Career
Graduating from high school, he worked as a trash man until he found a temporary place in the punk group, The Aquabats in 1994. Eventually, he was recruited full time by the band.
In 1997, he recorded his first album with The Aquabats titled, ‘The Fury of the Aquabats!’ It was during his tenure with the band that he earned the nickname Baron Von Tito.
He earned his first breakthrough in 1998 when he was recruited to fill-in on the drums for the punk rock group, Blink-182. Remarkably talented, his skill at playing the drums surfaced when he not only learned the drum tracks for 20 songs in 45 minutes but played the same with complete perfection and poise.
Tensions between Scott Raynor, the original drummer of the group, and DeLonge and Hoppus turned profitable for Barker as he comfortably replaced Raynor from the group. Blink-182 received a new high as DeLonge and Hoppus worked hard to play better music so as to match with the perfection of their new drummer.
Throughout 1998, he continued to play for Blink-182. During the year end, he filled in the place of Josh Freese for the band, The Vandals, as well.
Blink-182 received its first professional recording budget by MCA, following which, the trio sat for multiple sessions to complete writing and recording demos for the songs. He recorded the drum tracks at Chick Corea's Mad Hatter Studios in January 1999.
With Jerry Finn’s assistance who helped polish the recordings and the sound, the trio released the album, ‘Enema of the State’ in June 1999. The album was an instant hit and catapulted the band to instant stardom.
The album’s three singles titled, ‘What’s My Age Again?’, ‘All The Small Things’ and ‘Adam’s Song’ were major blockbusters. The song, ‘All The Small Things’ became a number one hit on the Modern Rock Tracks and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
It was after the full-throttle success of the album that the band ventured on its first tour in the fall of 1999. Same year, the band made a guest appearance in the movie ‘American Pie’.
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The newly found star status and money helped him rope in a lavish lifestyle for himself. Other than playing for the band, he opened up a retail store, and began offering drum lessons and set up a Guitar Center drum clinic.
The swarming popularity of the band saw them perform to packed audiences and sold out shows during their tours worldwide. Together, the trio created a stir in the rock music industry.
Following the overpowering success of ‘Enema of the State’, Blink-182 released their next venture, ‘Take Off Your Pants and Jacket’ in 2001. Much like its predecessor, the band met with immediate success and debuted at the number 1 position on the Billboard 200. Within three weeks, the album earned a triple platinum status
He then worked along with DeLonge, who in turn was working on a solo project that was not under the cap of Blink-182. The result was the record, Box Car Racer, which turned out to be a massive hit. It stirred tension between DeLonge and Hoppus. Hoppus who felt betrayed as he was not a part of the project.
Other than his involvement with Blink-182, he recorded tracks for Transplants, a rap/rock band. He also contributed to Dave Carlock’s band, The Distillers and appeared in one of the videos of Puff Daddy, ‘Bad Boy for Life’.
In 2003, Blink-182 began to work on their next album. Interestingly, they let forgo the conventional recording process and instead turned a home into a studio. After months of working out, they released their fifth self-titled album, ‘Blink-182’.
The singles from the album, ‘Feeling This’ and ‘I Miss You’ charted high on the Billboard. Though the band met with critical acclaim for their work, fans were disappointed at their mature stance.
In 2005, the band, Blink-182 finally broke up calling for an ‘indefinite hiatus’. This was after the band could not come to a single decision regarding their future and recording sessions.
After the breaking up of the band, he was a part of the Transplants new record, ‘Haunted Cities’. Thereafter, he collaborated with Hoppus recording music for their newly formed band, ‘+44’. The duo finally bought their studio titled, Opra Music and began recording in February 2006.
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‘+44’ released its debut album titled, ‘When Your Heart Stops Beating’. The album was a moderate success and received average critical and commercial success. Meanwhile, his personal life went through a bad phase as he got addicted to painkillers.
An terrible incident in September 2008 halted his life as he barely survived a plane crash. Following weeks of treatment and surgeries, he resumed to playing the drums by November 2008.
The ill-fated accident however had a positive result as DeLonge, Hoppus and Barker swished aside their differences to reunite. Blink-182 reappeared for the first time at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
In 2011, the reunited band came up with their sixth studio album, ‘Neighborhoods’. The fate of the new album was much like its predecessors as it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 charts and was commercially and critically well received.
Meanwhile, he came up with the much awaited and postponed solo debut, ‘Give the Drummer Some’ the same year. Apart from working on his solo projects and with Blink-182, he has collaborated with various other artists and bands.
Furthermore, musical aspirations apart, he has a clothing and accessory company, ‘Famous Stars and Straps’, his own recording company, ‘LaSalle Records’ and a restaurant in California, ‘Wahoo’s Fish Taco’. He collaborated with Rob Dyrdek to own the clothing label named ‘Rogue Status’ and ‘DTA’. Additionally, he also has his own line of drumming products, sponsored by Zildjian
