Blink 5 songs into Skiba record

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker says the band are five songs into writing an album with Matt Skiba.

They started studio work last month, after the Alkaline Trio frontman played a handful of shows with Barker and Mark Hoppus, following their split with Tom DeLonge.

Barker tells the NME: “Matt’s killing it. He’s fun to play with and write with. We’ve got, like, four or five songs right now that I’m really, really happy with.”

He namechecks a track called Punk Rock Cliche as his favourite to date, adding that it’s about “friends of ours and their relationships.”

Barker continues: “The goal is to just write – we don’t put a limit on how many songs. When we feel like there’s an album ready, there’s an album ready. No pressure, no deadlines.”

Asked about the differences between Skiba and DeLonge, he says: “They sound different, but still the same. Obviously it’s Matt Skiba singing, so there’s hints of Alkaline Trio, mixed with my drumming and Mark’s voice. I love what we’ve done so far.”

Skiba faced Blink challenge - but they made it easy

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.