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The new-school punk trio blink 182 was formed near San Diego, California around guitarist/vocalist
Tom Delonge, bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, and drummer Scott Raynor. Originally known as simply Blink the band debuted in
1993 with a self-released EP, Fly Swatter. After releasing the album Buddha in 1994, the trio signed to Grilled Cheese/Cargo
and released Cheshire Cat the following year. The threat of a lawsuit from a similarly named Irish band forced them to change
their name to blink-182 , but the group earned a higher profile touring the world with Pennywise and NOFX in the 1996-1997
Warped Tour, plus appearing on innumerable skate/surf/snowboarding videos. The third blink-182 LP, Dude Ranch, was released
in 1997. Dude Ranch expanded the group's audience and won the attention of major labels. blink-182 wound up signing with MCA,
who released the band's fourth album, Enema of the State, in the summer of 1999.
Travis Barker, formerly with the Aquabats, later replaced Raynor. After selling over four million copies
of Enema of the State, the trio played on with the limited edition release The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes
Back) in Fall 2000. The album featured the band's radio hits on a live setting intertwined with their quirky sense of humor
as well as the new song "Man Overboard." Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, issued in spring 2001, saw the band return to their
SoCal punk rock roots.
~ John Bush, All Music Guide
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