There is a broader spectrum of reasons why musicians might step away from successful bands, ranging from creative differences and the pursuit of solo careers to life-changing personal interests and passions. In Tom DeLonge’s case, his growing fascination with extraterrestrial phenomena and UFOs played a significant role in his decision to leave Blink-182 in 2015.
His choice came as a surprise to many at the time. The guitarist addressed the confusion and misunderstanding surrounding his departure from Blink-182, speaking to NME in 2019. He explained:
“People didn’t really understand why Blink and I had the issue. People didn’t understand the inner workings of a band. All they saw was that I’d left the band to go and chase aliens. But at the time, I couldn’t even tell my band members who I was meeting and working with – important people who don’t put themselves in public.”
DeLonge’s Stance On His Decision
DeLonge continued, acknowledging that he was prepared for the criticism and skepticism that came with his decision:
“So I had a long period of being groomed to take the shots and to take the bullets. But I don’t care what people think because I know what’s coming; they’re gonna come back and say, ‘Sorry, man, for saying that – what do we do now?’ And I’ll say: ‘My team and I already have a plan for that.'”
Tom’s Passion For UFO Research As A Deciding Factor
During a 2016 chat with Mic, the rocker further discussed the reasons behind his departure. He explained that his passion for researching aliens and the need to devote time to this project were key factors for leaving Blink-182. Tom noted:
“Well, it’s not so much about Blink. It’s about what I’m doing with my life now. When you’re an individual like me, dealing with something that’s a national security issue, and you’re being gifted with the opportunity to communicate something you’ve been passionate about your whole life — something that has the opportunity to change the world over time — being a small part of that is enormously important for my life path. But I can’t do everything. I can’t tour nine months out of the year with enough time to do the enormity of what I’m setting out to do.”
In 2015, DeLonge established the To the Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences, aiming to delve deeper into ufology and explore unconventional scientific ideas. Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba replaced him as the band’s new guitarist. Blink-182 announced on October 11, 2022, that Tom had officially rejoined the band and that they would be releasing a new album featuring him, which was released on October 20.
