Tom DeLonge's Masterpiece
The singer is back with the arrival of his new band, the much-hyped Angels & Airwaves. Take a tour of his futuristic new video
When Tom DeLonge opted to leave the mega-hit band Blink-182, people thought he was crazy. When Tom started his own band, Angels & Airwaves, based on "positivity" and "enlightenment," people thought he was insane. When Tom told the press that this new band was going to be the most popular in the world, people thought he was straight-up nuts. Now Angels & Airwaves' music has finally hit the radio, and Tom finally has his chance to prove the doubters wrong. "Now that it's happening, I'm scared," Tom tells TEEN PEOPLE. "A guy has never left a hugely successful band and come up with something bigger. Everything [is] against me. But it's happening."
The band's debut disc, We Don't Need to Whisper, drops this coming Tuesday, and the advance reviews have been largely stellar. (You can see for yourself because TEEN PEOPLE will bring you a preview of the full-length album right here at TeenPeople.com so come back on Tuesday.) Joined by former Box Car Racer guitarist David Kennedy, ex-Distillers bassist Ryan Sinn and Offspring drummer Atom Willard, the band has created an album that's much more ambitious than many of their peers' work. Says Tom, "Our music is very cinematic. When you listen to it and close your eyes, you can picture yourself at the beach or on top of a hill and the wind's blowing. Everything is meant to give you the chills as it builds and builds and builds. It's epic."
Their videos are epic, too. When filming the clip for lead single "The Adventure" on a rainy day in March, Tom gave TEEN PEOPLE an exclusive tour of the set, which was full of space ships and flashing lights. "For me, Angels & Airwaves is like being a little kid in a candy store -- like being in Star Wars every day in your life. Now if I come up with some stupid idea, I can do it!"
It's no surprise that Tom's still the goofball he always was, even now that he's a dad. His 3-year-old daughter, Ava, is the apple of his eye, and there's nothing he loves more than being a father. "I totally feel like a dad! I always have. Because I've always worn diapers myself. And I need help peeing," says Tom with a laugh. "No, I love it. It's the best thing." And little Ava is already taking after her father and his punk antics. "I just got this video conferencing thing," reveals Tom. "I called up the FX people for the video, and Ava sticks her butt in the camera! They pulled up the computer to see a big full moon. She thought it was hysterical!"
Less hysterical -- his relationship with former Blink-182 comrades Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus. "I haven't spoken to them since I left. I needed to not talk to them. I needed to recreate my life," admits Tom. "You know, that was very much an exciting and amazing part of my life. But I don't miss the Blink days. "In the future, I'm sure we'll come back together. I'd be honored if I could share the stage with the guys again, but Angels & Airwaves is, without a doubt, what I'm meant to do."
Nowadays, Tom is using his unique perspective to prepare his current bandmates to realize their dreams. "I remember when I made Enema of the State with Blink. The record guys sat us down and prepared us for three things. First, they said, 'You'll be more famous than you ever thought. Second, you'll have more money than you ever thought. And third, you're going to play more arenas then you ever thought.' I laughed at them. I said, 'That guy's on crack!' Now, knowing what can come true, I understand the wild roller coaster ride we're in for now."
- Matthew Cole Weiss (TeenPeople.com)
VIDEO: Mission to Mars
When Tom DeLonge opted to leave the mega-hit band Blink-182, people thought he was crazy. When Tom started his own band, Angels & Airwaves, based on "positivity" and "enlightenment," people thought he was insane. When Tom told the press that this new band was going to be the most popular in the world, people thought he was straight-up nuts. Now Angels & Airwaves' music has finally hit the radio, and Tom finally has his chance to prove the doubters wrong. "Now that it's happening, I'm scared," Tom tells TEEN PEOPLE. "A guy has never left a hugely successful band and come up with something bigger. Everything [is] against me. But it's happening."
The band's debut disc, We Don't Need to Whisper, drops this coming Tuesday, and the advance reviews have been largely stellar. (You can see for yourself because TEEN PEOPLE will bring you a preview of the full-length album right here at TeenPeople.com so come back on Tuesday.) Joined by former Box Car Racer guitarist David Kennedy, ex-Distillers bassist Ryan Sinn and Offspring drummer Atom Willard, the band has created an album that's much more ambitious than many of their peers' work. Says Tom, "Our music is very cinematic. When you listen to it and close your eyes, you can picture yourself at the beach or on top of a hill and the wind's blowing. Everything is meant to give you the chills as it builds and builds and builds. It's epic."
Their videos are epic, too. When filming the clip for lead single "The Adventure" on a rainy day in March, Tom gave TEEN PEOPLE an exclusive tour of the set, which was full of space ships and flashing lights. "For me, Angels & Airwaves is like being a little kid in a candy store -- like being in Star Wars every day in your life. Now if I come up with some stupid idea, I can do it!"
It's no surprise that Tom's still the goofball he always was, even now that he's a dad. His 3-year-old daughter, Ava, is the apple of his eye, and there's nothing he loves more than being a father. "I totally feel like a dad! I always have. Because I've always worn diapers myself. And I need help peeing," says Tom with a laugh. "No, I love it. It's the best thing." And little Ava is already taking after her father and his punk antics. "I just got this video conferencing thing," reveals Tom. "I called up the FX people for the video, and Ava sticks her butt in the camera! They pulled up the computer to see a big full moon. She thought it was hysterical!"
Less hysterical -- his relationship with former Blink-182 comrades Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus. "I haven't spoken to them since I left. I needed to not talk to them. I needed to recreate my life," admits Tom. "You know, that was very much an exciting and amazing part of my life. But I don't miss the Blink days. "In the future, I'm sure we'll come back together. I'd be honored if I could share the stage with the guys again, but Angels & Airwaves is, without a doubt, what I'm meant to do."
Nowadays, Tom is using his unique perspective to prepare his current bandmates to realize their dreams. "I remember when I made Enema of the State with Blink. The record guys sat us down and prepared us for three things. First, they said, 'You'll be more famous than you ever thought. Second, you'll have more money than you ever thought. And third, you're going to play more arenas then you ever thought.' I laughed at them. I said, 'That guy's on crack!' Now, knowing what can come true, I understand the wild roller coaster ride we're in for now."
- Matthew Cole Weiss (TeenPeople.com)
VIDEO: Mission to Mars