Drummers - Travis Barker (Blink 182, +44)
Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975) is an
American drummer, who achieved most of his fame by drumming for the
band, Blink-182. He currently is the drummer for +44 and has also played
for side projects Box Car Racer, Transplants and Expensive Taste.
After initially playing for bands such as The Suicide Machines and as
"Baron Von Tito" for The Aquabats, his career took off when he joined up
with pop punk/Punk Rock band, Blink-182 in 1998. Barker became known for
his mohawk and his tendency to perform without a shirt, revealing a
multitude of tattoos. Barker has since established himself as a
versatile drummer, producing and guest appearing in music projects of
numerous genres including hip-hop, punk rock, alternative rock, ska,
rap, pop and even country.
As vast as his musical interests are his business ventures. He founded a
clothing company, Famous Stars and Straps in 1999, LaSalle Records in
2004, as well as a Wahoo's Fish Tacos restaurant in Norco, California.
Companies such as DC Shoes and Zildjian cymbals have co-designed
products in his name.
Barker's marriage to former Miss USA, Shanna Moakler, was featured in
MTV's Meet the Barkers (2005–2006). After filing for divorce in 2006,
his marriage trouble and personal life have been scrutinized in the
media following a public MySpace battle[1] with his wife and a brief
relationship with Hilton Hotel heiress, Paris Hilton. Moakler recently
announced that the two are making a fresh start and working it out for
their children.[2]
Early life
Travis Barker was born in Fontana, California. Barker received his first
drum set from his mother at the age of four. He began taking drum
lessons at the age of five, when he studied with a jazz teacher named
Emma Howard and was exposed to many different styles of music.
The day before starting his freshman year at Fontana High School,
Barker's mother died. After her death, Barker became more serious about
drumming. He joined marching band his sophomore year and made the snare
line. During high school he performed at regional competitions and
festivals. During his senior year of high school, Barker passed up drum
corps tryouts to tour with a rock band. Travis's good friend, Raut Uzan
helped Travis to become more involved in drumming. After graduating from
high school in 1993, he gained more experience as a rock drummer in a
few early bands including Feeble, The Suicide Machines, and The Aquabats.[3]In
his teen years he began to obtain sexual desires for D.S., a boy in his
neighborhood
Blink-182, 1998–2005
In 1998, Travis Barker was touring with the band, The Aquabats, under
the stage name "Baron Von Tito". During this tour, the original drummer
for Blink-182, Scott Raynor, left the band. Travis was asked to fill in,
requiring him to learn the entire set (over 20 songs) in less than two
hours and perform them at that night's show. Travis' efforts earned him
much appreciation and respect, and an offer to join Blink-182, which
Barker accepted.
With Barker, Blink-182 released their best selling album to date, Enema
of the State (1999), followed by Take off Your Pants and Jacket (2001),
and Blink-182 (2003). After 7 years of drumming with Blink-182, in
February 2005, the band announced they are taking an "indefinite
hiatus".
Side projects, 2002–2006
Barker says he has always been interested in many genres of music
outside of punk rock, especially hip-hop. In a 2002 interview with MTV
he says, "I probably listen to more hip-hop and drum'n'bass than I do
punk rock music, and same with Tim and Rob..".[4] Not being able to
explore these interests within Blink 182, Barker participated in several
side projects during the time he was playing for Blink-182 including Box
Car Racer, Transplants, and Expensive Taste.
Box Car Racer is a side project begun with Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 in
2002. This project resulted in one self-titled album which was released
that year. Tom said he asked Travis to play drums so that he wouldn't
have to find and pay a session drummer to come in. This throw away
comment was the catalyst for the eventual frienship breakdown between
the two.
Transplants is a hip-hop induced punk band for which Travis partnered
with Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Rob Aston (former roadie for Rancid).
Transplants released two studio records as well as a remixed version of
their second album which was chopped and screwed by rapper and hip-hop
artist, Paul Wall.[5] The first album released by Transplants was their
self-titled album in 2002. The second Transplants record, Haunted
Cities, was released by LaSalle Records in June of 2005.
In 2006, Travis and Rob Aston joined Paul Wall in forming a new hip-hop
group called Expensive Taste.
Barker has produced for or worked on albums with the Black Eyed Peas,
P!nk and Pharrell Williams. He appears on Bun B's album, Trill (2005)
with Skinhead Rob for the bonus track, "Late night creepin". In 2006 he
was a producer on T.I.'s fourth album, King. Also in 2006 he played
drums for several songs on Avril Lavigne's third album.[6]
In late 2005 Travis started a new band, +44 with fellow Blink-182 member
Mark Hoppus.
Influences
His influences include everything from Run-D.M.C. to King Diamond to the
Clash.[4] He has stated that a few of his favorite drummers are Stewart
Copeland of the Police, Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe, Ringo Starr of The
Beatles, Tre Cool of Green Day, Keith Moon of The Who and Alex Heap of
The Decadents.
When Barker was a teenager, he was apparently treated rudely by veteran
drummer/producer Bill Stevenson of Descendents, whom Barker admired.
Barker has since repeated this story, omitting Stevenson's name. This
experience helped to shape how he relates to his own fans now. He is
well known for being generous with his time - signing autographs and
taking pictures with fans for extraordinary lengths of time.
Business ventures
Barker owns and contributes to several businesses in addition to his
musical interests. He founded an accessory/apparel company called Famous
Stars and Straps in 1999 which sells street/skate style clothing and
gear. Travis has said the brand's trademark "F" for the logo was chosen
for its resemblance to a car logo but mainly for the fact that it can
stand on its own.
He also co-founded LaSalle Records, a record company to which his band,
Transplants, are signed.[7] He has also dabbled in the restaurant
industry, opening a Wahoo's Fish Tacos restaurant in Norco,
California.[8]
Travis has also developed a shoe for DC Shoe Company called the "Alias
Remix" and is endorsed by Orange County Drum and Percussion and
Zildjian. He also has his own line of drumming products, sponsored by
Zildjian.[9]
In 2006, Barker began the process of filing for the trademark "The
Phenomenons". The trademark application indicates the name will be used
for a band and possibly a clothing line but that remains to be seen.
Tattoos
Travis' first tattoo was the word "BONES" (a nickname when he was a kid)
on his leg which he got when he was 17 years old.[10] Another notable
addition is the phrase "SELF MADE" spelled out across his knuckles which
he got in 2000.[10] Some of Travis' numerous tattoos include religious
art as he says he was brought up Catholic.[10] He has a portrait of
Jesus above his left biceps, hands in prayer on the left side of his
head (visible with his signature mohawk) and a Sacred Heart. He has a
few tattoos that symbolize his love for cars and Cadillacs in particular
- two racing flags on the side of his neck with the number 66 which
symbolizes the year of his favorite Cadillac and a Cadillac emblem
surrounded by mudflap girls on his chest as well as a pair of spark
plugs.[10]
Much of his body art is devoted to his love of music such as the phrase
"Can I Say" which is the name of Dag Nasty's first album, a microphone,
and a boom box on his stomach for his love of breakdancing when he was
growing up.[10] He also has the word "HOPE" on his back because of the
Descendents' song and something positive after his mother's death. He
has another tribute to the Descendents on his leg - the cover art to the
album, I Don't Want To Grow Up, drumsticks and musical notes on his
right arm.
Travis also makes several tributes to his family with the phrase
"familia" on his arm, Japanese flowers on the back of his neck with a
heart that says "Mom", and another heart with "SHANNA" on the
banner.[10] He also has the name of his first wife, "Melissa," just
above the racing flags on the side of his neck.
He considers his right arm his "good luck arm" and so has many luck
emblems tattooed on that arm such as a deck of cards, dice, a dollar
sign, his lucky number seven, a skull with the number 13 in the eye
sockets (13 is a lucky number in the tattoo culture), and a rabbit's
foot, in addition to a martini glass, his initials, a devil from Black
Label Skateboards, and a spider web surrounding his elbow.[10]
In explanation of his large number of tattoos Travis has said, "I
tattooed my body so I couldn't fall back on anything. I purposely did
that so I couldn't get a normal job and live a normal life. I did it so
I had to play music." Travis claims to have spent over $30,000 on his
body art.[11]
Relationships
Travis has been married twice. He first married his relatively long time
girlfriend, Melissa Kennedy, on September 22, 2001. The couple divorced
August 6, 2002 after 11 months.
Barker married actress and Miss USA 1995, Shanna Moakler, on October 30,
2004. The couple had a Gothic-style ceremony inspired by the Tim Burton
film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, which was held on the eve of
Halloween.[12] Barker and Moakler have two children together, Landon
Asher and Alabama Luella. Atiana Cecilia de la Hoya is Moakler's
daughter with former boyfriend Oscar de la Hoya. The family appeared in
a reality television series, Meet the Barkers, which aired on MTV from
2005-2006.
On August 8, 2006, Barker filed for divorce from Moakler after nearly
two years of marriage.[13][14] The couple's divorce was made public as
the couple each used their MySpace pages to air their feelings on the
matter[1]. During their separation, Barker had a brief fling with Hilton
Hotel heiress and socialite, Paris Hilton in September, 2006[15].
Despite their pending divorce, reports surfaced in early 2007 that
Barker and Moakler were "quietly trying to give it another go" as they
were reportedly seen autographing a fan's book, with a heart around
their names.[16]
In March of 2007, Moakler revealed to People magazine that she and
Barker (still married) are indeed back together, but denied that she was
pregnant.[17] This admission came after the couple was publicly
affectionate at a surprise birthday Barker threw for his wife in
Miami.[17]
Equipment
Drums: Orange County Drum and Percussion in Glowstick Green Acrylic
* 24 x 22" bass drum
* 14 x 6.5" snare drum
* 12 x 10" rack tom
* 16 x 14" floor tom
Cymbals: Zildjian
* 14" A Mastersound Hi-Hats
* 11" K Custom Hybrid Splash
* 20" K Crash/Ride
* 24" K Light Ride
* 21" A Sweet Ride
* 20" Oriental Crash Of Doom
Hardware and Pedals:
* DW
Heads:
* Remo
Sticks:
* Zildjian
Percussion:
* LP
Electronics:
* Roland
Film and television
Travis has appeared in numerous films and television shows, most notably
his own reality show, Meet the Barkers, with his wife Shanna Moakler
which debuted in 2005. In 2003, he appeared in an episode of MTV's
Punk'd, a Candid Camera-esque television show, in which he took part in
a set up bareknuckle boxing match. In 2006 Barker starred in a Boost
Mobile commercial,[18] which was detailed in an episode of Meet the
Barkers. He's also played a few guest starring roles such as a rapper on
the popular crime drama, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and a voiceover
for an episode of The Simpsons. He's been a presenter for several award
shows such as the Much Music Awards in 2002 and the MTV Video Music
Awards in 2000. In 2001, he appeared with Tom Delonge and Mark Hoppus in
the skit "Leave it to Blink-182", a parody of "Leave it to Beaver", on
the late night TV show MADtv.[19] In a slight departure from his usual
genres, he made an appearance on the 41st annual CMA Awards in 2006,
performing a medley of songs by country icon Buck Owens with a group of
artists including Dwight Yoakam, ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, and
former Byrds bass player Chris Hillman.[20]
Videos
In addition to his own work with Blink-182, Box Car Racer, Transplants,
and +44, Barker has made numerous guest appearances. In 2001, Barker
appeared, playing drums, in P. Diddy's video, "Bad Boy for Life",[21].
In 2003 he played the drums in Bubba Sparxxx's video for "Back In The
Mudd". He was featured in the opening sequence of the Dem Franchise Boys
music video, "Ridin Rims," in 2006. Travis appeared in Xzibit's music
video "Hey Now (Mean Muggin')", T.I.'s video "What You Know", and Three
6 Mafia's "Side 2 Side (remix)" and also the "Dope Boy Fresh" video. He
was also featured on the Outkast music video "Morris Brown" and can be
seen playing drums in The Game's AOL Session.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_Barker
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