Travis Barker
Travis Barker of transplants.]]Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975 in Fontana, California, USA) is the drummer for blink-182, The Transplants, Box Car Racer, and Plus 44.
Life
Barker previously played drums for The Aquabats (as Baron Von Tito), The Vandals, the Suicide Machines, blink 182, and a punk band called ''Snot''. He began taking drum lessons at the age of five, when he studied with a jazz teacher, and was exposed to many different styles of music. The day before high school his mother died and he became more serious about drumming. He joined marching band his sophomore year and made the snare line. He subsequently gained experience performing at regional competitions and festivals. During his senior year of high school, Barker passed up drum corps tryouts to tour with a rock band. After graduating from high school in 1993, he gained more experience as a rock drummer in a few early bands.Explaining his large number of tattoos, most of which appear on his torso, arms and upper body, Barker told the media, "I tattooed my body so I couldn't fall back on anything. I purposely did that so I couldn't get a normal job. I did it so I had to play music." In 1998 the band Barker was in, The Aquabats, was opening for blink-182. On this tour blink-182 parted ways with their original drummer, Scott Raynor, and asked Barker to fill the drum stool until the end of the tour. Barker had to learn the entire blink-182 set of 24 songs in just a couple of hours. A few months later, he was asked to join the band full time and accepted the offer. He has been the permanent drummer for Blink-182 up until February 2005. Since then he has released another album with his hip-hop induced punk band, The Transplants. Barker has also recruited blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus and former vocalist of the all-female punk band, Get the Girl, Carol Heller, to work on his electronically-tinged side project Plus 44.Travis Barker as Baron Von Tito. Barker's major musical influences include Latin, jazz, and hip-hop. He has stated that a few of his favorite drummers are Stewart Copeland , Tommy Lee and Tré Cool of Green Day.In 2003, he appeared on ''Punk'd'', MTV's version of ''Candid Camera'', to take part in a set up bareknuckle boxing match. In 2005, he starred in his own MTV reality show ''Meet the Barkers'', with wife Shanna Moakler, whom he married on October 30, 2004. The couple has one son together, Landon Asher Barker, born October 9, 2003. Travis and Shanna are expecting another child in December 2005.Recently, he has performed on records by The Black Eyed Peas and Nelly, to name a few.Blink-182 are currently on an "indefinite hiatus", focusing on other bands (such as Plus 44, and Angels and Airwaves) and their friends and family. Because of partnerships in several businesses, a complete falling out between the trio is very unlikely.Barker is scheduled to present on the 2005 American Music Awards.Merchandise
Barker owns an accessory/apparel company called Famous Stars And Straps, and a record company, LaSalle Records, to which The Transplants are signed.He also has his own line of drumming product, sponsored by Zildjian. They include:* Travis Barker Signature Drumsticks- Travis Barker Double Drumsticks (these feature a small mallet tip on the butt end of the stick and a gradual taper at the top end)
- Travis Barker Stick Bag
- Travis Barker Cymbal bag
- Travis Barker Tour Drum Mic Kit
Drum kit info
Travis plays Percussion drum kits.Drums
A #7" x 14" Snare (acrylic/wood hybrid with vents)
C #14" x 16" Tom
D #24" x 22" Bass Drum
Cymbals
#14" A Custom Mastersound hi-hats- 20" Z Custom medium crash
- 21" A Sweet ride (brilliant)
- 20" Z Custom medium crash