Tom DeLonge

Thomas Matthew «Tom» DeLonge, Jr. (born December 13, 1975) is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the American pop punk band Blink-182 as well as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Angels & Airwaves. He was also the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Box Car Racer.

Raised in Poway, California, DeLonge developed an interest in punk rock during his teens. Tom was voted Homecoming King at the Poway High School dance when he didn’t attend the school anymore, after being expelled from Poway High School for drinking at a basketball game. He then attended Rancho Bernardo High School where he met Anne Hoppus. Anne Hoppus introduced him to her brother, Mark Hoppus, who also shared an interest in music. Tom also introduced Mark to Scott Raynor. The three formed Blink-182 which became one of the most popular rock groups of the 1990s–2000s. Travis Barker replaced Scott in later years. The group underwent an indefinite hiatus in 2005, leading to the formation of Angels & Airwaves in the same year. Blink-182 reformed in 2009, and released a new album in September 2011. Angels & Airwaves has continued to record new albums and tour.

DeLonge has also pursued non-musical endeavors; he created a social networking website called Modlife, as well as two clothing companies. In 2001, he started Atticus Clothing and Macbeth Footwear with Mark Hoppus. DeLonge sold his shares in Atticus Clothing, and is currently the sole owner of Macbeth Footwear.

He was raised by his mother, Connie, and his father, Thomas Sr., in Poway, California. He has an older brother, Shon, and a younger sister, Kari. His first musical instrument was the trumpet, which his parents gave to him for Christmas when he was eleven. DeLonge was an average student in school, saying that «I knew exactly how hard I had to work in school. As long as I got that C, I wouldn’t try one minute extra to get a B. I just cared about skateboarding and music.» He played the guitar for the first time at his friend’s house one afternoon,and he worked hard. He worked in 3 jobs to buy a Fender guitar DeLonge spent much time trying to learn songs by Descendents. One of DeLonge’s first musical endeavors was Big Oily Men, a band of which he was the only constant member.

Despite his early interest in music, becoming a musician was not his first calling. DeLonge originally planned to become a firefighter, and participated in the San Diego Cadet Program. His parents divorced when he was eighteen, which would later become the inspiration for the Blink-182 song «Stay Together for the Kids». DeLonge was kicked out of Poway High School during his junior year (1991) after being caught drunk at a school basketball game. He then attended Rancho Bernardo High School for the remainder of his high school year. The song «Dick Lips» was based on him getting kicked out of school, and was also referenced in the Angels and Airwaves song Rite of Spring. When he returned to Poway High School during his senior year, the students voted him Homecoming King despite the fact that he was not even on the ballot. DeLonge graduated from high school in 1993.