I should admit this right off the bat: Im not a huge fan of Travis Barkers music. The only work of his Ive really gravitated to is The Transplants; I'm still spinning that disc ever since I interviewed Skinhead Rob nearly a year and a half ago. But Barkers new band +44 is good and a lot of fun. Hes teamed up with another former member of Blink-182, Mark Hoppus, as well as former Transplants touring guitarist Craig Fairbaugh and the lead guitarist of The Nervous Return, Shane Gallagher. I had a very open and honest conversation with Barker about the new band and his trials and travails with the paparazzi and various famous blondes.
Check out the official website for +44
Daniel Robert Epstein: How long have you and Mark wanted to do this?
Travis Barker: It actually wasnt that we were seeking out to do it. After Blink broke up, we decided we wanted to keep playing music and we just started writing and writing and writing until we had this big collection of songs. Craig [Fairbaugh] was in The Transplants so I got him. Shane [Gallagher] was in this band called The Nervous Return that I had grown up with. We just started playing music together. We wrote a record and its coming out in a couple of weeks and were going on tour.
DRE: Was there an overall concept behind it?
TB: It was just Mark and I continuing where we left off in a sense.
DRE: Is it impossible to avoid comparisons to Blink-182s music just because two members of the band are in +44?
TB: Well probably never escape that, but its not even something that I disown. I loved being in that band. Its probably natural if 2/3 of that band is in +44 for there to be some similarities like Marks voice or something like that.
DRE: What does +44 mean?
TB: It means absolutely nothing. It was just a number that I really liked, like how Blink meant nothing. It was just Blink. Its for anyone else to interpret. You cant hear the band name and say Thats like a death metal band or thats a rock band. We decide what it means.
DRE: +44 is a little poppier than I thought it was going to be, was that something you guys were looking to do?
TB: Thank you. No ones ever said that. Since Ive started doing press on this record, everyone always says Its dark.
DRE: Its darker than Blink-182, but its still poppy.
TB: Yeah. Totally. You wouldnt expect anything aggressive or sickening because Mark Hoppus isnt going to sing like that. Thats not what this band was meant for. Were never going to get too ill or anything.
DRE: Is it much different doing something like this as opposed to The Transplants?
TB: Oh yeah but its supposed to be. If everything was the same, it would suck.
DRE: Is it a different mindset?
TB: No but everything is different. In The Transplants, were talking about people getting killed. There are people getting robbed. There are a million things happening in The Transplants. +44 is more like real life situations that we experienced or that we went through. All these songs mean something, but it means something in a different way. For The Transplants, Rob is really doing all that stuff that hes talking about, just like Marks singing about whats he has experienced.
DRE: I was told youre recording today, what are you working on?
TB: Im actually producing Skinhead Rob for his hip-hop record called Warfare. Im just doing all the production on it. Im also working with this other artist named Eddie RapLife whos a rapper and a skateboarder from Rhode Island.
DRE: When is Skinhead Robs hip-hop album coming out?
TB: Probably next year on [Cypress Hill member] Muggs record label.
DRE: How do you like producing?
TB: Its amazing. Its different. Producing in the rock world and producing in the hip-hop world is different. Im a drummer so at the end of the day, thats what I do. I play beats and I make beats and Im moved by beats. It made sense.
DRE: Do you rap at all?
TB: No, I dont rap. I play the drums.
DRE: I know. You just never know whos a rapper nowadays.
TB: I think we all know who should and shouldnt be a rapper nowadays.
DRE: Whats the writing process in +44?
TB: Mark can come to the studio with a whole song tracked with guitars, drums and everything. I come sometimes with ten different beats and Id leave on tour with The Transplants and Mark would just write to those songs. In the beginning, I played a lot of keyboards. I did a lot of like chord progressions and stuff. Mark was programming drums. We were playing instruments that we hadnt played before so its really wide open. I think thats the only way to really get peoples ideas out and really collaborate.
DRE: Hows it going since you have to drum with one arm?
TB: Its amazing. Im not going to say I like or I enjoy it but Im used to being dealt with fucked up situations and overcoming them. I guess thats part of why I continue living and have a smile on my face because I like getting past shit like this.
DRE: Does your drumming sound a lot different?
TB: No. The only thing that I cant do is like a 32nd note. But Im compensating by playing another part instead. I basically taught everything that my right hand did to my left hand. Then I taught everything that my left hand was doing to my left foot. I put a pedal down there and it triggers the sound of a snare drum. So every time I push the pedal down, youll hear the sound of a snare drum. Thats my left hand now.
DRE: I know the way you broke your arm is a little bit different than the average way someone breaks their arm. How is that going?
TB: I went and saw a nutritionist recently and Im in the best condition I could be health-wise. I have eight percent body fat. He said theres nothing wrong with me. Its actually turning into more of a bone issue like brittle bones, maybe something on the lines of osteoporosis. I have tests and stuff next week.
DRE: Oh damn. Are you nervous?
TB: Yeah. But Im ready to fight it and move on. I dont want to dwell on it. If that is what I have, I know that I just have to kick it in the butt and take care of it.
DRE: Are you going to be touring all over the world with +44?
TB: Well, Im doing five weeks because I have to come back and get MRIs and x-rays. Then were coming back for a couple weeks just so I can get my tests done and then do some Christmas shows.
DRE: I know its going to be difficult to sell as many albums as Blink-182 did, but is that very important to you?
TB: I think you have to earn it just like anything else. Id feel like I was getting over on everyone if people just bought our records because we were in Blink. I want to earn everyones respect and I want people to actually really love the band and thats why the band has to stand for something. It has to make great music and we have to be good to our fans. If we sold a million records, cool. But when Blink first started we werent expecting to be the biggest band in the world. You just let it be a symptom of making good music and touring.
DRE: As a music fan yourself, when you were younger there must have been bands you just hated because teenage girls liked them or they were too popular. There are a lot of people who dont like you just for those reasons. Whats your opinion of that?
TB: I think that was Blinks heyday. But thats not the only kind of music I play now and thats not the only type of music video Im in now. I design shoes. I design clothes. Thats one-dimensional. Yeah, in 2003 or whatever when it was crazy and All The Small Things was out, of course youre going to have people that go I dont like Blink anymore. I dont like them because theyre all over the radio. I dont like them because girls like them. But youre just jealous. Get over it. Man up. If you dont like the song we made, write a better song.
DRE: Did you hear about what Tom DeLonge said at a concert?
TB: No.
DRE: Ill quote it to you I do not want to be in a bullshit pop band with some bullshit pop songs while you drive your fucking bullshit car and sing along to it like youre some 14 year old girl. Is that a slam on the music you guys made?
TB: Yeah. It sounds like hes trying to disown himself from who he was in Blink or something. Thats his personal issue. I would stand up for it in a minute. Was I a trashman? Yeah. Was I in the Aquabats? Yeah. Did we look like Devo? Absolutely. Did I play in Vandals tours? Yes. I played drums for The Vandals. Yeah, I ran naked in a Blink video. I dont disown any of it. Man, those are some of the greatest times of my life because I was playing music. I think maybe hes jaded or something or maybe he doesnt know who he is or maybe he doesnt like who he is.
DRE: Why did Blink-182 break up?
TB: We were playing a benefit concert and Tom, Mark and myself had different views on the next six months of our band. Like whether or not we were going to make a record, how we were going to make it and then Tom didnt show up to the tsunami benefit. He had his manager call an hour before. So he left a bunch of people who paid to help the tsunami victims hanging and he didnt even call. It was just like, Whoa, man. Theres a way of doing things and that wasnt the right way. Thats all it is. I dont hate, dude. I dont wish him any bad. I just go, Man. Sucks that you handled yourself like a little girl when it came to saying you dont want to play music no more.
DRE: Years in the future or probably even sooner, someones going to try and get you guys back together. Any interest?
TB: I never say never. I dont think things went down well but I dont hate and I dont hold grudges. Im down for whatever. I would never do a reunion with any of the bands Ive been in unless everyone was like brothers again. You hear these stories how bands are on stage getting paid ridiculous amounts of money and they hate each other. I wont even entertain something like that. Id rather be poor.
DRE: All the reality show couples marriages are breaking up. Does doing a show like that put extra pressure on a marriage?
TB: Oh absolutely. I think people start behaving differently and whatever else and then when the cameras are gone and your husband doesnt want to do the show no more, youre looking for this extra attention or something. There are a lot of crazy things that can happen as a symptom of doing a reality show if youre not staying grounded during the whole time.
DRE: Do you feel like you and Shanna werent grounded during the reality show?
TB: Yeah, but at the end of the day, Shannas awesome. I love her. But shes an actress.
DRE: Theyre crazy.
TB: That too at times, but they dont even feel themselves turning it on or turning it off. Me, I dont have shit to hide from anyone. I think within the last couple years everything that I am has been exposed or whatever. Im comfortable with it because thats who I am, but other people have smoke and mirrors in this big front. That only lasts so long.
DRE: Do you feel like you guys would still be together if you hadnt done the show?
TB: No, not necessarily. I think you can fall madly in love with someone and move really quickly like we did. We fell in love. We had children. But I never had the conversation with her like Hey. How do you plan on changing after we have children? Do you plan on reevaluating some of the things you do now or maybe the amount of days you work a year? Now that we have children, are we going to step up our roles and stuff? I shouldve had that conversation and I didnt. So Im partly guilty for that or whatever, but at the end of the day, I just have a different way of raising children and a different way of prioritizing things in my life. My children come first and then my work and then everything else. With Shanna it was that Shanna comes first, then her work, then the children fall way down the line. Thats not something that I can wake up to and live around. Im madly in love with her, but you cant compromise something like that. Family and little humans are way more important.
DRE: When I told a friend that I was talking to you, he sent me this flyer for some divorce party Shanna is throwing.
TB: Yeah. What do you do? Shes having a party because shes getting divorced. Its crazy. Its classy. Thats all I can say. Classy. Ill be real honest with you. Ill be real bold and blunt. I think it would be okay and it would be acceptable if she wasnt a mother of three. But as you are a mother of three, your children are old enough that their friends are going to be talking about you having a party because youre getting divorced. You know what I mean? Thats kind of ill.
DRE: Since you are someone whos very much in the public eye, will you not go do certain things because you dont want it to be in the tabloids?
TB: Nah. I live my life, man. Theres only certain things theyll want to cover. They want to cover you making out with someone right when you get divorced or whatever. But I havent changed anything I do. I havent compromised a bit because I think if I do, then Im going to turn into some weirdo and Ill stop being me. Half of the things theyre not even interested in. Theyre only interested in something they can flip and turn around and use to their advantage.
DRE: What happened with Paris Hilton?
TB: Ill be absolutely honest. So youre asking me if I made out with her at a club? Yes. I made out with her at a club. Im sure youve gone to a bar and just been crazy or wild and having fun that night and you just shamelessly kiss somebody. But she happens to be photographed by a million people when things like that happen. So it was weird for me.
DRE: Do you know exactly why Shanna attacked her?
TB: About a couple months ago it had been shared with me that Paris and Oscar [De La Hoya] had an issue a long time ago and I told Shanna, Man. That sucks. I dont know why you still get down with Paris or why you even talk to her. Then she had told me the story right afterwards and just bashed Paris real ugly, saying awful things about her. I was like, Its crazy that you even can look at her in the face and be cool to her then. Shanna was like, Aww. Well I can just use her for networking and for press. Then after this all went down, I had been separated for like three weeks and I was in Vegas for the grand opening of one of my buddys restaurants and we had a Famous Stars and Straps party that same night. We went out afterwards and Paris Hilton comes up to me and says hi to me and shes super friendly. Im sitting there going, Gosh. Shanna told me shes so hard to talk to and that shes a cunt. Shes this and that. I was like, Paris is actually super nice. So we ended up being friends and we ended up kissing in public.
DRE: Are you interested in a free SuicideGirls membership?
TB: Absolutely. I just want all the SuicideGirls to come to all of the shows that we play whether its The Transplants or [DJ] AM and I or anything. They are always welcome to have free passes to just hang out, listen to music and enjoy themselves.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official website for +44
Daniel Robert Epstein: How long have you and Mark wanted to do this?
Travis Barker: It actually wasnt that we were seeking out to do it. After Blink broke up, we decided we wanted to keep playing music and we just started writing and writing and writing until we had this big collection of songs. Craig [Fairbaugh] was in The Transplants so I got him. Shane [Gallagher] was in this band called The Nervous Return that I had grown up with. We just started playing music together. We wrote a record and its coming out in a couple of weeks and were going on tour.
DRE: Was there an overall concept behind it?
TB: It was just Mark and I continuing where we left off in a sense.
DRE: Is it impossible to avoid comparisons to Blink-182s music just because two members of the band are in +44?
TB: Well probably never escape that, but its not even something that I disown. I loved being in that band. Its probably natural if 2/3 of that band is in +44 for there to be some similarities like Marks voice or something like that.
DRE: What does +44 mean?
TB: It means absolutely nothing. It was just a number that I really liked, like how Blink meant nothing. It was just Blink. Its for anyone else to interpret. You cant hear the band name and say Thats like a death metal band or thats a rock band. We decide what it means.
DRE: +44 is a little poppier than I thought it was going to be, was that something you guys were looking to do?
TB: Thank you. No ones ever said that. Since Ive started doing press on this record, everyone always says Its dark.
DRE: Its darker than Blink-182, but its still poppy.
TB: Yeah. Totally. You wouldnt expect anything aggressive or sickening because Mark Hoppus isnt going to sing like that. Thats not what this band was meant for. Were never going to get too ill or anything.
DRE: Is it much different doing something like this as opposed to The Transplants?
TB: Oh yeah but its supposed to be. If everything was the same, it would suck.
DRE: Is it a different mindset?
TB: No but everything is different. In The Transplants, were talking about people getting killed. There are people getting robbed. There are a million things happening in The Transplants. +44 is more like real life situations that we experienced or that we went through. All these songs mean something, but it means something in a different way. For The Transplants, Rob is really doing all that stuff that hes talking about, just like Marks singing about whats he has experienced.
DRE: I was told youre recording today, what are you working on?
TB: Im actually producing Skinhead Rob for his hip-hop record called Warfare. Im just doing all the production on it. Im also working with this other artist named Eddie RapLife whos a rapper and a skateboarder from Rhode Island.
DRE: When is Skinhead Robs hip-hop album coming out?
TB: Probably next year on [Cypress Hill member] Muggs record label.
DRE: How do you like producing?
TB: Its amazing. Its different. Producing in the rock world and producing in the hip-hop world is different. Im a drummer so at the end of the day, thats what I do. I play beats and I make beats and Im moved by beats. It made sense.
DRE: Do you rap at all?
TB: No, I dont rap. I play the drums.
DRE: I know. You just never know whos a rapper nowadays.
TB: I think we all know who should and shouldnt be a rapper nowadays.
DRE: Whats the writing process in +44?
TB: Mark can come to the studio with a whole song tracked with guitars, drums and everything. I come sometimes with ten different beats and Id leave on tour with The Transplants and Mark would just write to those songs. In the beginning, I played a lot of keyboards. I did a lot of like chord progressions and stuff. Mark was programming drums. We were playing instruments that we hadnt played before so its really wide open. I think thats the only way to really get peoples ideas out and really collaborate.
DRE: Hows it going since you have to drum with one arm?
TB: Its amazing. Im not going to say I like or I enjoy it but Im used to being dealt with fucked up situations and overcoming them. I guess thats part of why I continue living and have a smile on my face because I like getting past shit like this.
DRE: Does your drumming sound a lot different?
TB: No. The only thing that I cant do is like a 32nd note. But Im compensating by playing another part instead. I basically taught everything that my right hand did to my left hand. Then I taught everything that my left hand was doing to my left foot. I put a pedal down there and it triggers the sound of a snare drum. So every time I push the pedal down, youll hear the sound of a snare drum. Thats my left hand now.
DRE: I know the way you broke your arm is a little bit different than the average way someone breaks their arm. How is that going?
TB: I went and saw a nutritionist recently and Im in the best condition I could be health-wise. I have eight percent body fat. He said theres nothing wrong with me. Its actually turning into more of a bone issue like brittle bones, maybe something on the lines of osteoporosis. I have tests and stuff next week.
DRE: Oh damn. Are you nervous?
TB: Yeah. But Im ready to fight it and move on. I dont want to dwell on it. If that is what I have, I know that I just have to kick it in the butt and take care of it.
DRE: Are you going to be touring all over the world with +44?
TB: Well, Im doing five weeks because I have to come back and get MRIs and x-rays. Then were coming back for a couple weeks just so I can get my tests done and then do some Christmas shows.
DRE: I know its going to be difficult to sell as many albums as Blink-182 did, but is that very important to you?
TB: I think you have to earn it just like anything else. Id feel like I was getting over on everyone if people just bought our records because we were in Blink. I want to earn everyones respect and I want people to actually really love the band and thats why the band has to stand for something. It has to make great music and we have to be good to our fans. If we sold a million records, cool. But when Blink first started we werent expecting to be the biggest band in the world. You just let it be a symptom of making good music and touring.
DRE: As a music fan yourself, when you were younger there must have been bands you just hated because teenage girls liked them or they were too popular. There are a lot of people who dont like you just for those reasons. Whats your opinion of that?
TB: I think that was Blinks heyday. But thats not the only kind of music I play now and thats not the only type of music video Im in now. I design shoes. I design clothes. Thats one-dimensional. Yeah, in 2003 or whatever when it was crazy and All The Small Things was out, of course youre going to have people that go I dont like Blink anymore. I dont like them because theyre all over the radio. I dont like them because girls like them. But youre just jealous. Get over it. Man up. If you dont like the song we made, write a better song.
DRE: Did you hear about what Tom DeLonge said at a concert?
TB: No.
DRE: Ill quote it to you I do not want to be in a bullshit pop band with some bullshit pop songs while you drive your fucking bullshit car and sing along to it like youre some 14 year old girl. Is that a slam on the music you guys made?
TB: Yeah. It sounds like hes trying to disown himself from who he was in Blink or something. Thats his personal issue. I would stand up for it in a minute. Was I a trashman? Yeah. Was I in the Aquabats? Yeah. Did we look like Devo? Absolutely. Did I play in Vandals tours? Yes. I played drums for The Vandals. Yeah, I ran naked in a Blink video. I dont disown any of it. Man, those are some of the greatest times of my life because I was playing music. I think maybe hes jaded or something or maybe he doesnt know who he is or maybe he doesnt like who he is.
DRE: Why did Blink-182 break up?
TB: We were playing a benefit concert and Tom, Mark and myself had different views on the next six months of our band. Like whether or not we were going to make a record, how we were going to make it and then Tom didnt show up to the tsunami benefit. He had his manager call an hour before. So he left a bunch of people who paid to help the tsunami victims hanging and he didnt even call. It was just like, Whoa, man. Theres a way of doing things and that wasnt the right way. Thats all it is. I dont hate, dude. I dont wish him any bad. I just go, Man. Sucks that you handled yourself like a little girl when it came to saying you dont want to play music no more.
DRE: Years in the future or probably even sooner, someones going to try and get you guys back together. Any interest?
TB: I never say never. I dont think things went down well but I dont hate and I dont hold grudges. Im down for whatever. I would never do a reunion with any of the bands Ive been in unless everyone was like brothers again. You hear these stories how bands are on stage getting paid ridiculous amounts of money and they hate each other. I wont even entertain something like that. Id rather be poor.
DRE: All the reality show couples marriages are breaking up. Does doing a show like that put extra pressure on a marriage?
TB: Oh absolutely. I think people start behaving differently and whatever else and then when the cameras are gone and your husband doesnt want to do the show no more, youre looking for this extra attention or something. There are a lot of crazy things that can happen as a symptom of doing a reality show if youre not staying grounded during the whole time.
DRE: Do you feel like you and Shanna werent grounded during the reality show?
TB: Yeah, but at the end of the day, Shannas awesome. I love her. But shes an actress.
DRE: Theyre crazy.
TB: That too at times, but they dont even feel themselves turning it on or turning it off. Me, I dont have shit to hide from anyone. I think within the last couple years everything that I am has been exposed or whatever. Im comfortable with it because thats who I am, but other people have smoke and mirrors in this big front. That only lasts so long.
DRE: Do you feel like you guys would still be together if you hadnt done the show?
TB: No, not necessarily. I think you can fall madly in love with someone and move really quickly like we did. We fell in love. We had children. But I never had the conversation with her like Hey. How do you plan on changing after we have children? Do you plan on reevaluating some of the things you do now or maybe the amount of days you work a year? Now that we have children, are we going to step up our roles and stuff? I shouldve had that conversation and I didnt. So Im partly guilty for that or whatever, but at the end of the day, I just have a different way of raising children and a different way of prioritizing things in my life. My children come first and then my work and then everything else. With Shanna it was that Shanna comes first, then her work, then the children fall way down the line. Thats not something that I can wake up to and live around. Im madly in love with her, but you cant compromise something like that. Family and little humans are way more important.
DRE: When I told a friend that I was talking to you, he sent me this flyer for some divorce party Shanna is throwing.
TB: Yeah. What do you do? Shes having a party because shes getting divorced. Its crazy. Its classy. Thats all I can say. Classy. Ill be real honest with you. Ill be real bold and blunt. I think it would be okay and it would be acceptable if she wasnt a mother of three. But as you are a mother of three, your children are old enough that their friends are going to be talking about you having a party because youre getting divorced. You know what I mean? Thats kind of ill.
DRE: Since you are someone whos very much in the public eye, will you not go do certain things because you dont want it to be in the tabloids?
TB: Nah. I live my life, man. Theres only certain things theyll want to cover. They want to cover you making out with someone right when you get divorced or whatever. But I havent changed anything I do. I havent compromised a bit because I think if I do, then Im going to turn into some weirdo and Ill stop being me. Half of the things theyre not even interested in. Theyre only interested in something they can flip and turn around and use to their advantage.
DRE: What happened with Paris Hilton?
TB: Ill be absolutely honest. So youre asking me if I made out with her at a club? Yes. I made out with her at a club. Im sure youve gone to a bar and just been crazy or wild and having fun that night and you just shamelessly kiss somebody. But she happens to be photographed by a million people when things like that happen. So it was weird for me.
DRE: Do you know exactly why Shanna attacked her?
TB: About a couple months ago it had been shared with me that Paris and Oscar [De La Hoya] had an issue a long time ago and I told Shanna, Man. That sucks. I dont know why you still get down with Paris or why you even talk to her. Then she had told me the story right afterwards and just bashed Paris real ugly, saying awful things about her. I was like, Its crazy that you even can look at her in the face and be cool to her then. Shanna was like, Aww. Well I can just use her for networking and for press. Then after this all went down, I had been separated for like three weeks and I was in Vegas for the grand opening of one of my buddys restaurants and we had a Famous Stars and Straps party that same night. We went out afterwards and Paris Hilton comes up to me and says hi to me and shes super friendly. Im sitting there going, Gosh. Shanna told me shes so hard to talk to and that shes a cunt. Shes this and that. I was like, Paris is actually super nice. So we ended up being friends and we ended up kissing in public.
DRE: Are you interested in a free SuicideGirls membership?
TB: Absolutely. I just want all the SuicideGirls to come to all of the shows that we play whether its The Transplants or [DJ] AM and I or anything. They are always welcome to have free passes to just hang out, listen to music and enjoy themselves.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 25 of 93 COMMENTS
famousmakky:
travis is like my drum god, amazing talent and like the coolest guy ever, i just find it funny that is interview was like 7 years ago though
frankydoody:
travis barkers is one of the best drummer on the planet and my favrite one !!!! realy great interview