Posted on 09/07/2003 11:26:31 AM PDT by I_Love_My_Husband
Blink-182 Brings High Energy Show to Nimitz
Story Number: NNS030902-02
Release Date: 9/2/2003 9:00:00 AM
By Operations Specialist 2nd Clas Carla Morton, USS Nimitz Public Affairs
ABOARD USS NIMITZ, At Sea (NNS) -- Multiplatinum-selling band Blink-182, comprised of singer/bassist Mark Hoppus, singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker came aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Aug. 27 to meet with the crew and put on a rocking show in the hangar bay.
Blink-182, a pop/punk band that got their start in San Diego in 1993, is famous for songs such as “All The Small Things” and “What’s My Age Again?”
While aboard Nimitz, the band had lunch with Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 Sailors.
“This was great,” said Barker. “We walked in and had dinner with complete strangers who instantly became friends.”
According to Hoppus, he was excited to see what it was like to live aboard an aircraft carrier.
Blink-182 completed a busy day of meeting Sailors and signing autographs with a high-energy show in typical Blink-182 style.
“They were really enthusiastic,” said Airman Bryan Ward, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97. “It took a lot of dedication to come all the way out here to entertain us.”
The band sang three of the songs off of their upcoming album and all of the originals that they are famous for.
According to the band, they were honored to be aboard Nimitz.
“This is an awesome experience. It is so unreal,” said DeLonge. “I have a personal tie to the military, because my brother is in the military and a lot of my wife’s family is in the military.”
According to Barker, he was excited about coming to Nimitz, but nervous about traveling to the Middle East. "Meeting the people outweighed everything that scared me, though,” he said.
For many Sailors aboard Nimitz, the concert will be one of the most memorable moments of the western Pacific (WESTPAC) Deployment.
“This was the best experience that I have had since I have been on board Nimitz,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class (AW) Dan Colby, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97. “They are really down to earth people, and it was great to have the opportunity to meet them.”
The band expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the sacrifices the crew of Nimitz and CVW-11 make.
“We are honored to have this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Hoppus. “We may never get another chance to play a show on an aircraft carrier. Thanks for having us on board. Go Navy.”
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and CVW-11 are currently deployed in support of the global war on terrorism.
For related news, visit the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn68.
That may be true, but if they went to the carrier, entertained the sailors, didn't spout crap, etc., then at least I give them credit for putting action behind their likely stance of, "We oppose the war but support the military." Most liberals of course hate BOTH.
MM
Blink-182 Storm Middle East Two shows honor U.S. service men in the Persian Gulf 
Nuclear! On a break from recording their upcoming self-titled album, due November 18th, Blink-182 played a pair of shows in the Middle East this week. "We don't really get involved in the whole political side of things, whether or not we should have gone to war," bassist Mark Hoppus said on the band's official Web site. "We're going over there because these guys are putting their lives on the line." Blink's two-show itinerary included a show at a military base in Bahrain and on an aircraft carrier in Kuwait. "The guys did great . . . it's way fucking hot out here!" reports Blink tour manager John Sanders. The band was invited to take a tour of the U.S.S. Memphis, a nuclear submarine. Sanders had the crew sign a bass, which Hoppus presented to the captain of the Memphis. "Definitely a Kodak moment," Sanders said. The band will play a benefit show with Taking Back Sunday for surfer Jason Bogle at the San Diego club 4th and B September 6th. Bogle lacks health insurance and has been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Blink is also planning to have DJ Shadow remix B sides from their new album, to be released in the U.K. as singles and on vinyl in the U.S. COLIN DEVENISH (August 26, 2003)
Just because some agitprop types try to co-opt a musical form does not mean that everyone is along for the same ride.
Blink-182 are a poppy corporate-punk band. Musically they do nothing for me (I don't like whiney singers and their songs use the same corporate-punk hooks).
The original NYC punks didn't like poltical correctness or hippies. British punk came years after NYC punk and could be more readily classified as political but blame that on the British, not the music. When Malcom McClaren (later the manager of the Sex Pistols) briefly became manager of the New York Dolls he insisted that they put the dresses away and wear red suits and play with a giant communist flag behind them. That's their manager's idea; the band didn't like it. The MC5 weren't political types, they got called out because they didn't walk the PC line.
There are conservative Republicans among punk bands' rosters. I know that Johnny Ramone and the guy from the Smithereens are public about their conservatism. Johnny convinced Joey to vote for Reagan.
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