Masturbation, childish behavior and scatological jokes can only mean one band - Blink 182. These acts of lewdness have risen them to the top of the charts. Enema Of The State, the band's new album, still remains the infantile behavior the fans love but it also exposes a more mature, rich and serious side of the band - a band not afraid to tackle the issues of modern society. If this album is mature…. What's up with the name? Enema Of The State? The answer is quite simple: to educate. According to Mark Hoppus, "In order to maintain good health, your body must be able to eliminate food and bodily waste. Your colon, together with your lungs, skin and kidneys are designed to accomplish this essential task by elimination of toxins in the intestines, blood and lymph systems." Continues Tom Delonge, "The process of digestion from ingestion of food to defecation, normally takes between 12 to 24 hours assuming that the colon is fully functional and non-toxic. Irregular or infrequent bowel movements can allow toxic residues to remain in the colon." Travis barker concludes, "It is very rare in this society, to find normal function of a healthy colon. For abnormal function, colon hydrotherapy or enemas - as they are commonly known - are recommended. And this is what we need to tell the kids - take care of your colon and your colon will take care of you." In order to raise rectal awareness, Blink 182 needed to increase their fan base worldwide. 1997's Dude Ranch fit the bill. By 1998's end, they had emerged as one of the most popular pop-punk bands of the year - the album went gold in the United States, with sales now approaching platinum and sales were big around the world, as well - the record has gone gold in Canada and is certified platinum in Australia. But it wasn't just with sales that Dude Ranch raked in the success stories. The year-end Billboard Airplay Monitor Report (BDS) stats indicated that "Dammit (Growing Up)" from Dude Ranch earned top spins at may key radio stations. The single was the #2 most-played record on KROQ/L.A. (clocking in at over 1,000 spins); #1 on KNDD/Seattle (over 900 spins); #3 most-played on WXRK/N.Y. (with over 900 spins); #2 on KITS/San Francisco; #3 on WBCN/Boston; #2 on CIMX/Detroit; # on KWOD/Sacramento and #1 on KEDJ/Phoenix (garnering a enormous 1,400 spins). With radio and sales in line, Blink 182 spent most of their recent past due out on the road. A extremely heavy tour schedule began in summer '97 and ending just before Christmas of 1998. In '98 Blink 182 showed a glimmer of the band's soon-to-be-realized analcentricity as the band booked tours christened the "Poo-poo Pee-pee Tour" (with Unwritten Law and Homegrown) and "Race Around Uranus" (with Less Than Jake). This summer Blink 182 will hit the road again, as headliners on the U.S. Warped Tour. Blink took a break from the road after Christmas '98 to begin pre-production for Enema Of The State. Enema Of The State was recorded from January to March 1999 in the band's hometown of San Diego at Signature Sound. Taking the helm with production duties was Jerry Finn, whose previous credits include Green Day, Rancid and Pennywise. Enema Of The State will please the band's core fanbase with undeniable hits like "What's My Age Again," "Going Away To College" and "All the Small Things." However, this record explores deeper musical and lyrical territory, like "Adam's Song", a track which will undoubtedly open new doors for the band. One last reminder: In order to stay healthy, Enema Of The State is musically beneficial by itself or when combined with an integrated colonics program. So, please listen in good rectal health.
Old Biography Fun, fast and melodic, with a finger for detail and a fistful of happiness - it's San Diego's Blink-182. Mark Hoppus (bass, vocals), Tom Delonge (guitar, vocals) and Scott Raynor (now replaced by Travis Barker) (drums) met four years ago at an annual Future Proctologists of America camping trip. Gathered around the campfire, these disturbed kids recognized in one another the same love for songs involving girls, friends, life and chronic diarrhea. On that night, a legend was born. After a short-lived turn as "El Cuatro and the Cajones," a mariachi band available for weddings, birthdays and ritual circumcisions, the boys put aside their sombreros and plugged in their amps, hoping to spread their goodwill, positive attitute and fondness for toilet humor throughout the world. Since those early days four years ago, Blink-182 has had the opportunity to tour extensively throughout the US, Canada, Japan and Australia with bands like (and including) Pennywise and NOFX. Heavily involved in the surf, skate and snowboarding scenes, Blink-182 has been included on Taylor Steele's surf video tours and on the '96 (and again in '97) Warped Tour. With the help of Billabong, the boys always try to look their best, despite the difficulties of life on the road and the hassle of trying to find pants that fit their peculiar groin regions. Over the years, Blink-182 has released a number of 7"s, and in 1995 they released their first full- length album, Cheshire Cat, on Grilled Cheese (a division of Cargo Music). In 1996, they signed a joint-venture record deal with Cargo Music and MCA Records. When questioned about the direction he would like to see the band take both musically and artistically, Mark, the grandfather of the group at 25 comments, "Well, it's nothing major. I try to eat right and I work out a couple of times a week, but only on my right side, so I'm basically only building up one butt cheek. And I could kick your ass with it right now!" Scott, the baby at only 18, says nothing, having been raised by a tribe of mimes in the hills of Poway. His parents threw him out of the home when he was only four weeks old after they caught him urinating on himself. Tom, the middle child at 21 is perhaps the proudest of his band, explaining, "We try our hardest in everything we do, and have a lot of fun at it. By the way, did you know that Mark only exercises one butt cheek?" In the summer of 1998 Scott left the band and soon Travis joined and with his extraordinary drum work Blink-182 has released another amazing album. Brought together so many nights ago by the light of the campfire, these boys have a promising future ahead of them. They have dedicated their young lives to playing fun, positive, energetic music for anyone brave enough to lend them an ear. And now with the release of their newest album, Enema of the State, they are set to conquer the hearts and souls of America, the world, and eventually Uranus.
