Editing Enema of the State (section)

==Background==
[[File:TravisBarker.jpg|thumb|left|180px|''Enema of the State'' is the first Blink-182 album with drummer [[Travis Barker]], pictured here in 2003.]]
By 1997, Blink-182, consisting of [[Mark Hoppus]], [[Tom DeLonge]], and [[Scott Raynor]], began to receive mainstream exposure as their sophomore record, ''[[Dude Ranch (album)|Dude Ranch]]'', shipped gold and the lead single "[[Dammit]]" began to be added to rock radio playlists across the country.<ref name=p74>{{harvnb|Hoppus|2001|p=74}}</ref><ref name=p79>{{harvnb|Hoppus|2001|p=79}}</ref> The band entered an extended period of touring beginning that summer, which included each date of the worldwide [[List of Warped Tour lineups by year|1997 Vans Warped Tour]], a lifestyle tour promoting skateboarding and punk rock music. The trio would only return to their home of [[San Diego, California]] for days at a time before striking out the next tour. "When we did our longest tour stretch, it was right when I started dating my fiancée," DeLonge, the band's guitarist and vocalist, said in 2001. "We were all new and in love, and I had to leave. It was just, 'Hey, I'll see you in nine months.' It was really hard."<ref name=p81>{{harvnb|Hoppus|2001|p=81}}</ref> Hoppus felt increasingly lonely; while the other members had longtime girlfriends to return home to, Hoppus was single.<ref name=p83>{{harvnb|Hoppus|2001|p=83}}</ref> In addition to the hefty touring schedule, the trio grew tired of other commitments, including interviews and TV appearances due to the success of "Dammit."<ref name=shooman45>{{harvnb|Shooman|2010|p=45}}</ref>

Desperate for a break, the overworked band began to argue and tensions formed.<ref name="p81"/> Raynor, who was at the center of this drama, had been commenting of his desire to attend college for years, and had been taking homework out with him on tour to try and complete his [[high school diploma]].<ref name=shooman50>{{harvnb|Shooman|2010|p=50}}</ref> The tension came to a head in February 1998 as the band embarked on [[SnoCore Tour|SnoCore]], described as "a winter version of the Warped Tour." Sharing the stage with [[Primus (band)|Primus]], the band was enjoying more success than ever before, but the drama between the musicians had grown substantially.<ref name="p83" /> The band reached a low point when the band engaged in a fight on a [[Nebraska]] date after SnoCore's conclusion.<ref name=shooman47>{{harvnb|Shooman|2010|p=47}}</ref> Raynor would depart following SnoCore,<ref name="p83" /><ref name=p80>{{harvnb|Hoppus|2001|p=80}}</ref> and the ensemble recruited [[Travis Barker]], drummer for the opening [[ska punk]] group [[The Aquabats]], to fill in for Raynor. Barker, who had not had time to prepare or practice with the duo, learned the drum tracks for the 20-song setlist in only 45 minutes before the first show and performed them flawlessly thereafter.<ref name=p85>{{harvnb|Hoppus|2001|p=85}}</ref><ref name=shooman52>{{harvnb|Shooman|2010|p=52}}</ref> "I remember Travis rehearsing backstage for an hour or two, then playing with them during sound-check," said [[Adam Deibert]] of the Aquabats. "A few of us were standing behind the stage and vividly remember the feeling of ''this is the new Blink''. We should have looked for a new drummer right then because it was obvious what band he belonged in."<ref name=shooman57>{{harvnb|Shooman|2010|p=57}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, the band embarked on a short minitour along the [[West Coast of the United States|western coast]], most notably Southern California, the band's favorite place to play. The tour ended with the band headlining a sold-out show at the [[Hollywood Palladium|Palladium]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], [[California]], where the band had dreamed of performing for years.<ref name=p84>{{harvnb|Hoppus|2001|p=84}}</ref> Raynor returned for the band's Palladium performance, but the band became increasingly uneasy and arguments grew worse.<ref name="p85" /> To offset personal issues and a "tragic loss," Raynor began to drink heavily and it began to affect the band's performances.<ref name=shooman51>{{harvnb|Shooman|2010|p=51}}</ref><ref name=shooman56>{{harvnb|Shooman|2010|p=56}}</ref>

Following a largely successful Australian tour in the spring, Hoppus and DeLonge presented an ultimatum: quit drinking or go to an in-patient rehab. Raynor agreed to both and informed the band of his decision after taking the weekend to mull options.<ref name="shooman56"/> According to Raynor, he was fired through a phone call despite his agreement to rehab.<ref name="shooman56"/> Despite this, he felt no malice toward his former bandmates and later conceded they were "right" to fire him.<ref name="shooman56"/> The band would minimize the impact of the situation in future interviews and remained vague regarding his departure.<ref name="shooman56"/> Initial news reports explained that Raynor had "reportedly returned to school."<ref name="aquabats">{{cite web |title=Blink 182, Aquabats Play Musical Drummers |author=MTV News staff |publisher=MTV News |date=July 14, 1998 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/ijyrzj/blink-182-aquabats-play-musical-drummers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522073354/https://www.mtv.com/news/ijyrzj/blink-182-aquabats-play-musical-drummers |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 22, 2023 |access-date=June 1, 2010}}</ref> DeLonge would later explain the drinking problem that led to his expulsion: "One show he dropped his sticks 10 times. It was so disturbing to see someone ruining himself."<ref name=blender1>{{cite web |url=http://www.blender.com:80/guide/articles.aspx?id=1321 |title=The Greatest Songs Ever! All the Small Things |last=Weiner |first=Jonah |year=2004 |website=www.blender.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041124221651/http://www.blender.com:80/guide/articles.aspx?id=1321 |archive-date=November 24, 2004 |access-date=April 12, 2024}} citing {{cite magazine |last=Weiner |first=Jonah |date=November 2004 |title=The Greatest Songs Ever! - All the Small Things |magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |page=76 |publisher=Alpha Media Group}}</ref> The addition of Barker inspired DeLonge and Hoppus to "play better" and keep up with their new member, whom DeLonge called "perfect."<ref name=totalguitar>{{cite magazine |date=October 12, 2012 |title=Tom DeLonge talks guitar tones, growing up and Blink |magazine=[[Total Guitar]] |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |location=[[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], United Kingdom |issn=1355-5049 |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/tom-delonge-talks-guitar-tones-growing-up-and-blink-565422 |access-date=October 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212085024/http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/tom-delonge-talks-guitar-tones-growing-up-and-blink-565422 |archive-date=December 12, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>