Blink-182, Matt Skiba to Record New Album in August After Tom DeLonge Leaves Band

As soon as next month, fans who have stayed dedicated to punk rock group Blink-182 for over two decades, can look forward to innovative music, sans Tom Delonge, but with the addition of Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba.

In an interview with Billboard, bassist Mark Hoppus detailed his score for a new film and quickly touched upon the trio's journey back into the studio by August. Hoppus joined forces with collaborator James Ingram to pen a score for I'm Scared, a four-minute stop-motion animated short.

Skiba previously revealed his ambition to record with Hoppus and Blink drummer Travis Barker and has taken to the stage to join them for countless gigs. The Alkaline Trio front man started working with Blink earlier this year, after the Blink veterans parted ways with long-time friend and fellow band mate Tom DeLonge, who reportedly refused to head back to the studio to record a new album. A statement quickly followed detailing DeLonge's exit from the band, unable to stay together for the kids.

In an April interview, Skiba alluded to being on board to record with the remaining two members when the idea surfaced. "I think that's a great idea and it's something we have discussed," he told Alternative Nation. "It's something I would be very excited to do and I've known the Blink guys for about 15 years, and we've become good friends. Playing songs I haven't written with Mark and Travis is a blast, so to go in and create music with them would be amazing."

Skiba continued to explain that he's yet to be considered a permanent member of the group. "I think it's too soon to know. I'm about to go on an Alkaline Trio tour for a couple months. There's some time and some things that those guys need to figure out before we can start saying I'm a permanent member. But that is a hope of mine. If we're discussing recording an album, I think that seals the deal," he revealed.

Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus haven't exactly been modest in expressing their feelings towards DeLonge--Barker even described the band's first live performance without him as "a great feeling." For those unable to cope with the split, DeLonge plans to keep busy with personal projects including Angels & Airwaves, the completion of four studio albums and the release a novel this year alone. From here on out, listening to "I Miss You" will take on an entirely different meaning.

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Blink-182, Matt Skiba