Without a doubt Travis Barker owes most of his fame to his time as the drummer for Blink-182. While he is currently drumming with post-blink +44 he has always played on a number of side projects such as Box Car Racer, The Transplants and Expensive Taste.
Born in a poverty stricken neighbourhood in Fontana, CA. Travis Barker was given his first drum set from his mother at the tender age of four. He began taking drum lessons at age five, when he studied under a jazz teacher named Miachel Mai. Here, Travis was exposed to many different styles and genres of music which would shape his drumming style in the years to come. Barker’s mother also took the lessons along with him and when each lesson was over, she would re-teach Travis on her own time.
Tragedy struck when a day before staring his freshman year at Fontana High school, Barker’s mother died. Before she died she told told him to continue to play drums as that was what he was good as and he took that advice. After her death, Travis took him drumming to another level. Joining a marching band and making the snare line. During his senior year Travis passed up the opportunity of drum corps try-outs to tour with such early rock bands including Feeble and The Aquabats, where he was known as Baron Von Tito.
While on tour with The Aquabats, Blink-182 were also on the line and when their then-drummer Scott Raynor was removed from the band, Travis was asking to fill in. However, this required him to learn Blink’s entire set in less than two hours and perform with them at that night’s show as well as playing his set with The Aquabats. Travis’ efforts were notes and earned him the respect of Blink as well as offer to join the band. An offer Travis Barker accepted.
With Barker on drums, Blink-182 release their best selling album to date. Enema of the State, followed by Take off your pants and Jacket and Blink-182.
After 7 years of being the drummer with Blink-182, in February 2005 the band announced they were taking an indefinite hiatus.
In late 2005 Travis Barker started a new band, +44 with fellow Blink-182 member Mark Hoppus and in 2006, Travis and Rob Aston joined Paul Wall in forming a new hip-hop group called Expensive Taste.
