Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir

Blink-182 grew tired of the hyper-commercialization of their band and decided to write an album (Take Off Your Pants and Jacket) that was more artistic and meaningful to them. They said no to the usual proposals like nudity in their photo shoots but kept their humor, turning it a little darker than before. Their manager, Rick, made it clear that the album lacked the same draw and fun-loving feeling that the previous album had, so Delonge and Hoppus wrote pop songs out of spite. Those songs ended up on the album and helped it to become the first pop-punk record to hit number one on the Billboard.

“Stay Together for the Kids,” written by Delonge about his parents’ divorce, was originally filmed in a house as it was being demolished. A two-page photo shows the band standing in a half-wrecked house amongst dust and rubble. During filming, the September 11 attacks occurred, and the band decided the video was not appropriate. They refused to use it, but the label insisted. They took it to MTV, and it was rejected for imagery that overlapped with the destruction of September 11. The video was redone, and the band finished their tour.