Mark Hoppus has revealed that blink-182 is eager to return to the studio and is working with renewed creative energy for the band’s next album, he told Guitar World. The bassist discussed the band’s plans and the musical direction they are exploring for their upcoming record.
Hoppus was asked how the next blink-182 album is coming together and what specific creative direction the band is taking with their new material.
Question: “That leads us neatly onto the next blink album. How is that shaping up?”
“We have a new record deal, and we are starting to talk about dates for future tours and things like that,” Hoppus said. “And we’re all starting to itch to get back into the studio. I have stuff that I want to show Tom and Travis. I know Travis has ideas. I know Tom’s getting his studio back up and running again, and starting to dive in. So we can’t wait to get in and see where it takes us.”
He continued with his philosophy on writing new material. “Because I always want to keep writing new music and touring, and introducing new songs into the set. I don’t ever want to rest on our laurels and be like, ‘Yeah, you know, we wrote Enema of the State back in ’99, so I think we’re cool.’ If we’re touring, I want to be touring new music and be excited about new projects.”
Question: “Is there any specific direction the material you’re writing is taking at the moment?”
“This past couple years, I’ve listened to a lot of Sonic Youth and Devo and Bad Religion, and really going back to music that excited me back in the day,” Hoppus said. “So my stuff is a lot more stripped down, punk rock-sounding.”
“I don’t know what happens when Tom and Travis get their hands on that, but for me, it’s really back to basics: ‘What do I love about music? What do I want to say?’ I feel really inspired. There’s been times where I’m like, ‘I don’t even know what I want to write about,’ or I’m searching for what I’m trying to say. But this year, I feel a lot more focused and a lot more excited to just cut to the chase and write some kick-ass, thrashy songs.”
The band’s working plans are already taking shape. Travis Barker confirmed that blink-182 is working on their 10th studio album, with the drummer saying the band will work on the new record during 2026. The album will follow One More Time…, released in 2023 after the return of founding guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, reuniting DeLonge with Barker and Hoppus and restoring the band’s classic three-piece lineup.
Hoppus told People in 2025 that he would start writing fresh tracks that summer, and he began the songwriting process during summer 2025. His back-to-basics approach reflects the punk and alternative influences that shaped his early musical taste, from Sonic Youth and Devo to Bad Religion. These artists represent the stripped-down energy and attitude that Hoppus wants to channel into the new material.
The creative push comes after the band’s recent tour activity brought them closer together. The Missionary Impossible tour ran from August 28, 2025, in Hollywood, Florida to October 19, 2025, in Las Vegas, promoting a return to the band’s punk roots with a career-spanning setlist that featured major hits, fan favorites, and songs not performed live in decades. That tour reinforced the band’s connection to their foundation and gave them fresh momentum heading into the studio work planned for 2026.
