Blink-182 Bassist and Singer Mark Hoppus Reveals He Has Cancer

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 49-year-old Blink-182 co-frontman Mark Hoppus announced he has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. Hoppus is the band’s bassist and lead vocalist alongside Matt Skiba, also of Alkaline Trio. Prior vocalist Tom Delonge was with the band from the beginning until Skiba took over.

“It sucks and I’m scared,” he announced yesterday on Twitter, elaborating with the following statement:

“For the past three months I’ve been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. I have cancer… I’m blessed with incredible doctors and family and friends to get me through this. I still have months of treatment ahead of me but I’m trying to remain hopeful and positive. Can’t wait to be cancer free and see you all at a concert in the near future. Love to you all.”

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— ϻ????Ⓡ???? ????????Ƥ????ย???? (@markhoppus) June 23, 2021

Earlier in the day, Hoppus had popped up on Instagram, sharing a photo of himself at the hospital, with the status “Yes Hello. One cancer treatment please.” It was deleted after a short time.

Hoppus hasn’t exactly been laying low from social media as of late. Earlier this month marked the 20th anniversary of the band’s double-platinum fourth album “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,” which featured the hit single “The Rock Show,” and he chimed in on Instagram to celebrate.

“20 years ago today ‘Take Off Your Pants and Jacket’ came out,.. we wanted to write a darker, harder album that pushed the boundaries of what Blink-182 could do,” he said. “I love this record. Thank you to everyone who listened to it then and continues to put it on two decades later.”

Blink-182 is the epitome of pop-punk, a rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut in the mid-1990s and early 2000s that continues to make music to this day. Like Green Day before them, Blink played a less aggressive-sounding punk that appealed to millions.

But it was the band’s third album — 1999’s “Enema of the State” — that sold a whopping 15 million copies globally, ushering in a new era of pop-punk. They were only eclipsed by Green Day, whose 1994 breakthrough “Dookie” sold 20 million.

Blink had a decidedly shiny and glowing pop-punk sound, ready-made for pop radio and MTV. The band skyrocketed to the top of MTV’s “TRL” charts, becoming heavy-hitters alongside superstars like Britney Spears, Eminem and Usher.

More popular than any pop-punk band, the group was often shunned by traditional punk rockers who felt that Blink and bands like them were “sellouts” because they made millions.

Blink-182 has quite the discography and videography. Their most popular song “All the Small Things” ranked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. They made a splash on MTV with the running-naked-through-the-streets-of-LA music video for “What’s My Age Again?” And there’s the fan favorite “Dammit” from the band’s debut album ”Dude Ranch,” and “Feeling This” from 2003’s self-titled.

Blink-182’s lyrics were about what it feels like to be a teenager or a college freshman, falling in love, and at their darkest, depression and suicide as heard on the hit single “Adam’s Song.” This is a topic rarely breached by any mainstream band. The lyrics of “Adam’s Song” run pretty deep…

I never thought I’d die alone
I laughed the loudest, who’d have known?
I trace the cord back to the wall
No wonder it was never plugged in at all
I took my time, I hurried up
The choice was mine, I didn’t think enough
I’m too depressed to go on
You’ll be sorry when I’m gone

But the song ends on a hopeful note… Tomorrow holds such better days

Days when I can still feel alive
When I can’t wait to get outside
The world is wide, the time goes by
The tour is over, I’ve survived

I can’t wait ’til I get home, a song with lyrics so profound was comforting to a cohort of fans who have struggled with suicidal thoughts, and it is one of Blink-182’s shining moments.

In fact, some of Blink’s lyrics have a meaningful and distinctly relatable quality to them, and have helped with fans’ struggles.

On “Down,” a single released in 2004, Tom Delonge sings the following:

Tidal waves they rip right through me
Tears from eyes worn cold and sad
Pick me up now, I need you so bad

The sense of yearning is palpable in these lyrics, and Delonge instantly establishes a camaraderie with the listener.

Post-“Enema,” Blink became the archetype to follow for newer bands like Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and even brand-new acts like Meet Me At the Altar.

Blink is still making music, releasing the COVID-19 themed jam “Quarantine” last summer.

Emo punks Taking Back Sunday tweeted, “Wishing you the best @MarkHoppus.”

Former co-frontman and guitarist Delonge perked up also on Twitter to support his former bandmate, saying: “And to add to his own words that he used today, I would also like to say that he is strong, and a super-human who is pushing through this difficult obstacle with a wide-open heart,” he tweeted, adding the hashtag “#WeHaveHisBack.“

I too, have been aware of @markhoppus’s cancer diagnosis for awhile now. And to add to his own words that he used today, I would also like to say that he is strong, and a super-human who is pushing through this difficult obstacle with a wide-open heart. ????????#WeHaveHisBack

— Tom DeLonge (@tomdelonge) June 24, 2021