Noted drummer Travis Barker established his name with the popular band Blink 182, but he has earned just as much publicity for his personal relationships. In particular, his on again, off again marriage has been the focal point of his recent publicity.
Travis Landon Barker was born November 14, 1975 in Fontana, California. Although he grew up in an economically depressed area, Barker was able to secure his first drum set by four years old. By the following year, he was taking lessons for both trumpet and drums.
Barker obtained his education from Fontana High School, but the day before starting at this school, tragedy stuck when his mother died. Barker’s continuation with the drums was in large part due to her encouragement.
Honing his skills throughout high school, Barker graduated in 1993 and immediately began pursuing music fulltime. To that end, he played in several moderately successful bands such as Feeble, The Aquabats, and The Suicide Machines.
In order to stay afloat while he put his music career together, Barker taught drum lessons. He continued this as late as 2002.
Barker’s breakout was in 1998 when he toured with The Aquabats. Blink-182 happened to be on the tour bill as well, and their drummer, Scott Raynor, was released from the band. Barker was asked to sit in for his sets that night. Learning their twenty song set in just under two hours, Barker impressed the members of blink-182 enough that they asked him to replace Raynor permanently.
Gladly accepting the position, Barker couldn’t have joined the band at a better time. In the following year, they released their breakthrough album Enema of the State. Placing them on the music map and directly in the limelight, they followed up with Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. In 2003, they had more success with their self-titled album. By February of 2005, however, blink-182 went their separate ways.
In addition to his well-known stint with this punk band, Barker explored his other musical interests with a variety of bands such as Box Car Racer, Expensive Taste, Transplants, and others. Notable collaborations include drum work for Avril Lavigne and a remix of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” as well as “Crank That” by Soulja Boy.
As of 2005, Barker has worked steadily with the band +44, in which he reunited with Mark Hoppus.
Ventures outside of drumming include the clothing line Famous Stars and Straps, co-founding LaSalle Records, and even an attempt at running a Wahoo’s Fish Taco restaurant.
In his personal life, Barker married Melissa Kennedy in 2001. A short eleven months later, they were divorced. His second marriage was to former Miss USA Shanna Moakler in late 2004. They had two children together, and Moakler had another child from a previous relationship with Oscar de la Hoya. The family warranted a reality series, Meet the Barkers, from 2005 to 2006.
Barker and Moakler, however, separated in mid-2006. After a series of breakups and reconciliations, the divorce became final on February 11, 2008.