Travis Barker

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Lore & Background

Barker's journey began in Fontana, California, where he received his first drum kit at age four, the only one he owned until fifteen. By five, he studied under Michael Mai, learning diverse styles while also playing trumpet, piano, and singing in choirs. Though he dreamed of surfing or skateboarding, music remained his anchor; after his mother died from scleroderma just before high school, she urged him to follow his dreams. He played in Snot and Feeble before joining the Aquabats, and worked as a trash man in Laguna Beach while playing for the Aquabats. His big break came via Chad Larson, leading to the Aquabats in 1996. While sleeping on a friend's couch, he recorded The Fury of the Aquabats! before famously learning Blink-182's entire twenty-song setlist in forty-five minutes during a 1998 tour fill-in. Mark Hoppus or Tom DeLonge recalled watching him rehearse and knowing immediately, "this is the new Blink." This transition inspired Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus to elevate their own playing.

In Their Own Story

The era of mainstream success exploded with Enema of the State in June 1999. Singles like "What's My Age Again?" and "Adam's Song" crossed over, but "All the Small Things" peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Moon Man for Best Group Video at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The album sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Barker's life changed from "couldn't afford to feed myself" to buying art, vintage Cadillacs, and a dog. He married Melissa Kennedy in 2001, though they divorced by August 2002. Creative tensions led DeLonge to form Box Car Racer with Barker in 2002, while summer collaborations with Tim Armstrong formed the Transplants. In 2003, his girlfriend Shanna Moakler gave birth to their son Landon Asher shortly before Blink-182 released their self-titled album. The year ended with a European tour marred by division, leading to an indefinite hiatus in February 2005. During this time, Barker founded LaSalle Records, named after his favorite Cadillac, and signed the Kinison.

Reader's Guide

Barker's versatility is evident in his side projects and business ventures. He founded Famous Stars and Straps in 1999 after a Riverside storefront closure, eventually partnering with DC Shoes and Zildjian cymbals for co-designed products. In 2004, he launched LaSalle Records to explore country and hip-hop genres. His personal resilience shone through his survival of a plane crash in 2008; during recovery, he released his debut solo album, Give the Drummer Some, in 2011. He continued bridging genres by releasing extended plays with rappers Yelawolf, Asher Roth, and Nottz. In 2015, he published his memoir, Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums. Barker also formed the duo TRV$DJAM with the late DJ AM. A committed vegan, he invested in Los Angeles' Crossroads Kitchen restaurant.

Did You Know?

• Barker learned Blink-182's entire twenty-song setlist in just forty-five minutes before his first show as a fill-in.
• He played in Snot and Feeble before joining the Aquabats, and worked as a trash man in Laguna Beach while playing for the Aquabats.
• Rolling Stone named him "punk's first superstar drummer" and one of the 100 greatest drummers of all time.
• His record label LaSalle Records was named after the LaSalle car brand, a separate marque from Cadillac.
• He survived a plane crash in 2008 before releasing his debut solo album Give the Drummer Some in 2011.

Early Life and Musical Foundations

Travis Landon Barker was born in Fontana, California, on November 14, 1975. His mother gifted him his first drum kit at age four, which remained his only instrument until he turned fifteen. At five, he began lessons with Michael Mai, who exposed him to various playing styles. During junior high, he learned piano and briefly tried singing in the madrigals men and women's choir. While he harbored non-musical ambitions of becoming a professional surfer or skateboarder, Barker noted, "I always migrated back to drums... I could express myself better through my drums than I could anything else." His mother died from Sjögren syndrome three months before he started high school; her final words were for him to keep playing music and follow his dreams. At Fontana High School, he played snare drum in the marching band and drums in the jazz ensemble, performing at regional competitions while gravitating toward hip-hop and punk rock rhythms.

The Path to Blink-182

After high school, Barker worked as a trash man in Laguna Beach while playing with Snot and Feeble. Through Chad Larson from Feeble, he joined the Aquabats in 1996 despite sleeping on a friend's couch. He recorded The Fury of the Aquabats! with producer Jim Goodwin; his speed allowed him to finish parts quickly and rehearse with other bands. He earned the nickname "Baron Von Tito," though no member recalls why. In October 1997, the Aquabats toured with Blink-182 after their album Dude Ranch. When Blink-182's drummer Scott Raynor announced his departure in February 1998, Barker filled in, learning a twenty-song setlist in forty-five minutes before the first show and performing flawlessly. Although Raynor returned briefly, arguments worsened until DeLonge and Hoppus fired him over a drinking problem, recruiting Barker permanently. Aquabats member Adam Deibert recalled watching Barker rehearse backstage and thinking, "this is the new Blink." The addition inspired DeLonge and Hoppus to play better, keeping up with their new drummer who was called "perfect."

Mainstream Breakthrough and Industry Impact

Enema of the State (1999) catapulted Blink-182 to stardom, making them the biggest pop punk band of the era. Three singles crossed into Top 40 radio: "What's My Age Again?", "All the Small Things", and "Adam's Song." The latter became a crossover hit peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, while its video parodied boy bands and won Best Group Video at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The album sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Barker noted his financial shift from inability to feed himself to affording art, vintage Cadillacs, and a dog. He opened a Famous Stars and Straps store in Riverside (later shut down by the city) and began offering drum lessons. Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, going triple platinum within three weeks and eventually selling over 14 million copies worldwide.

Ventures Beyond Drumming

Barker's career expanded beyond music into entrepreneurship and media. He founded Famous Stars and Straps in 1999, LaSalle Records in 2004 (named after his favorite Cadillac), and DTA Records in 2019. He co-designed products with DC Shoes and Zildjian cymbals. In 2005, he starred in the MTV reality series Meet the Barkers with Shanna Moakler. After surviving a plane crash in 2008, he released his debut solo album Give the Drummer Some in 2011. He continued collaborating with rappers, releasing extended plays with Yelawolf, Asher Roth, and Nottz. In 2015, he published his memoir Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums. Barker is also a vegan who invested in the Los Angeles restaurant Crossroads Kitchen.