Liner Notes: Humor obviously comes naturally to you guys, but do you find it hard to write? Tom Delonge: Not really. When you incorporate the two together sometimes it works out really good. (laughs) No, it�s easy to write, I mean that�s what we do. The humor thing is just personality and the writing thing I guess you might call it a talent, but some people might say our writing is not a talent, it�s a disability(laughs). LN: Did you guys basically have a free range of equipment this time around? TD: Our producer Jerry had like, 30 guitars and 10 amps so it worked out good for the recording. A lot of times we�d have to rent the stuff, we wouldn�t know what to rent. But he had such an array to choose from. So, yes, we did have free range and it really made a difference this time around, so I�m so glad. LN: When you compare Enema to your other stuff, do you feel that it�s musically superior? TD: Oh yea, it's musically superior, the production is superior. I think the songwriting is. Everything matured and came up a step and I think that�s why we've been getting more compliments from educated listeners. People really say, "Hey, you got better." So I hope we did, because you could hear the opposite. LN: Were you amazed that the record sold 100,000 in the first week? TD: (gasp) We almost combusted. Really, we literally almost blew up when it happened. We don�t know how that happened. LN: How is newcomer Travis�s drumming style different than Scott Raynor's was? TD: Travis is more technical of a drummer. He�s really good and you only run into those guys once in a while. He�s got a much broader mind about arrangements because he�s a really talented guy. I only know a few other drummers who are like that. We weren�t even looking for that when we got him. We were just looking for someone who could play our songs and get along with us. So, we got a little added bonus with him. LN: There seems to be a lot more pop infusion in this album. Do you like going hard or softer better? TD: I like both. I think when there�s a perfect synergy, it�s hard and soft at the same time, that�s usually what we try to do. But, we�ve done different things on the album this time, not for any reason other than those were the songs we wrote. LN: Did you guys feel embarrassed or liberated to be running naked in the video? TD: I felt both. I felt kind of horny, actually. LN: Did making the video "excite" you guys? TD: Almost. (laughs) We were walking around naked and we�re talking to girls. That was a concern of mine, believe it or not. LN: Will you play naked at Warped tour? TD: I don�t know. I�de get sunburn, probably. Probably be bad for my skin. LN: Did you end up making that film called Pranksters? TD: We started working on it, but it�s one of those things that will take years to do if we ever wanted to do it. We were working on it in the past, but we really haven�t lately. LN: What kind of music will Blink182 play when you guys can no longer identify the high school mentality? TD: Retirement home music. We�ll just sing about getting in and out of wheel chairs. LN: Who�s your favorite 80's band? TD: (long pause) Would have to be something like Quiet Riot. LN: It�s coming back you know. TD: (laughs) I know. That�s what I hear. LN: Let�s probe into the band�s anal obsession. What�s it all about? TD: I don�t know. We�re really immature and we joke about bodily functions, so somehow we got into the world of enema and just used it as a title. LN: How do you know so much about the digestive tract? TD: Well, we did a lot of research and we just want people to be aware of their bodies. LN: Star Wars thumbs up or down? TD: Thumbs in the middle. I love some parts and I hate, hate, hate other parts. LN: Anyone ever throw anything interesting on stage? TD: Someone threw a blow-up sheep. LN: Did you do it? TD: No, I would have though if no one was around and it didn't pop. LN: On a scale of one to ten, how sick are you of goofy journalists� questions? TD: It depends what the questions are. If it�s a normal question then it�s 10, but, if they�re good questions about sex and stuff LN: How bad were mine? TD: Yours were good. Because we talked about sex and that's kinda horny. LN: Your CD collection is on fire, which one do you save? TD: Right now I would save The Pucker Up from the Teen Idols. I just picked it up the other day and I like that one a lot. |