11 Lesser-Known Facts About Blink-182’s Drummer, Travis Barker

Travis Barker has had his fair share of media coverage, but his romance with Kourtney Kardashian and his pop-punk mentoring have pushed him higher.

Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian have just made their relationship Instagram official, which puts a lot more spotlight on him than he’s been accustomed to. As the wildly successful drummer for the internationally known rock band, Blink-182, Travis has had his fair share of coverage in the headlines, but this hot, new romance has put him in the public spectrum at a whole different level. Of course, everyone now wants to know what he’s all about, aside from this very high profile relationship he’s currently linked to.To many, very little is known about Barker’s personal life and the makings of the man that gives every ounce of his energy to creating music for the masses. You’ll be surprised at what we’ve been able to uncover about his personal life, his family, and the man behind the talent we all know and love.Updated on January 18, 2022, by Marissa Romero: Over the last couple of years, Travis Barker’s fame and popularity have exploded even more so than at the height of Blink-182’s era in the ’90s and early ’00s. His career has taken on a whole new look, where he mentors younger musicians and focuses on his insane drumming skills. Of course, his relationship, and now engagement, with Kourtney Kardashian has certainly helped push him back into the headlines, but Travis Barker’s own work ethic and perseverance have helped him revamp his celebrity status at 46 years old.“Obviously, there’s a huge pop-punk revival right now,” Barker expressed in an interview with Rolling Stone. “And rock music is on its way back. I couldn’t be more proud.” Whether you’re a millennial who grew up with Travis Barker and Blink-182, or you’re a Gen-Zer and Travis Barker is new to you, there are some things about the tattooed rocker that many still don’t know.

11Travis Barker’s Musical Career Was His Mother’s Dying Wish

Most moms tell their kids to pursue their academics and shun the idea of their child being part of a band. Travis Barker’s mother was the exception. At a very young age, she realized her son had an incredible, innate talent behind the drums, and she encouraged him by enrolling him in drumming classes to further develop his skills. Sadly, when Travis was just 13 years old, his mother passed away, but left him with a dying wish. Encouraging him to pursue his music, she said, “Keep doing it, no matter what anybody else says.”

10Travis Barker’s Record Label

Music is Travis Barker’s passion and true calling, and the success he enjoyed through his journeys with Blink-182 made him want to dive further into the music scene. LaSalle Records took form and was named after his favorite car, the Cadillac La Salle. Barker signed on The Kinison as the first group to be brought on after launching the label in 2004. In spite of being known as a rock star, he’s been clear that he’s willing to sign a band of any genre, if they display the raw talent he is seeking.

Travis Barker has since formed a new record label, DTA Records, which was formed out of Elektra Music Group in December 2019. The booming record label, which boasts artists like JXDN and Caspr, recently signed Avril Lavigne for her big comeback.

9Travis Barker Has Become A ‘Gen Z Whisperer’

Travis Barker is, in a way, spearheading a whole pop-punk revival. From helping TikToker, Jaden Hossler become JXDN to inspiring Machine Gun Kelly to really let loose, Travis Barker is at the center of it all right now. “Travis showed me the art of not overthinking,” Machine Gun Kelly stated, according to Rolling Stone. “There were times I’d walk in, we would plug in instruments, and whatever came out while we were playing would be the song. But then he also showed me that you can completely scrap a whole song, right when you think it’s done, and do it over until it becomes everything it should be. He would answer the phone at 5 a.m. if I called. The studio sessions became cathartic. There was no censorship. He encouraged the raw emotion to come out.”

As Travis Barker continues to mentor a younger generation, rock music is definitely taking over the airways in incredible ways.

8Travis Barker’s Clothing Line

Joining the list of celebrities that carry their own line of merchandise, Travis Barker has been wise about diversifying his financial potential by launching his very own clothing line. Famous Stars and Straps is a full line of urban attire that is inspired by Barker’s passionate interests in music, tattoo art, and car culture. There are also accessories and women’s attire included as part of his collection.

7Travis Barker Survived A Fatal Plane Crash

Perhaps one of the most shocking tales that Barker has revealed about his personal life is his incredible survival story. He is just one of two survivors of a horrific plane crash that occurred in September 2008.

Travis was badly burned and required as many as 27 grueling surgeries during his recovery. He spent just over four months in the hospital and suffered burns on 65 percent of his body. That’s an incredible survival story not many can lay claims to, and outlines the tenacity and sheer will and determination that Barker possesses.

6Travis Barker’s Relationship With His Kids

Travis Barker’s children are his entire world. He’s a very involved parent and enjoys every moment he gets to spend with his kids. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case. There was a period of time in which his relationship with his then-wife, Shanna Moakler was falling apart, and he was not fully engaged as a father. He experienced a brief stint with substance abuse to alleviate the guilt associated with being an absentee father. Thankfully, he is now a fully engaged dad that dotes on his kids.

Travis Barker is now even more so in the lives of his kids as they experienced a sort of falling out with their mother, Shanna, as Barker became further involved with Kourtney Kardashian. Alabama, age 16, and Landon, age 18, openly sided with their father during the conflict. In addition, Travis remains just as present in his 22-year-old step-daughter, Atiana De La Hoya’s life, even though he hasn’t been married to her mother since 2008.

5He’s Deeply Religious

Don’t let the tattoos and the tough exterior fool you, Travis Barker is described as being a very religious man. He is a devout Christian and fully embraces his faith through his day-to-day life. He prays with his children and is fully connected to his religion both inwardly and outwardly. Many of his tattoos are inspired by his faith, including the crosses designed on his arm.

4His Tattoos Motivated Him To Become A Musician

At one point or another, anyone who is diving in to a career in music has to take a leap of faith. Not exactly known to be the most promising or stable form of employment, a career in the music industry takes guts and commitment. In order to make sure he was fully dedicated to seeing success in this realm, Barker says he tattooed most of his body, leaving him no real chance for other forms of employment. Knowing this level of inked permanency existed forced him to succeed in this field.

3Travis Barker Is A Hardcore Vegan

Travis Barker has been a dedicated vegetarian since he was 13. He is now a hardcore vegan, and this is a lifestyle choice that began soon after surviving the plane crash. He took the extra leap into veganism when he needed to heal and fully optimize his health for the battle he had to endure. He has maintained a vegan lifestyle ever since, which is surely appreciated by his ultra-healthy eating girlfriend, Kourtney Kardashian.

2Travis Barker’s Darkest Moment

Being the survivor of a plane crash sounds like a victorious story, and it most definitely is, however, it skips over one of the most challenging times – the healing process. With burns over more than half of his body, Barker endured excruciating pain and countless surgeries. Paired with the shock associated with losing his friends in the crash, this stress and pain drove Barker to the end of his limits. He admits to bribing his friends with $1 million to take his life when the pain became too much to bear.

1Travis Barker Is Color Blind

Travis Barker has acquired a massive following and has millions of adoring, supportive fans that are obsessed with his every move. Anything he does instantly becomes an obsession to fans, but as much as they believe they know about their favorite rock star, many fans are completely unaware of the fact that Travis Barker is color-blind. Everything that is vibrant and colorful is perceived very differently by Barker, who can’t identify colors with his vision.