Post by robert on Jul 13, 2007 18:23:26 GMT 3
Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975) is an American drummer, who achieved most of his fame by drumming for the band, Blink-182. He currently is the drummer for +44 and has also played for side projects Box Car Racer, Transplants and Expensive Taste.
In 1996, Barker joined his first touring band, playing drums for The Aquabats as The Baron Von Tito. He recorded one album with them, The Fury of the Aquabats!, in 1997. His career took off when he joined up with pop punk/Punk Rock band, Blink-182 in 1998. Barker became known for his mohawk and his tendency to perform without a shirt, revealing a multitude of tattoos. Barker has since established himself as a versatile drummer, producing and guest appearing in music projects of numerous music genres including hip-hop, punk rock, alternative rock, ska, rap, pop and even country.
His business ventures are as vast as his musical interests. He founded a clothing company, Famous Stars and Straps in 1999, LaSalle Records in 2004, as well as a Wahoo's Fish Tacos restaurant in Norco, California. Companies such as DC Shoes and Zildjian cymbals have co-designed products in his name.
Barker's marriage to former Miss USA, Shanna Moakler, was featured in MTV's Meet the Barkers (2005–2006). After filing for divorce in 2006, his marriage trouble and personal life have been scrutinized in the media following a public MySpace battle[1] with his wife and a brief relationship with Hilton Hotel heiress, Paris Hilton. Moakler recently announced that the two are making a fresh start and working it out for their children.[2] People.com now reports that Travis and Shanna have seperated again, no reason has been given for the split.
In 1996, Barker joined his first touring band, playing drums for The Aquabats as The Baron Von Tito. He recorded one album with them, The Fury of the Aquabats!, in 1997. His career took off when he joined up with pop punk/Punk Rock band, Blink-182 in 1998. Barker became known for his mohawk and his tendency to perform without a shirt, revealing a multitude of tattoos. Barker has since established himself as a versatile drummer, producing and guest appearing in music projects of numerous music genres including hip-hop, punk rock, alternative rock, ska, rap, pop and even country.
His business ventures are as vast as his musical interests. He founded a clothing company, Famous Stars and Straps in 1999, LaSalle Records in 2004, as well as a Wahoo's Fish Tacos restaurant in Norco, California. Companies such as DC Shoes and Zildjian cymbals have co-designed products in his name.
Barker's marriage to former Miss USA, Shanna Moakler, was featured in MTV's Meet the Barkers (2005–2006). After filing for divorce in 2006, his marriage trouble and personal life have been scrutinized in the media following a public MySpace battle[1] with his wife and a brief relationship with Hilton Hotel heiress, Paris Hilton. Moakler recently announced that the two are making a fresh start and working it out for their children.[2] People.com now reports that Travis and Shanna have seperated again, no reason has been given for the split.
Tattoos
Travis' first tattoo was the word "BONES" (a nickname when he was a kid) on his leg which he got when he was 17 years old.[10] Another addition is the phrase "SELF MADE" spelled out across his knuckles which he got in 2000.[10] Some of Travis' numerous tattoos include religious art as he says he was brought up Catholic.[10] He has a portrait of Jesus above his left biceps, hands in prayer on the left side of his head (visible with his signature mohawk) and a Sacred Heart. He has a few tattoos that symbolize his love for cars and Cadillacs in particular - two racing flags on the side of his neck with the number 66 which symbolizes the year of his favorite Cadillac and a Cadillac emblem surrounded by mudflap girls on his chest as well as a pair of spark plugs.[10]
Much of his body art is devoted to his love of music such as the phrase "Can I Say" which is the name of Dag Nasty's first album, a microphone, and a boom box on his stomach for his love of breakdancing when he was growing up.[10] He also has the word "HOPE" on his back because of the Descendents' song and something positive after his mother's death. He has another tribute to the Descendents on his leg - the cover art to the album, I Don't Want To Grow Up, drumsticks and musical notes on his right arm.
Travis also makes several tributes to his family with the phrase "familia" on his arm, Japanese flowers on the back of his neck with a heart that says "Mom", and another heart with "SHANNA" on the banner.[10] He also has the name of his first wife, "Melissa," just above the racing flags on the side of his neck. He has his son's name Landon on his left wrist.
He considers his right arm his "good luck arm" and so has many luck emblems tattooed on that arm such as a deck of cards, dice, a dollar sign, his lucky number seven, a skull with the number 13 in the eye sockets (13 is a lucky number in the tattoo culture), and a rabbit's foot, in addition to a martini glass, his initials, a devil from Black Label Skateboards, and a spider web surrounding his elbow.[10]
Travis also has a tattoo-quote by Henry Brooks Adams stating "Chaos Often Breeds Life, When Order Breeds Habit"; the quote is tattooed around Barker's neck, and can also be found on the spine of the Box Car Racer CD case.
In explanation of his large number of tattoos Travis has said, "I tattooed my body so I couldn't fall back on anything. I purposely did that so I couldn't get a normal job and live a normal life. I did it so I had to play music." Travis claims to have spent over $30,000 on his body art.[11]
Travis' first tattoo was the word "BONES" (a nickname when he was a kid) on his leg which he got when he was 17 years old.[10] Another addition is the phrase "SELF MADE" spelled out across his knuckles which he got in 2000.[10] Some of Travis' numerous tattoos include religious art as he says he was brought up Catholic.[10] He has a portrait of Jesus above his left biceps, hands in prayer on the left side of his head (visible with his signature mohawk) and a Sacred Heart. He has a few tattoos that symbolize his love for cars and Cadillacs in particular - two racing flags on the side of his neck with the number 66 which symbolizes the year of his favorite Cadillac and a Cadillac emblem surrounded by mudflap girls on his chest as well as a pair of spark plugs.[10]
Much of his body art is devoted to his love of music such as the phrase "Can I Say" which is the name of Dag Nasty's first album, a microphone, and a boom box on his stomach for his love of breakdancing when he was growing up.[10] He also has the word "HOPE" on his back because of the Descendents' song and something positive after his mother's death. He has another tribute to the Descendents on his leg - the cover art to the album, I Don't Want To Grow Up, drumsticks and musical notes on his right arm.
Travis also makes several tributes to his family with the phrase "familia" on his arm, Japanese flowers on the back of his neck with a heart that says "Mom", and another heart with "SHANNA" on the banner.[10] He also has the name of his first wife, "Melissa," just above the racing flags on the side of his neck. He has his son's name Landon on his left wrist.
He considers his right arm his "good luck arm" and so has many luck emblems tattooed on that arm such as a deck of cards, dice, a dollar sign, his lucky number seven, a skull with the number 13 in the eye sockets (13 is a lucky number in the tattoo culture), and a rabbit's foot, in addition to a martini glass, his initials, a devil from Black Label Skateboards, and a spider web surrounding his elbow.[10]
Travis also has a tattoo-quote by Henry Brooks Adams stating "Chaos Often Breeds Life, When Order Breeds Habit"; the quote is tattooed around Barker's neck, and can also be found on the spine of the Box Car Racer CD case.
In explanation of his large number of tattoos Travis has said, "I tattooed my body so I couldn't fall back on anything. I purposely did that so I couldn't get a normal job and live a normal life. I did it so I had to play music." Travis claims to have spent over $30,000 on his body art.[11]