Though I’ve liked some of their songs, I’ve never really followed nor been a big fan of pop-punk band Blink-182. But like most people, I love happy endings, so even I am thrilled to see the original line-up back together again and still making music. Formed in 1992 by guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, and drummer Scott Raynor, the Southern California act was originally named Duck Tape, then Figure 8, then Blink. Unfortunately, an Irish pop-rock band already had that name, and rather than engage in a legal battle, the band agreed to change their name by adding the number “182” – which they’d picked at random – and from that point forward, they’ve been known as Blink-182. Rayner was dismissed from the band in 1998 and replaced by Travis Barker, who remains the drummer to this day.

Despite their commercial and popular success, they’ve had more than their fair share of ups and downs over their 30-year history. After releasing five albums, three of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, as well as scoring two number one songs on the Modern Rock/Alternative charts, the combination of family commitments (all three guys now had children), the toll of touring and increasing artistic differences were causing tension among the band members. Consequently, they decided to go on a hiatus in early 2005 that ended up lasting nearly four years, with the band members not speaking with each other until October 2008, after Barker was involved in a plane crash that killed four people, leaving he and his collaborator Adam Goldstein as the only two survivors. Barker sustained second and third degree burns which ultimately required sixteen surgeries, multiple blood transfusions, and numerous skin grafts, and also resulted in him developing PTSD. Barker’s brush with death prompted him, DeLonge and Hoppus to come together, which led them to put aside their differences and reunite as a band.

Following their reunion, the band toured extensively and in 2011 released their sixth studio album Neighborhoods, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. Nevertheless, tensions between the three persisted, with this period of Blink-182’s history characterized as dysfunctional by both Barker and DeLonge. Hoppus commented in a 2016 interview with Rock Sound: “Everything was always very contentious. There was always just a strange vibe … I knew there was something wrong.” DeLonge decided to leave the band indefinitely at the end of 2014, at which point Hoppus and Barker continued Blink-182 with Matt Skiba, of punk rock band Alkaline Trio, on lead vocals and guitar. That iteration of Blink-182 released two albums, California and Nine, the first of which reached #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart and earned the band a Grammy nomination. One of the album’s singles “Bored to Death” also became their third song to hit #1 on the Alternative chart.

In June 2021, the band was hit with yet another setback when Hoppus confirmed that he’d been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and had been receiving treatment in secret for the previous three months. This led to him, Barker and DeLonge coming together yet again in response to a crisis, and the three decided to reunite for a second time in late 2022. Both their latest album One More Time and its heartwarming and poignant title track touch on their history and the challenges that brought them back together. In a sense, “One More Time” is a kind of successor to their 2004 hit “I Miss You”, which they name-drop in the lyrics. “I wish they told us, it shouldn’t take a sickness, or airplanes falling out the sky. Do I have to die to hear you miss me? Do I have to die to hear you say goodbye? / I miss you, took time, but I admit it. It still hurts even after all these years. And I know that next time, ain’t always gonna happen. I gotta say, “I love you” while we’re here.” The beautiful ballad, on which all three members sing, is my new favorite and #1 song on my Weekly Top 30.

In other notable chart developments, “HONEY (ARE U COMING)?” by Italian rock band Måneskin moves up two spots to #4, “When We Were Close” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit enters the top 10, and charismatic British pop-rock band Wild Horse debut with their sweet new song “Attraction”, which I think is one of their finest songs yet.

1. ONE MORE TIME – Blink-182 (4)
2. FRANCESCA – Hozier (2)
3. WALK THROUGH THE FIRE – The Frontier (1)
4. HONEY (ARE U COMING?) – Måneskin (6)
5. DIAL DRUNK – Noah Kahan (5)
6. KISSES – Slowdive (3)
7. LOVING YOU – Cannons (8)
8. RUNNING OUT OF TIME – Paramore (9)
9. DAYDREAMS AND ALGORITHMS – Eleanor Collides (7)
10. WHEN WE WERE CLOSE – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (12)
11. BAD IDEA RIGHT? – Olivia Rodrigo (13)
12. UNDER YOU – Foo Fighters (14)
13. OVERCOME – Nothing But Thieves (15)
14. PULL ME THROUGH – Royal Blood (16)
15. GOOD VIBRATIONS – MISSIO (10)
16. DARLING – Western Jaguar (20)
17. OVERRATED – dwi (11)
18. MY KINDA GIRL – The 23s (19)
19. THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND – Bad Omens (21)
20. HOLD ME LIKE A GRUDGE – Fall Out Boy (22)
21. MORE THAN A LOVE SONG – Black Pumas (23)
22. SUMMER OF LUV – Portugal. The Man feat. Unknown Mortal Orchestra (24)
23. EVICTED – Wilco (25)
24. THE SHAMEFUL – Amongst Liars (26)
25. ANGRY – The Rolling Stones (28)
26. YOUR SIDE OF TOWN – The Killers (29)
27. SAY YES TO HEAVEN – Lana Del Rey (18)
28. ODYSSEY – Beck & Phoenix (17)
29. RUN AWAY WITH ME – Cold War Kids (30)
30. ATTRACTION – Wild Horse (N)