Tom DeLonge – My Favorite Things

Tom DeLonge is in a band that named one of its biggest albums Enema of the State, so nobody should be surprised that a website offering precise directions for wiping one’s rear end appears on the list of faves he compiled for SPIN. The 35-year-old singer/guitarist for reunited SoCal pop-punks Blink-182 also has a soft spot for Mexican food, Bono’s most longing anthems, and aliens. Blink’s Neighborhoods, their first album of new material in eight years, dropped in late September, and DeLonge’s other band, Angels & Airwaves, will release fourth disc Love: Part Two on November 8.
Favorite Song:
“Rush” by Big Audio Dynamite. It makes me happy! I fell in love with this song all over again on Blink’s Honda Civic tour. It’s a punker discovering his urban side. A real ground-breaker.
Favorite Album:
Joshua Tree by U2. It was the first album I ever fell in love with. After this, it was just straight punk for 12 years. Then, back to Joshua Tree, and it’s still relevant and soulful.
Favorite New Artist:
Matt & Kim. This group reminds me so much of early Blink-182. The eternal youth; the happiness. It’s infectious — it infected me.
Favorite Holiday Gift:
A guitar from a friend. Right near my sixth grade Christmas holiday, two friends of mine pitched in and got me my first guitar — a beat-up, shitty acoustic guitar that was worth about $30. It doesn’t take much to change someone’s life. But it’s what made me who I am today.
Favorite Way to Pass Time on the Road:
To read a few books on UFOs and conspiracy is like a glass of fine wine and Frank Sinatra personally giving you a hand job. It is my guilty escape, my letter from the universe that something else is out there. There is more to the story, than the chapter on Earth.
Favorite Pick Up Line:
“I want you to like my band.” Humility is the key. I used to get so jealous if my wife liked another band more than my own. Come to think of it, I still do.
Favorite Lie:
“The world is going to end.” The truth is, it’s not going to end. We’re in for a few hard times, but we will survive. I hope.
Favorite Record Store:
iTunes gets the trophy on this one. Nobody can beat their initiative with delivering a great service. Except your mom.
Favorite Website:
howtowipeyourbutt.com. Seriously. No description needed.
Favorite Movie:
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is the best movie for a guy like me. A cerebral adventure. A moving story. A bunch of little green men. Spielberg when he was hungry. That’s always when the best art is delivered.
Favorite Food:
I will eat anything Mexican — a sombrero, hacienda… anything. They’ve perfected the combo of bread items and the grill. I had some this morning. Texas has shitty Mexican food, by the way. Do not for a minute think they have anything worth talking about. Blasphemy.
Favorite Book:
If I had a favorite book it would be… Well, ideally it would be the Kama Sutra by Tony Danza. But it doesn’t exist. If it did, I would be gifting it to everybody this year.