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Travis Barker

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Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975 in Fontana, California, USA) is a musician currently with the band Plus 44. He is perhaps best known as the former drummer of blink-182. He was also the drummer for Box Car Racer and The Transplants.

Life

Barker previously played drums for The Aquabats (as Baron Von Tito), blink-182, and a punk band called Snot (not to be confused with the alternative metal band). He began taking drum lessons at the age of five, when he studied with a jazz teacher, and was exposed to many different styles of music. The day before starting high school his mother died. Subsequently, Travis became more serious about drumming. He joined marching band his sophomore year and made the snare line. He subsequently gained experience performing at regional competitions and festivals. During his senior year of high school, Barker passed up drum corps tryouts to tour with a rock band. After graduating from high school in 1993, he gained more experience as a rock drummer in a few early bands.

Explaining his large number of tattoos, most of which appear on his torso, arms and upper body, Barker told the media, "I tattooed my body so I couldn't fall back on anything. I purposely did that so I couldn't get a normal job. I did it so I had to play music." Though many suspect that it is a body suit, they are all in fact real tattoos, on which he himself has claimed to have spent over $30,000 on.

In 1998 the band Barker was in, The Aquabats, opened for blink-182. On this tour blink-182 parted ways with their original drummer, Scott Raynor, and asked Barker to fill the drum stool until the end of the tour. Barker had to learn the entire blink-182 set of 24 songs in just a couple of hours. A few months later, he was asked to join the band full time and accepted the offer. He has been the permanent drummer for blink-182 up until February 2005. Since then he has released another album with his hip-hop influenced punk band, The Transplants. Barker has also been recruited by blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus with former vocalist of the all-female punk band, Get the Girl, Carol Heller, to work on an electronically-tinged side project Plus 44. They have reportedly finished their yet to be titled debut album, with a release date set some time in May 2006.

File:Barker tito.jpg
Travis Barker as Baron Von Tito.

Barker's major musical influences include Latin, jazz, and hip-hop. He has stated that a few of his favorite drummers are Stewart Copeland, Tommy Lee and Tré Cool of Green Day.

Barker is known for his friendliness with fans and admirers. Several years ago, the now-defunct CDNow.com posted an interview wherein Barker recounts that, when a teenager, he was treated rudely by veteran drummer/producer Bill Stevenson, whom Barker admired. Barker has since repeated this story, omitting Stevenson's name.

In 2003, he appeared on Punk'd, MTV's version of Candid Camera, to take part in a set up bareknuckle boxing match. In 2005, he starred in his own MTV reality show Meet the Barkers, with wife Shanna Moakler, whom he married on October 30, 2004. The couple have two children together, son Landon Asher Barker, born October 9, 2003 and daughter Alabama Luella Barker, born December 24, 2005. Barker also has a stepdaughter, Atiana Cecilia de la Hoya, born March 29, 1999. In addition, Barker was previously married to Melissa Kennedy (September 22, 2001 to August 6, 2002).

Recently, he has performed on records by The Black Eyed Peas and Nelly, to name a few.

blink-182 are currently on an "indefinite hiatus", focusing on other bands (such as Plus 44, and Tom in Angels and Airwaves) and their friends and family. Because of partnerships in several businesses (Macbeth Shoes and Atticus Clothing) and a long-running friendship prior to the hiatus, a complete falling out among the trio is very unlikely.

Barker presented the award for "Breakthrough Artist" on the 2005 American Music Awards.[1]

In January 2006, The Transplants announced their choice to split up. Tim Armstrong will continue his work with Rancid, who have a new album in the works, and Rob & Travis will work on a new side project called Expensive Taste with rap superstar Paul Wall. Travis will also work and tour with Hoppus and Heller in Plus 44.

Travis plays a cop in Live Freaky! Die Freaky!, a puppet film directed by John Roecker. Also in the movie is Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool, Mike Dirnt, Rob Aston, Matt Freeman, Benji Madden, Joel Madden and a few others. Tim Armstrong produced the film.

Quotes

  • "I might not sing or talk in this band but there is another voice in blink, and that's the drums"
  • "Misery is flying an airplane."
  • "I'm the guy on tour who will do his own thing."
  • "We are just a silly little punk band."
  • "If I were a condom I'd be too big."
  • "I wanted to be a pro skater but I kept on hurting my self to the point where I couldn't even do it anymore."
  • "Our music doesn't have anything to do with politics or aggression, It's all fun."
  • "Tom and Mark have all the small things, I have all the big things."
  • "I don't really dance and they made me do some pretty idiotic things in that video." (All The Small Things)

Tattoos

Travis has about 40-50 tattoos on his body. He said that he started up tattoo art because he was bored in high school.

Tattoo List

  • Checkered Race Car Flag - For the year of his favorite cadillac.
  • Cadillac Logo - He got it when he was 21. He collects cadillacs and doesn't drive any other car.
  • Can I Say [Words] - He grew up listening to a band called 'Dag Nasty'. The tattoo is the name of their first album.
  • Heart - He was brought up catholic.
  • Microphone
  • Dice
  • Jesus - He figured if he got that tattoo "something good would happen, or maybe he'd have my back or something."
  • Ghetto Blaster- For his love of Hip-Hop and Break Dancing as a kid.
  • Bones [Words] - His first tattoo he got. It was his nickname.
  • Familia [Words] - Means family.
  • Bird - "It was a good looking bird"
  • Flowers - He got it to finish up his arm.
  • Self Made [Words] - He worked to get everything he has.
  • Trucker Ladies - "I kind of like white trash art..."
  • Spark Plugs - He likes cars.
  • Hope [Words] - A positive thing after his mom passed away.
  • Deck of Cards -
  • Drumsticks
  • Martini Glass
  • Dollar Sign
  • 7 [Number] - His lucky number.
  • TLB - His initials
  • Rabbits Foot - It is lucky.
  • Devil

Merchandise

Barker owns an accessory/apparel company called Famous Stars And Straps, and a record company, LaSalle Records, to which The Transplants are signed.

He also has his own line of drumming product, sponsored by Zildjian. They include:

  • Travis Barker Signature Drumsticks
  • Travis Barker Double Drumsticks (these feature a small mallet tip on the butt end of the stick and a gradual taper at the top end)
  • Travis Barker Stick Bag
  • Travis Barker Cymbal bag
  • Travis Barker Tour Drum Mic Kit

Drum kit info

Travis plays Orange County Drum and Percussion drum kits.

Drums

[A] #7" x 14" Snare (acrylic/wood hybrid with vents) [B] #6" x 10" Tom [C] #14" x 16" Tom [D] #24" x 22" Bass Drum

Cymbals

Travis Barker uses Zildjian Cymbals...

  1. 14" A New Beat Hit Hats (Brilliant)
  2. 20" A Medium Thin Crash (Brilliant)
  3. 21" A Sweet ride (brilliant)
  4. 20" A Medium This Crash (Brilliant)
  5. 18" Oriental China "Trash"

Travis also uses DW 5000 series hi hat and bass pedals.

Layout

Bands

Also played For

References

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