Editing Buddha (album) (section)

==Background==
Blink-182 was formed in [[Poway, California]], a suburb outside of [[San Diego]], in August 1992. After Mark Hoppus graduated from high school in [[Ridgecrest, California|Ridgecrest]], he relocated to San Diego to work at a record store and attend college.<ref name=p8-9>Hoppus, 2001. pp. 8–9</ref> Tom DeLonge was kicked out of [[Poway High School|Poway High]] for attending a basketball game drunk and was forced to attend another local school for one semester. At [[Rancho Bernardo High School]], he befriended Kerry Key, also interested in punk music. Key's girlfriend, Anne Hoppus, introduced her brother Mark to DeLonge on August 2, 1992.<ref name="p8-9"/> The two bonded instantly and played for hours in DeLonge's garage, exchanging lyrics and co-writing songs—one of which became "[[Cheshire Cat (Blink-182 album)|Carousel]]".<ref name="p8-9"/> DeLonge recruited friend Scott Raynor for drums, whom he met at a Rancho Bernado Battle of the Bands competition.<ref name=p10-11>Hoppus, 2001. pp.&nbsp;10–11</ref> Raynor was by far the youngest member of the trio at 14, and his event account differs significantly: he claims he and DeLonge formed the group after meeting at the Battle of the Bands and worked through a variety of bassists before meeting Hoppus.<ref name="p10-11"/>

The trio began to practice together in Raynor's bedroom, spending hours together writing music, attending punk shows and movies, and playing practical jokes.<ref name="p10-11"/> Hoppus and DeLonge would alternate singing vocal parts. The trio first operated under a variety of names, including Duck Tape and Figure 8, until DeLonge rechristened the band "Blink".<ref name=p13shoo>Shooman, 2010. pp.&nbsp;13–14</ref> Hoppus' girlfriend was angered by her boyfriend's constant attention for the band and demanded him to make a choice between the band and her, which resulted in Hoppus leaving the band shortly after formation.<ref name=p13-15>Hoppus, 2001. pp. 13–15</ref> Shortly thereafter, DeLonge and Raynor borrowed a [[Multitrack recording|four track recorder]] from friend and collaborator Cam Jones and were preparing to record a [[Demo (music)|demo tape]], with Jones on bass.<ref name="p13shoo"/> Hoppus promptly broke up with his girlfriend and returned to the band.<ref name="p13-15"/> ''Flyswatter''—a combination of original songs and punk covers—was recorded in Raynor's bedroom in May 1993.<ref name=p16>Hoppus, 2001. p. 16</ref> [[Southern California]] had a large punk population in the early 1990s, aided by an avid surfing, skating and snowboarding scene.<ref name="p18shoo"/> In contrast to [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] punk music, the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] wave of groups, Blink included, typically introduced [[pop punk|more melodic aspects to their music]].<ref name="p18shoo"/> "New York is gloomy, dark and cold. It makes different music. The Californian middle-class suburbs have nothing to be that bummed about," said DeLonge.<ref name=p18shoo>Shooman, 2010. pp. 18–19</ref> San Diego at this time was "hardly a hotbed of [musical] activity", but the band's popularity grew as did [[Punk rock in California|California punk rock]] concurrently in the mainstream.<ref name="p16"/>

The band's first performance was at a local high school during lunch, and soon the trio graduated to San Diego's Spirit Club and influential local shop Alley Kat Records.<ref name=p15shoo>Shooman, 2010. pp.&nbsp;15–17</ref> DeLonge called clubs constantly in San Diego asking for a spot to play, as well as calling up local high schools convincing them that Blink was a "motivational band with a strong [[Just Say No|anti-drug]] message" in hopes to play at an assembly or lunch.<ref name=p21>Hoppus, 2001. p. 21</ref> The band soon became part of a circuit that also included the likes of [[Ten Foot Pole]] and [[Unwritten Law]], and they found their way onto the bill as the opening band for local acts at [[Soma San Diego|SOMA]], a local all-ages venue which they longed to headline.<ref name="p18shoo"/> The band's equipment was piled into a blue station wagon for touring purposes and they first began to play shows outside San Diego.<ref name=p24-27>Hoppus, 2001. pp. 24–27</ref>