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Mark Hoppus

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Mark Hoppus
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Mark Hoppus

Markus Allen Hoppus (born March 15, 1972 in Ridgecrest, California) is an American musician and was one of the founding members of the pop punk band blink-182 and the synth rock band (+44). He plays bass guitar and sings vocals.

At the age of fifteen, Mark got his first bass from his father after helping him paint his house. Mark played bass and sang in the band Pier 69, primarily covering songs by The Cure. He also played in a band called The Attic Children in 1988. He later moved to San Diego, where he met Tom Delonge (another blink-182 member) through his younger sister, Anne Hoppus. Delonge was a friend of Anne's at the time, and constantly complained about wanting to join a band. She finally introduced Hoppus and Tom Delonge in August 1992. When Hoppus first went over to Tom Delonge's house, Mark climbed a street light trying to act cool. When Hoppus jumped down he had broken both of his ankles and was on cruches for two weeks. Hoppus and Delonge, with their friend, drummer Scott Raynor, decided to form a band in 1992. They were under the name "Duck Tape" until their third show, when Delonge said he liked another name..."blink". It was around this time that Hoppus, who was attending college at the time with vague hopes of being a High School English teacher, started working at the local record store. Here he was given financial stability along with the gigs that the band was getting, to get Blink started on their road to success. Mark Hoppus knew that the band would be gigging on the weekends so he told his boss at the record store that he would need the weekends off. Mark finally was able to quit his job in 1996 when the band's touring schedule began to take off. Only one thing got in the way. An Irish techno band had already been using the name "Blink" and threatened them with a court case, so they changed their name to blink-182.

In 1997, after the release of their fourth album Dude Ranch, blink-182 went on tour with The Aquabats (whose drummer at the time was Travis Barker). Scott's dismissal from blink-182 was rumored to come when he did not show up for two weeks of shows because of a drinking problem. Travis performed instead. It is rumoured that Mark called Scott and gave him an ultimatum to either leave the band or stop drinking. Scott agreed to stop drinking, but Tom and Mark decided enough was enough and asked Scott to leave. Barker learned the entire setlist in about two hours before a show, and eventually left The Aquabats to become the band's full-time drummer.

In 1999, they released their first album with Barker, Enema of the State. They later released two more studio albums, Take off Your Pants and Jacket and an untitled album before going on an 'indefinite hiatus' in February 2005.

Hoppus provided backing vocals on MxPx's eighth studio album Panic for the song "Wrecking Hotel Rooms." He also provided backing vocals on Simple Plans song "I'd Do Anything" on the album No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls. He is currently working with Travis Barker, Shane Gallagher, Craig Fairbaugh and possibly Carol Heller (who may or may not still be a member) on a synth based rock band called (+44); their first album is expected some time in Fall 2006.

In 2005, Mark created a podcast called "Hi, My Name Is Mark" - every two weeks, Mark plays songs by underground bands, interviews his favorite artists and reminisces about happenings in his life. Mark talked about the podcast in the April issue of Alternative Press stating he would love to one day post some of (+44)'s music on the podcast.

Hoppus married his girlfriend, Skye Everly, on December 2 2000. Their son, Jack Hoppus, was born on August 5 2002.

Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge co-own two companies, Atticus and Macbeth Footwear. Mark also produced the second album of Minnesota band Motion City Soundtrack, Commit This to Memory.

He also has a signature series bass, the Fender Mark Hoppus Bass, a hybrid utilizing the split coil pickups of the P-Bass and the offset body of a Jazz Bass. Earlier in his career he used Ernie Ball Music Man basses. He has also been seen using other Fender basses over the years.

Mark also managed the band Fenix*TX for a while after hearing their CD, but in 1999 because of the popularity of blink 182's album Enema Of The State, Hoppus passed managing duties onto blink 182's manager Rick DeVoe.

Discography

blink-182

(+44)

Other

Solo Album

Mark Hoppus - Just for kids (Parody from Jimmy Kimmel Live).
Just for Kids"
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''Just for Kids"

On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Mark was interviewed by Jimmy, about childrens music. During which is a parody of mark having an a 'new album', with songs like Old McDonald.

External links

blink-182
Travis Barker | Tom DeLonge | Mark Hoppus
Scott Raynor
Discography
Albums: Flyswatter | Buddha | Cheshire Cat | Dude Ranch | Enema of the State | Take Off Your Pants and Jacket | (Untitled)
Live Albums and compilations: | Greatest Hits
Videos and DVDS: The Urethra Chronicles | | Greatest Hits
Related articles
Box Car Racer | Transplants | Plus 44 | Angels and Airwaves | Expensive Taste

 

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