How Did the Band Come Together?
Tom DeLonge, the band’s cofounder, was expelled from his high school after he was found wasted at a basketball game. He had to transfer to Rancho Bernardo High School, where he participated in the Battle of the Bands competition.
Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
There, he met Scott Raynor. DeLonge became friends with Kerry Key, whose sister was dating Mark Hoppus. Hoppus and DeLonge instantly hit off and began jamming together. They started hanging out and playing music together in Raynor’s room and performed at shows wherever they could get in. They also had a few name changes before officially becoming Blink.