This Side Project That SHATTERED Blink-182

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The story of Box Car Racer Blink 182 side project for Tom Delonge My second YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@RockNRollTrueStories2 Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Fill out our google form! https://bit.ly/3stnXlN -----CONNECT ON SOCIAL----- TIKOK:https://www.tiktok.com/@rocknrolltruestory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rnrtruestories/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RNRTrueStories Twitter: https://twitter.com/rocktruestories Blog: www.rockandrolltruestories.com #boxcarracer #blink182 I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos. These videos are for entertainment purposes only. READ OUR DISCLAIMER https://rockandrolltruestories.com/youtube-disclaimer/ The story of Box Car Racer is one of creative freedom, emotional exploration, and the unintentional tension that changed the course of a generation’s favorite punk band. Formed in 2001 by Blink-182 guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge alongside drummer Travis Barker, Box Car Racer emerged as an outlet for ideas and emotions that didn’t quite fit within Blink’s humorous, upbeat pop-punk sound. Where Blink-182 celebrated fun, adolescent rebellion, and catchy melodies, Box Car Racer was darker, moodier, and introspective—a project born during a time when Tom was struggling with questions about war, human connection, and the weight of adulthood. The band’s self-titled album, released in 2002, channeled those ideas into a haunting, raw sound that fused emo, hardcore, post-punk, and alternative rock influences. The project began almost accidentally. DeLonge initially envisioned a one-off record inspired by heavier, more textured bands like Fugazi and Refused. Wanting to explore music that reflected the anxiety and unease he felt after 9/11, he brought in Barker to handle drums, and guitarist David Kennedy from Hazen Street and Over My Dead Body to round out the lineup. The resulting music felt urgent and emotional, layered with distorted guitars, atmospheric interludes, and lyrics that dealt unflinchingly with themes like isolation, guilt, and longing. Tracks like “I Feel So” and “There Is” captured a vulnerability and pain that few expected from a member of Blink-182, and the record quickly developed a cult following. But the existence of Box Car Racer also created friction within Blink-182. Mark Hoppus, DeLonge’s longtime bandmate, was not invited to participate in the project—something that hurt him deeply. To the public, the album sounded like a slightly darker version of Blink, since two-thirds of the group were involved, and fans couldn’t help but draw comparisons. Behind the scenes, tensions rose. The band members admitted years later that Box Car Racer opened emotional wounds that never fully healed and magnified artistic differences that would later contribute to Blink-182’s 2005 breakup. Yet, ironically, the creative risk taken with Box Car Racer also pushed DeLonge and Barker to new artistic heights. Despite its short lifespan, Box Car Racer made a lasting mark on modern rock. Their lone album showcased a depth and maturity that influenced not only Blink-182’s self-titled 2003 record—often considered their most experimental work—but also countless other artists in the emerging emo and post-hardcore scenes of the early 2000s. The band toured briefly, playing intimate venues that contrasted the arena-sized chaos of Blink shows, and their performances often felt more like confessional sessions than rock concerts. Fans connected deeply with the sincerity of the lyrics and the emotional intensity in the music, giving Box Car Racer an enduring legacy far beyond its singular release. In hindsight, Box Car Racer wasn’t just a side project—it was a mirror reflecting the pressures of fame, the desire for authenticity, and the growing pains of musicians trying to evolve while the world watched. It was messy, passionate, and hauntingly honest, capturing a moment in time when two artists—exhausted from pop-punk’s expectations—wanted to say something real. Even though Box Car Racer disbanded quickly, the music remains a snapshot of early-2000s vulnerability, rebellion, and creative courage that still resonates with fans over twenty years later