Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir

Tom Delonge came into Mark’s life through Anne’s brother, and their connection was immediate. They had the same taste in music, a love of skateboarding, and a punk attitude shaped by their parents’ divorces. Both Mark and Tom had a vulgar and unapologetic sense of humor and loved to prank one another. They wrote their first song together the same day they met. Tom had a rebellious streak from a young age, known for sometimes dangerous acts like throwing a dummy into traffic. Behind his mischief was an intense, driven personality that Mark frequently remarks on: “When Tom wants something, he is relentless in his pursuit. He sees where he wants to be and simply starts walking toward it, confident in the knowledge that nothing can stop him” (67). Tom was never afraid to cold-call celebrities for collaborations or pitch big ideas, like his failed subscription platform Modlife.

Over time, Tom grew distant from the band, pursuing other musical interests and clashing with Mark and Travis. His indecisiveness on touring and whether he wanted to stay in the band led to rising tension and, eventually, his departure for four years. Despite the conflict, Mark never stopped appreciating Tom’s importance to the band and to him personally: “Tom had always been a perfect musical foil for me. I miss the friendly competition that kept us going” (273). Their reconnection during Mark’s cancer treatment was emotional and genuine, and it restored a friendship that had once seemed irreparably broken. The two are seen with Travis performing at Coachella together, enjoying a return to the simple and passion-driven days of their youth.

Travis Barker joined blink-182 after initially playing with the Aquabats and stepping in when original drummer Scott Raynor became unreliable. From the start, Travis brought intensity and professionalism to the band, quickly becoming an irreplaceable force. Unlike Mark and Tom, Travis was more serious and driven purely by the music: “In case it hasn’t been abundantly clear so far, Travis just likes to play” (271). He spoke up when things felt wrong, famously refusing to sign a stalker’s CD, and was unimpressed by music industry drama; Mark recalls, “He said more in one chair flop than anything Tom and I had been able to come up with during the entire drive over” (237). Travis also brought a new creative energy to the band and often insisted on playing complex drum beats. He was in a near-fatal plane crash that caused major burns to his body, but he recovered and remained strong. After the band first broke up, Travis stayed with Mark and pushed him to keep creating. Through every era of blink-182, Travis remained the backbone, as a drummer often does; he was and remains committed, passion-driven, and pivotal to the group.

Skye Hoppus, Mark’s wife, played a key supportive role in both his personal and professional life. They met at a dance recital where Mark gave her his number. She initially declined, but later called him, and their connection was instant. Together, they imagined a life they would go on to build in reality, eventually having a son they named Jack. Skye was a successful talent executive and Mark’s grounding force, especially during his battle with cancer. She was present through every treatment, never leaving his side, and was the one who asked Mark directly if he was planning to end his life—an honest question that shook him out of his darkest mindset. Her steadiness, support, and love were instrumental in his recovery, and her presence is felt deeply in his memoir.