Tom DeLonge

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tom DeLonge


Img_capt = DeLonge In 2004
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Thomas Matthew DeLonge, Jr.
Born = Birth date and age|1975|12|13
Died =
Origin = Poway, California
Instrument = Guitar
Vocals
Bass (Box Car Racer only)
Genre = Alternative rock
Pop punk
Punk rock
Skate Punk
Occupation = Musician, Vocalist, Songwriter, Guitarist
Years_active = 1992–present
Label = Geffen
Associated_acts = Blink-182
Angels & Airwaves
Box Car Racer

URL =
Notable_instruments = Gibson Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333
Fender Stratocaster
Gibson Les Paul
Tom DeLonge Stratocaster

Thomas Matthew DeLonge, Jr. (born December 13 1975) is an American musician, most famous for being a founding member of, and guitarist/vocalist in, Blink-182 between 1992 and 2005, when he left the band amid tension with other members. While still a member of Blink-182, he collaborated with former member Travis Barker in the side project Box Car Racer in 2002, releasing one self-titled album. Since leaving Blink-182, he formed the group Angels & Airwaves with former members of Hazen Street, The Distillers, The Offspring and Rocket From The Crypt.

Early years

DeLonge was raised by his mother and father in Poway, California. He has an older brother, Shon, and a younger sister, Kari. Tom was expelled from Poway High School during junior year after being caught drinking at a school basketball game. He went to Rancho Bernardo High School, where he developed an interest in punk rock. Some of his influences have been Descendents, Screeching Weasel and The Cure. When he returned to Poway High School during his senior year, the students voted him Homecoming King, despite the fact he wasn't on the ballot.

Musical career

Blink-182 (1992-2005) and Box Car Racer (2002-2003)

When DeLonge attended Rancho Bernardo High School, he was introduced to Mark Hoppus through Hoppus' sister, Anne. In 1992, they met Scott Raynor and decided to form a band together that would become Blink-182. Raynor was replaced with Travis Barker in 1998 amidst many rumours of Raynor's possible alcoholism and drug addictionsFact|date=February 2008, just as Blink-182 released "Enema of the State", which was met with a huge amount of mainstream success, spawning three hit singles. Follow-up "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket" went straight to No.1 on the Billboard 200. After DeLonge and Barker participated in the band Box Car Racer, a side project created by DeLonge with his high-school friend David Kennedy in 2002. In 2003 Blink-182 released their final eponymous album. DeLonge then decided to leave the band, allegedly due to mounting tensions and communication difficulties, creating a rift between him and the other members of the band. Blink-182 announced an 'indefinite hiatus' in February 2005.

While there is no set plan for Blink-182 to reunite, the band's management commonly responds to questions about the possibility by saying "no one knows what tomorrow may bring". [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497320/20050222/blink_182.jhtml Blink-182 Announce 'Indefinite Hiatus' - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News ] ] Barker stated in an interview "I guess we are seeing the real Tom", questioning DeLonge's attitude towards his former band, and his new project. Not long after the breakup, DeLonge said that he would like to eventually reunite Blink-182, but not until he continues his career in Angels & Airwaves for a while, because otherwise "it would be a waste of time". In a later interview, however, DeLonge confirmed that "Blink 182 was dead" and "...people ask me if I'm ever going back to Blink, there's just no possible way". [ [http://www.buzznet.com/musicnews/tom-delonge-blink-182-reunion-j2500141/ Tom DeLonge on Blink-182 Reunion Possibility: 'There's Just No Possible Way'] www.buzznet.com - 12 June 2008]

Angels & Airwaves (2005-present)

DeLonge is the lead vocalist and one of two guitarists in the alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. He formed the band with high-school friend and former Hazen Street and Box Car Racer bandmate David Kennedy on guitar, as well as former The Offspring drummer Atom Willard and former The Distillers bassist Ryan Sinn. They released their debut album "We Don't Need to Whisper" on 20 May, 2006. During the recording of their second album, "I-Empire" (November 6, 2007), Ryan Sinn left the band due to personal reasons and was replaced by former 30 Seconds to Mars bassist Matt Wachter. Tom DeLonge still covers Blink-182 songs, such as "Down", "I Miss You", "Not Now", and "Reckless Abandon" with Angels & Airwaves, along with Box Car Racer songs "There Is" and "My First Punk Song". In 2008, Angels and Airwaves headlined the Vans Warped Tour.

ignature guitars

Fender Guitars worked with DeLonge to create the Tom DeLonge Stratocaster (signature guitar) which consisted of a solid alder body fitted with a single Seymour Duncan Invader Bridge pickup. It was controlled by a lone volume knob adding to its simple design. At first, the Stratocasters were fitted with an American 2-Point tremolo system and was later replaced by a hardtail bridge. Its neck was made of solid maple with a rosewood fretboard, although there have been some custom Stratocasters that were fitted with maple fretboards. The necks included a large 1970s "CBS" headstock. [ [http://www.epinions.com/content_183158214276 Epinions.com - Compare Prices and Read Reviews on Fender Tom DeLonge Stratocaster with Gig Bag 013-8200 at Epinions.com ] ]

Since 2003, with the recording of the untitled album, DeLonge also has a signature Gibson ES-335 guitar out available in brown with cream stripes. The Tom DeLonge Signature starts with Gibsons classic semi-hollowbody design and then extents it into punk rock with an overwound 'Dirty Fingers' humbucking pickup. Its thick, distorted tone is the signature sound of DeLonge's previous band Blink-182. [ [http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/classic/tomdelonge.html Tom DeLonge Signature ] ]

On Angels & Airwaves albums, We Don't Need to Whisper and I-Empire Tom uses his signature Gibson ES-333 which is custom made from the Gibson custom shop. Epiphone has since come out with a lower cost version of the Tom DeLonge signature guitar, manufactured overseas, but fitted with the same Dirty Fingers humbucker.

Personal life

DeLonge lives with his wife Jennifer, daughter Ava Elizabeth (born July 15 2002), son Jonas Rocket (born on August 16 2006), German Shepard Grey, and Labrador Retriever Chloe in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He supported John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election as a Democrat. In an interview with absolutepunk.net in January 2008, DeLonge voiced his support for Barack Obama for president. Streeter, Brad. [http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=290928 "Tom Delonge - 1.10.08"] . "AbsolutePunk". January 21, 2008. "Q. I just got done watching an interview with you on Larry king where you stated you wanted to be involved in this upcoming Presidential election. Who has your support and why? A. I think at first it was Joe Biden but he dropped. I think Obama sees the world of change. Absolutely. I think he is probably the best bet. I think Hilary will actually do very well, but she has kind of been there a long time. But Obama is the closest thing we have to JFK. Obama in his young adulthood grew up with the Internet and was connected to the world in some larger degree. I think he will think about how to solve problems on more of a global level. For one he has a family member from Kenya."] In the same interview, he also said "Hillary [Clinton] will actually do very well."

He is the owner of Macbeth Footwear, which he founded together with Mark Hoppus and a friend, although he now runs the company without Hoppus. He has sold his share in Atticus Clothing, which he also started with Hoppus.

Other accomplishments

Tom directed the video for Taking Back Sunday's song "This Photograph is Proof" in 2004. [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1493263/20041029/taking_back_sunday.jhtml Blink-182's Tom DeLonge Directs Video - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News ] ] Tom starred as the burger jungle drive thru clerk in the movie 'Idle Hands' and in the movies 'Riding in vans with boys' and The Urethra Chronicles and The Urethra Chronicles Two: Harder Faster, Faster Harder with Blink 182. Tom also made a cameo appearance in the blockbuster film 'American Pie' with his fellow band-mates in Blink-182, acting in a scene while one of their songs, 'Mutt', played in the background.

Discography

For DeLonge's work with Blink-182, Box Car Racer, and Angels & Airwaves see Blink-182 discography, Box Car Racer discography, and Angels & Airwaves discography respectively.

References

External links

* [http://modlife.com/angelsandairwaves Angels & Airwaves]
* [http://www.boxcarracer.com Box Car Racer]
* [http://www.blink182.com Blink-182]
* [http://www.loserkids.com Loserkids Online Store]
* [http://www.atticus-clothing.com Atticus Clothing]
* [http://www.macbethfootwear.com/07/ Macbeth Footwear]