By Jessica Friedman
After surviving the devastating Sept. 19th Columbia, South Carolina plan crash, where 4 of th 6 passengers were killed upon impact, Travis Barker is back on the saddle again and starting work in the recording studio!
This is going to sound cheesy, but Travis Barker is my hero. He has been an inspiration to me ever since I was first introduced to his band Blink 182 when I was a junior in high school. When I first heard their second album, Dude Ranch, I was hooked. It was like heaven coming out of the stereo. I could not believe my ears!! I was not a huge music fan growing up because I could never find bands that I liked, but Blink 182 is the reason why I am the person I am today; a concert going, music loving, band fanatic! After hearing “Dude Ranch” I went to at least a dozen Blink 182 shows and always had to pre-order their CDs (as every moment counted when it came to hearing my favorite band).
My sophomore year of college I had the pleasure of meeting Travis Baker at a concert for this side band, The Transplants, at Birch Hill in Oldbridge, NJ. He was a laid back, genuinely nice person. He talked to a bunch of strangers (all teen males except for my friend and me) about topics from his drum playing to his cars to his ex-wife for about what felt like an hour. I couldn’t tell you how long I was there as I was way too star stuck.
When Travis was a kid, his mom passed away. He promised her that he would spend his life making a living playing the drums. He did not rest until he succeeded. Even today with his 3rd degree burns and witnessing people close to him die he carried on. Shortly after this experience, he is back on his feet again. Most people would have curled up in a ball and hiddenfrom the world, but not Travis. Words cannot express the courage and strength that Travis Barker has shown. Not only to himself and his family, but to his fans like me. He became my hero years ago, and yet today, he still amazes me more than ever.
Just for the record (and cause I’m anal with any of the 3 members of Blink 182) Travis Barker was not the drummer for Dude Ranch and jumped on board with the band when the old drummer Scott Rayner was kicked out. Travis’s old band The Aquabats were touring with Blink 182 and Mark and Tom asked Travis if he would fill in as they needed a drummer. Travis learned the entire set in less than 2 hours. Then asked him to join and Enema of the State was the first album that he recorded with Blink 182.
Just for the record (and cause I’m anal with any of the 3 members of Blink 182) Travis Barker was not the drummer for Dude Ranch and jumped on board with the band when the old drummer Scott Rayner was kicked out. Travis’s old band The Aquabats were touring with Blink 182 and Mark and Tom asked Travis if he would fill in as they needed a drummer. Travis learned the entire set in less than 2 hours. Then asked him to join and Enema of the State was the first album that he recorded with Blink 182.