Tom DeLonge makes me scratch my head
I don't get Tom DeLonge.
At last year's Virgin Mobile FreeFest, I watched him crack anatomy jokes like a 13-year-old with his Blink-182 band mates.
When I talked to him about his other band, Angels & Airwaves (they play Rams Head Live tonight), he was chatted my ear off about metaphoric symbolism.
Example:
"We're not just bringing a catchy song on the radio. We have symbolism with deep rooted historical consequences. Our songs relate to these larger-than-life philosophies. We have a movie that tugs and pulls at different emotions. A lot of our graphics were the juxtaposition of love and war to show that tug of war in human existence."
Huh? ...
DeLonge spoke fast and spat out long answers to my questions about the band's up-coming movie, "Love," and their decision to give away their latest album, also titled "Love," for free.
Here is a link to the piece, which ran in Friday's paper. I think if there is a theme to what Angels & Airwaves is doing, it's that the band is hoping for success through sheer force of will.
"Human intent can change all matter around you," DeLonge said.
(Getty Images photo)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I think that's just how this guy is. I felt like when he recently played with Blink he didn't want those fans to think he was serious. And I think he took it way too far and did the same jokes 10 years ago. I'd rather he just be himself, whether it's funny Tom or serious Tom.
Posted by: chris | May 3, 2010 4:30 PM
Sounds like a case of a celebrity trying as hard as they can to sound smart, to cover the fact that, actually yes, they are pretty dumb.
Posted by: The Baltimore Chop | May 3, 2010 7:12 PM
@chris Yeah true, but I think that is him. I'm mostly philosophical and like to question things and love deep lyrics and writing. But I also like joking around with my friends, the same way he does in Blink. I think I know what he's like. I remember when I hadn't seen my best friend for months and thought our friendship was over, but within minutes we were back to silly jokes and having fun. He is being him.
Posted by: Nick | May 3, 2010 8:41 PM
"Angels & Airwaves" is an OK band that occasionally does something interesting. I think Tom DeLonge is a talented guy who just isn't articulate enough to explain what he's trying to do with that band. Remember Boxcar Racer? That band was kind of sweet. That one song or whatever.
Posted by: Cribbster | May 4, 2010 7:41 AM
It's clear to me Tom DeLonge is a Jedi Knight.
Posted by: JTK | May 4, 2010 8:25 AM
"At last year's Virgin Mobile FreeFest, I watched him crack anatomy jokes like a 13-year-old..."
...and here he's espousing high school literary club philosophy. doesn't seem all that different to me!
Posted by: dave | May 4, 2010 8:45 AM
I have followed the career of Blink 182 since 1997. I've seen them several times in concert and have watched a few behind the scenes videos. It's obvious that when Tom is with the guys in Blink 182 that he's in his immature mode. When he took his sabatical from Blink 182 and started Angels & Airwaves he was quoted as saying he was out to create music that was going to change the world. I think that was a little overambitious but you could tell that he was taking his approach with A&A more seriously. I think he had his first child around the same time as A&A's first album being written and I'm sure that the new chapter in his life had alot to do with the content on that album.
I read the piece from the interview link and he comes out and calls his approach to both bands as "bipolar". I think that his own assessment is fair. He is able to embrace his childish side with Blink 182 and tell d*ck and fart jokes on stage with his buddies and he can experiment with his more spiritual side as a musician with Angels & Airwaves.
Posted by: Cardwell | May 4, 2010 10:22 AM
I think he just grew up.
Posted by: Brad | July 19, 2010 10:18 AM