“I hope nobody finds out about my rash,” says Mark Hoppus, fresh from putting the finishing touches on Blink-182’s latest album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, which is due in stores June 12.
Hoppus is currently touring Australia with his mates, and, apparently feeling wittier than ever, expects the record to come out a bit differently than their previous efforts. “This album really takes us back to our roots,” he says, “back to a time where we really didn’t know how to sing or play our instruments.”
Recorded in San Diego, Take Off Your Pants was produced by Enema of the State’s Jerry Finn and is expected to give way to a few b-sides, as well as a track for the forthcoming American Pie II movie and soundtrack. Some of the tentative song titles include “Shut Up,” “Don’t Tell Me It’s Over” and “Stay Together for the Kids.”
After they finish up down under, the band will head back to the states for a spring tour. Blink-182 tour dates:
- April 30, 2001 – Seattle, Paramount Theater
- May 1, 2001 – San Francisco, The Warfield
- May 2, 2001 – Los Angeles, TBA
- May 4, 2001 – New York, Roseland Ballroom
- May 5, 2001 – Worcester, MA, Palladium
- May 6, 2001 – Philadelphia, Electric Factory
- May 7, 2001 – Washington, DC, September 30 – Club
- May 9, 2001 – Chicago, Riviera Theater
- May 10, 2001 – Atlanta, The Masquerade
- May 12, 2001 – Las Vegas, Sam Boyd Stadium