BLINK-182 Reunites with Matt Skiba for ‘Boring to Death’ at LA Charity Concert

Blink-182’s Charity Reunion

Blink-182 reunited with former member Matt Skiba last night (February 13) during a special charity show to support those affected by the California forest fires.

• READ MORE: The LA musical community will share the “tragic” impact of forest fires: “It will be felt for years”

Skiba’s Involvement and Tribute

A vocalist from Alkaline Trio, who stepped in for Tom DeLonge in 2015, collaborated with the band for “Boring to Death,” which showcased their 2016 album “California” at The Hollywood Palladium. You can check out the footage below.

“Boring to Death” was the first Blink track released with Skiba as a member, and he also performed with the group after reuniting with DeLonge. This marked the first time Skiba performed a song with the band since 2020. His band, Alkaline Trio, also opened the show.

After a seven-year journey with the band, Skiba’s time came to an end when they announced DeLonge’s return to the classic lineup in 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chgu8h9w3a

This one-time concert last night saw 100 percent of ticket proceeds go to a cause organized by Live Nation, which previously pledged $1 million (£813,355) to the Pasadena Humane Society, California Fire Service, LAFD Fund, and Arc Firefighter Foundation.

Recently, Blink-182’s drummer Travis Barker honored the firefighters who assisted with the forest fires in Los Angeles, calling them “heroes.”

His family was also affected by the fires, as his children Landon and Alabama had to evacuate their home in the Pacific Palisades during the crisis.

Members of the LA music community recently spoke to NME about the severe impact, with various venues, studios, and artists being affected by the fires.

In another conversation, Skiba mentioned he had written an “almost complete album” of new material with Blink-182, which was canceled after Mark Hoppus’s cancer diagnosis before he departed from the group. Skiba recorded two albums with the band: 2016’s *California* and 2019’s *Nine*.

At that time, he expressed, “There is almost a whole album. It was supposed to be an EP, but it just kept growing. Now we have, I don’t know if they’ll just abandon it, but there are eight or nine completely new Blink-182 songs that are done. We were mostly finished, and then Mark’s diagnosis came in, if I understood the timeline correctly.

“I didn’t even think about these records. But I have them. They are good songs that I will keep hidden. I don’t know whether they will be released or not.”

He also expressed regret about his first photoshoot with the band.

“My friend Greg Til, one of my best friends, managed Hurley (the clothing company) at the time. I didn’t even think about it, but I wore a Hurley shirt during rehearsal. I forgot that Blink is forever associated with the Hurley brand,” Skiba recounted.

He further explained how he accidentally dressed in a style reminiscent of DeLonge’s, regretting his fashion choice instantly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcujpoydsye

“So, when I showed up for practice wearing a baseball hat and this Hurley shirt, everyone said, ‘What kind of crap is this? You’re trying to be the focal point!’ I replied, ‘I didn’t know we were taking pictures.’”

“We took photos at the loading dock, and I was in my stupid Hurley shirt, which made everyone comment. But that was the only time the guys said, ‘Dude, don’t do that.’ I thought about it, and I realized I probably should have changed my shirt. I didn’t want to be that guy. That was the only thing I regretted,” he added.

Speaking to NME about joining Blink-182, he acknowledged receiving significant backlash for stepping into DeLonge’s shoes, but “that only lasted until we started playing the show.”

He concluded, “The overwhelming amount of support and respect that fans showed me overcame any negativity. It feels like our band consists of Mark, Travis, me, and the fans. It isn’t the same group without DeLonge, but it carries the same name, and I believe there’s a good reason for that.”