Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker have used the band’s brief downtime to write and record a new record of more experimental material under the name Boxcar Racer. Rhythm guitarist Dave Kennedy, an old pal of DeLonge’s, and formerly of the San Diego straight-edge hardcore outfit Over My Dead Body rounds out the lineup. The side project’s debut is due out in mid-May on Blink’s label, MCA Records, and Blink’s other member, bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, sings on one track. Boxcar Racer will also tour shortly after the release.
The album was recorded at Los Angeles’ Larabee East Studios and San Diego’s Signature Sound with producer Jerry Finn, who, in addition to producing the majority of Blink’s recent output, has also worked with Sum 41, Rancid and Green Day. While DeLonge played all lead guitar and bass parts on the album, Boxcar are recruiting a full-time bassist.
Musically, the new band is a combination of Blink and Barker’s hardcore roots, like Washington, D.C., underground icons Fugazi, New York City’s Quicksand, Swedish anarchists Refused and California funk-punks the Minutemen. “The Minutemen played funk and they played fusion and they played punk and country, so [this band] would be a fun experimental project,” Barker told Rolling Stone in the fall. “I don’t want to be in a side project to be popular. I just want to play music and have fun, so it probably won’t be the most radio-friendly or commercial-friendly music.”
Blink will also tour this spring with fellow California punks Green Day. A recent Blink run through Europe was nixed due to a herniated disc in DeLonge’s back, but he has since undergone reparative surgery and is said to be feeling better.
