enough to make up for such minor misgivings. (Particularly the guy who threatened an “official” boycott unless I offered a formal apology — although it wasn’t clear if it was supposed to be made to him or the band.)
If such outcry can be considered a mandate, I propose we amend the stimulus package and re-dedicate blink’s share of the stimulus package to some other worthy cause. Like Elton John’s Jane Austen-era sci-fi movie Pride and Predator. Period costumes and animatronic aliens aren’t cheap, you know.
