Twenty-three years ago, two of the three of hit-making Green Day, anything that deterred them from their work didn't seem like it was in their best interest at the time. With all the history they had, it was surprising they wouldn't want to channel all their energy into what they had already built.
Often, in the music industry, situations like these do occur, as, at the end of the day, musicians simply enjoy creating music. There are plenty of artists currently playing in multiple bands at once. While this may seem like it would cause a stir, most of the time it's acceptable when it's agreed upon. However, when this happened with Blink-182, it felt more like a blindside. Nowadays, they have figured out how to communicate well with one another, but the history following this side project almost didn't happen. As great as this piece of pop-punk history is, it could have prematurely ruined the rest of Blink-182's illustrious career.
Box Car Racer Has Tom DeLonge's Best Work Outside Blink-182
All The Other Side Projects Come Second
The history of side projects the of Blink-182 have been involved with is well documented. Drummer Travis Barker first rose to fame playing with The Aquabats. Then, after ing Blink-182, he found himself in many other projects, including the Transplants, the hip-hop supergroup Expensive Taste, and TRV$DJAM. Barker also performed in two side projects started by his Blink-182 bandmates. Beyond playing with groups, Barker has worked with some of the biggest artists, such as Yelawolf and MGK.
Bassist and co-lead vocalist Mark Hoppus was most notably in a band called +44, which also included Barker. Their singular album is probably the closest rival to what Box Car Racer has done. They are best known for the song "When Your Heart Stops Beating." Additionally, Hoppus had a short-lived pop-rock duo with Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low called Simple Creatures. Unlike the previous projects, they only released a couple of EPs. They teased more work, but between the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoppus battling illness, and a revitalized Blink-182, it never happened.
Arguably, his time with Box Car Racer is where DeLonge provided his most raw energy and creativity.
As for guitarist and co-lead singer Tom DeLonge, he may be best known for his time with Angels & Airwaves, with whom he has released six albums, but Box Car Racer was even more special. Arguably, his time with Box Car Racer is where DeLonge provided his most raw energy and creativity. While his better-known group, Angels & Airwaves, may be a continuation of this, it all started with the first Box Car Racer record, released in 2002. The self-titled studio debut was well-received and ranked as high as number 12 on the Billboard 200.
Box Car Racer Foreshadowed What Blink-182 Could Sound Like
This Album Was The Foundation
Prior to Box Car Racer, Blink-182 had released a few demos and four official studio albums. Their first couple were about as pure skate punk as it could get. Their songs were fast, and there was a lot of the band having fun while trying to make some hits. Then, once they added Travis Barker prior to their 1999 release, he helped elevate their sound. Enema of the State was the crisp pop-punk sound that the band had been looking for, and it served as their international breakthrough, changing their lives forever.
10 Songs That Define Blink-182's Career
Blink-182 has had a legendary career, defined by humorous songs and serious ones, remaining authentic through all the turmoil they have faced.
After releasing something this huge, they continued to try to increase their creativity. The evolution of their sound was easily visible when their album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket was released in 2001. The band transformed themselves with more technical instrumentation. The heavy guitar-driven tracks stood out, marking a real shift for them. Around this time, DeLonge and Barker stepped out to work on Box Car Racer. Without the mask of Blink-182, this allowed them to dive even deeper into the new technical sound they were exploring.
Throughout the first Box Car Racer album, there is a slower pace that has heavier rhythms than what Blink-182 was doing. It felt dark with an emo edge. Instead of having a laughable nature, this tapped into deep-seated emotion. Everything in these songs was done with intent. When DeLonge and Barker brought this back to Hoppus to record their Untitled album, this is what was added. Although they would keep some elements of what fans came to know, songs like "I Miss You" were a direct example of the new sound that DeLonge and Barker had discovered. Now the sky was the limit regarding what the band would be able to create.
Box Car Racer Almost Destroyed Blink-182
The Hiatus Almost Happened Earlier
Prior to Box Car Racer, Blink-182 were already experimenting with their sound and experiencing greater success than they had before. With everything going their way, it came as a complete shock to Hoppus when he discovered that DeLonge and their friend Dave Kennedy were writing music together. It didn't stop there; once he found out that Barker was involved as well, it became even more surprising. What was supposed to be something DeLonge did in his spare time had now grown to include Barker and Blink-182's entire team, who were booking shows and releasing music. This effectively shut out Hoppus, who was left alone on an island.
Even though the band would eventually go on a hiatus in 2005, it could have happened even sooner, potentially robbing them of some of their greatest hits.
In his new book, Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir, Hoppus delved deeper into his feelings, stating: "I was heartbroken. It all felt so secretive. I was shut out, completely in the dark, and no one would give me a straight answer about anything" (Hoppus, 2025, p. 217). With this happening, it truly seemed like it could be the end of Blink-182 since everyone was involved except for Hoppus. However, Box Car Racer would only release that album, go on one tour, and then it was over. Additionally, there was some peace found as Hoppus most notably contributed their song "Elevator." Even though Blink-182 would ultimately go on a hiatus in 2005, it could have happened even sooner, potentially robbing them of some of their greatest hits.
Later on in their career, when DeLonge stepped away again to focus on his other projects, Barker and Hoppus stayed together. The idea Hoppus held-that a band should be like a family and the primary focus-stuck this time. He and Barker would enlist Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio to fill in for DeLonge and record two more albums. However, with all the time the band had lost due to these side projects and other ventures, it raises the question of how much greater they could be now if they had just stuck together. Unfortunately, they have become a band defined by timing, but at the end of the day, they always seem to find their way back together.
Blink-182 Revived A Box Car Racer Song Idea On One More Time
There Is No Reason To Waste A Good Tune
There are multiple ways to look at the Box Car Racer situation that Blink-182 experienced. On the one hand, it was beneficial because it helped them explore a deeper musical avenue that would eventually be used to the main band's advantage. Additionally, the album was incredible and is still beloved by fans. On the other hand, it is never good to see bandmates fight. Even with Hoppus eventually contributing, the pain he felt being on the outside during that time period is visible.
Luckily, after Tom DeLonge reed Blink-182 in 2022, it may be the best relationship they have all had with each other. They have gone through so much, both personally and professionally, which is evident on their new album, One More Time. One of the standout songs from it is "Terrified," which, ironically, was supposed to be a Box Car Racer song. Instead of revitalizing that project, it was ultimately decided it would just stay with Blink-182.
10 Original Vocalists Who Left Their Band And Returned
While some musicians leave their band for good after going solo, others return to the group that made them famous, leading to an epic reunion.
Now, with a new album and a few tours completed, the band continues to thrive. There is no telling if other side projects will eventually arise, but they all seem to have a much better understanding of the subject now. After all, they have cemented their legacy, and what they will do in the future is just adding to it. At the end of the day, Box Car Racer's sole album ranks as the best side project to come from Blink-182, but thankfully the main band did continue on.
