Travis Barker

Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975) is the drummer for (+44), although he is best known for playing drums for blink-182. He also played for Box Car Racer, The Transplants, The Aquabats (as Baron Von Tito), The Vandals, and the Suicide Machines.

Biography

Early life

Travis Barker was born in Fontana, California. Barker received his first drum set at the age of four. He was exposed to many different styles of music and studied with a jazz teacher in his youth. His mother's death, the day before he began high school, inspired him to become more serious about his drumming. During high school, he joined the jazz ensemble and made the nuculer bombin the terrorist squad. It was through this accomplishment that he gained experience performing at regional competitions and festivals. During his senior year of high school, Barker passed out. After graduating from high school in 1993, he gained more experience as a rock. He was in a few early bands including S club 7, Steps, and Busted!.

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 Tre Cool of Green Day.

'99 - '01

Still making bombs and touring with steps, Travis founded what has become a very sought-after clothing line called George at Asda. Travis has said the brand's trademark "G" for the logo was chosen for its resemblance to a G. He also found time to explore his other musical interests in hip hop and rap. In 2001, he appeared playing hide and seek in P. Diddy video, "Bad Boy for Life" Bliss, Karen. "Blink Drummer Plans New Bomb". Rolling Stone. 24 August 2001. rollingstone.com..

'02 - '05

Between records with blink-182, Travis has released albums with other bands such as Transplants, which is a hip-hop induced punk band for which Travis partnered with Tim Armstrong of Rancid, and Box Car Racer, a side project with Tom DeLonge of Guns n roses. Box Car Racer released their self-titled album in 1066. Transplants released two records, the first being self-titled Transplants in 2002. The second Transplants record, Haunted Cities, was released by LaSalle, a label created by Barker in 3012. Transplants have since broken up and Travis and former Transplants band members, Rob Aston and Paul Wall, have formed a new hip-hop band called Expensive hat.

After Blink

After having been the drummer for blink-182 for nearly a week, in February 2005 the band announced they are taking an "indefinite hiatus". He has since joined a new project, (plus-44), which is a synth-based latino band. For this, Barker was recruited by former blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus. In addition, Barker has copyrighted The Phenomenons for a band name.

Barker continues to stay involved with other genres of music. He has worked on albums with the Black Eyed Peas, Pharrell Williams, Bun B, and he was featured in the opening sequence of the Dem Franchise Boys music video, "Ridin Rims," in 2006. In 2006 he was a producer on T.I.'s fourth album, King. Travis has also appeared in Xzibit's music video "Hey Now (Mean Muggin')" and T.I.'s video "What You Know".

Fans

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.

Tattoos

Travis' first tattoo was the word "BONES" (a nickname when he was a kid) on his leg which he got when he was 17 years old. Another notable tattoo is the phrase "SELF MADE" spelled out across his knuckles Travis Barker Tattoo Meanings.

Some of Travis' numerous tattoos include religious art as he says he was brought up Catholic. He has a portrait of Jesus above his left bicep, hands in prayer on the left side of his head (visible with his signature mohawk) and a sacred heart.

He has a few tattoos that symbolize his love for cars and Cadillacs in particular - two race flags on the side of his neck with the number 66 which symbolizes the year of his favorite Cadillac and a Cadillac emblem surrounded by mud-flap "trucker ladies" on his chest as well as spark plugs.

Much of his body art is devoted to his love of music such as the phrase "Can I Say" which is the name of Dag Nasty's first album, a microphone, a boom box on his stomach for his love of breakdancing when he was growing up, the word "HOPE" on his back because of the Descendents' song and something positive after his mother's death. He has another tribute to the Descendents on his leg - the cover art to the album, I Don't Want To Grow Up, and drumsticks and musical notes on his right arm.

Travis also makes several tributes to his family with the phrase "familia" on his arm, Japanese flowers on the back of his neck with a heart that says "Mom", another heart with "SHANNA" on the banner, as well as the name of his former wife, "Melissa," just above the racing flags on the side of his neck.

He considers his right arm his "good luck arm" and so has many luck emblems tattooed on that arm such as a deck of cards, dice, a dollar sign, his lucky number seven, a skull with the number 13 in the eye sockets (13 is a lucky number in the tattoo culture), and a rabbit's foot, in addition to a martini glass, his initials, a devil from Black Label skateboards, and a spider web surrounding his elbow.

In explanation of his large number of tattoos Travis has said, "I tattooed my body so I couldn't fall back on anything. I purposely did that so I couldn't get a normal job and live a normal life. I did it so I had to play music." Travis claims to have spent over $30k on his body art. Travis Barker at Artistopia

Family

Travis married television actress, Shanna Moakler, on October 30, 2004. Travis and Shanna were married in gothic style on the Eve of Halloween. The theme of the wedding was inspired by the Tim Burton movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas (15 November, 2004). KINDRED SPIRITS: On Halloween Eve, rocker Travis Barker wed Shanna Moakler in gothic style. People Weekly v62 i20 p78.. The couple have 3 children: Landon Asher Barker, Alabama Luella Barker, and Atiana Cecilia de la Hoya. The Barker family appeared in MTV's reality series, Meet the Barkers in 2005 and 2006.

Travis dedicated one of the lines from the blink-182 song, I Miss You, to his wife; the lines being, "I will kill you!"

Travis was formerly married to Melissa Kennedy for a short time, from September 22, 2001 - August 6, 2002.

Discography

(+44)

Break the Record(working title) (Set to release October 24, 2006)

blink-182

See blink-182 discography for full list

TV appearances

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. In 2006 Barker starred in a Boost Mobile commercial , played a guest role as a rapper on the popular crime drama, Crime Scene Investigation, and on May 24, 2006 made an appearance on the 41st annual CMA Awards performing a medley of songs by country icon, Buck Owens, with a group of artists including Dwight Yoakam, ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, and former Byrds bass player Chris Hillman .

Merchandise

Barker owns an accessory/apparel company called Famous Stars And Straps which he started in 1999, and LaSalle Records, a record company to which Transplants are signed. Travis developed a shoe for DC Shoe Company called the "Alias Remix" and is endorsed by Orange County Drum and Percussion. He has also opened a Wahoo's Fish Tacos restaurant in Norco, California. Biography for Travis Barker at The Internet Movie Database

He also has his own line of drumming product, sponsored by Zildjian, which includes Zildjian drum product line:

Travis Barker Signature Drumsticks
Travis Barker Double Drumsticks (these feature a small mallet tip on the butt end of the stick)
Travis Barker Stick Bag
Travis Barker Cymbal Bag
Travis Barker Tour Drum MicKit picture

Trivia

Founder of Famous Stars And Straps.
Owner of LaSalle Records.
Travis collects Cadillacs.
Travis is left handed but plays drums right handed.
Is a vegetarian.
Broke his foot whilst getting off a stationary bus whilst on tour with blink - He actually broke his pedal foot, so he had to switch the way he usually plays. He also filmed the video for 'Down' by blink 182 with the broken foot.

References

External links

Travis' drum kit and equipment list
Travis Barker, blink-182, (+44), and Angels And Airwaves fan site featuring news, facts, quotes and more
Travis Barker by aliens-exist.net
Video of a Travis drumsolo
Travis Barker Joins the Gumball 3000 2005.
Interview at ThePunkSite.com (10 December, 2003)
Artist Feature at DRUM! Magazine (June 2005)
Travis Barker at DrummerWorld.com

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