The name Travis Barker may be on your radar now because of his whirlwind romance and marriage with Kourtney Kardashian.
The couple have recently announced their pregnancy after tying the knot in May 2022.
However, the musician was well-known a full decade before the reality star and her famous family arrived on the scene.
Barker made his mark in the industry in 1998 when he joined US rock band Blink-182 as its new drummer.
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Together with lead vocalist Mark Hoppus and guitarist Tom DeLonge, the band went on to produce hits such as All The Small Things, Adam's Song and Always, which featured Aussie singer Sophie Monk in the 2003 music video.
Barker is no stranger to reality TV himself. For two seasons in 2005 and 2006, he starred in the MTV series Meet The Barkers with his then-wife, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler.
But among the career highs were some personal lows. Here are the life-changing events that transpired in Barker's life, from his messy divorce with Moakler to the plane crash that almost killed him.
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Travis Barker credits Kourtney Kardashian for getting over fear of flying
Barker has praised his wife Kourtney Kardashian for helping him feel comfortable flying again after he almost lost his life in a deadly plane crash back in 2008.
"Just flew for the 30th time since my plane crash," the Blink-182 drummer shared via Meta's new app Threads on Wednesday.
"Wouldn't be able to tour or enjoy life again the way I do without the healing love of my amazing wife. I love you @kourtneykardash."
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On September 19, 2008, Barker was involved in a deadly plane crash while flying from South Carolina to Los Angeles. The other three passengers and both the pilots on board all died either during or after the crash leaving Barker as the sole survivor.
Following this, Barker had not stepped on a plane in a decade until meeting Kardashian.
"[Flying is] still something very new to me, but having something that gives me the strength and hope to be able to overcome things that were so traumatic in my life, it just says a ton," he told NYLON in an interview.
What is Travis Barker doing now?
Barker has continued to drum for the band that launched him into the spotlight – Blink-182. For a short while, one of the group's founding members, Tom Delonge, had left to pursue his own ambitions with To The Stars Media and his own band Angels and Airwaves.
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Blink-182 replaced DeLonge with Matt Skiba of the band Alkaline Trio until DeLonge made a triumphant and unexpected return last year.
The original line up of Blink-182 has since released their first single in over a decade and embarked on their first tour in eight years.
Barker first joined the band when he replaced the original drummer Scott Raynor who played on the band's albums Cheshire Cat and Dude Ranch. In 2016, Barker was named one of the 100 greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone.
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Blink-182 released their most recent album, Nine, in 2019, which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 charts in the US and reached the top 10 here in Australia.
In December 2019, Barker launched his new music label, DTA Records, in partnership with Elektra Music Group.
The drummer and music producer announced that the label would be his creative hub for artist development while providing an outlet to collaborate within the hip-hop realm.
Barker has since worked with the likes of Lil Nas X, Machine Gun Kelly, XXXTentacion and Pharrell Williams.
How did Travis Barker almost die?
In 2008, Barker was involved in a fatal plane crash.
The musician and his friend Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM, were among six passengers onboard a private jet travelling back to LA from Columbia, South Carolina, where the duo had performed a gig together at a college event under the name TRV$DJAM.
But as the plane was leaving the tarmac, the pilots had to abort takeoff due to a burst wheel, sending the aircraft crashing into an embankment on the runway and bursting into flames.
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Four people were killed in the crash: the two pilots and Barker's personal assistant and security guard, who he called his best friends.
In an interview with Men's Health on May 24, Barker opened up about suffering PTSD and survivor's guilt after the incident. He said, "I was dark... I couldn't walk down the street. If I saw a plane [in the sky], I was determined it was going to crash, and I just didn't want to see it."
Miraculously, Barker and Goldstein were able to escape the aircraft by sliding down the plane's wing, but both suffered second-and third-degree burns — the drummer received burns to 65 per cent of his body.
Barker told the outlet that over time he's found it easier to cope with what happened.
He recalled, "The closer I was to it, it felt like I was closer to the bad stuff than I am to the good stuff. I felt closer to the experience of trying to escape, [to] being in an accident and being burned, trying to grab my friends from a burning plane."
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"That haunted me for a long time," he noted, "And as long as I was closer to that than this good stuff, I was always thinking about that. Now it's been so many years, it's getting easier for me. There are days where I'll wake up and never think about it."
Tragically, Goldstein – who famously dated Nicole Richie and Mandy Moore – died of a drug overdose in his New York apartment in 2009, one year after the crash.
Prior to his death, Barker remembered they served as "each other's therapists," because "it was just him and me." Barker continued, "When he left, I was like, 'Oh, f--k. I'm the only one in my club. It's just me.' And I find my ways to deal with it."
However, the ordeal was enough to stop him from abusing drugs. "People are always like, 'Did you go to rehab?'" he said. "And I [say], 'No, I was in a plane crash.' That was my rehab. Lose three of your friends and almost die? That was my wake-up call. If I wasn't in a crash, I would have probably never quit."
The rock star also detailed the experience on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2019.
"When I jumped through the emergency exit when the plane blew up, I was in such a hurry to exit the plane I jumped right into the jet, which is full of fuel," he said.
"My whole body lit up. I had jet fuel in my whole body. I burped jet fuel for almost three months [after]."
Barker was in a dark place after the accident. In his 2015 memoir Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums, he also revealed he spent four months in a burns unit and underwent 27 surgeries and skin grafts.
At one point, he no longer wanted to live and recalled offering friends money to help him end his life.
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"[Medical officials] had to take my phone out of my room because I was making these phone calls," he said on Good Morning America while promoting the book.
"I would call friends of mine and go, 'You know, I'll deposit a million dollars into whoever's bank account. Like, I'm done.'"
To this day, Barker has a fear of flying and takes a tour bus when travelling to gigs in the US. In 2014, he dropped out of Blink-182's Australian Tour because of this phobia.
"I'm sorry to announce I won't be joining Blink-182 on this Australian tour," he wrote in a statement at the time. "I still haven't gotten over the horrific events that took place the last time I flew when my plane crashed and 4 people were killed, two being my best friends.
"I gave the band my blessing to take another drummer if they still wanted to do the tour without me. I hope to come to Australia again someday perhaps by ship if need be. Unfortunately, there wasn't a boat that worked with the schedule this time around. Once again I'm sorry to all the fans."
In one of his first interviews after the plane crash, he told Us Weekly, "I hate planes. My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened ... Well, I'm just thankful to be alive! I'm just grateful to be here at all."
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In August 2021, Barker flew on a plane for the first time since the 2008 crash. In photographs obtained by TMZ, Barker was seen alongside girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian as they boarded Kylie Jenner's private jet to Cabo.
"It's a huge deal that Travis flew to Cabo," a source told People at the time. "The plane crash many years ago was extremely traumatising. He has needed a lot of help to get to this point."
"Kourtney has been very supportive," the insider added. "She never pushed for him to fly. They have managed to travel in the US without having to fly and Kourtney has been totally fine with it."
What condition does Travis Barker have?
Barker just can't catch a break. In 2018, he developed a staph infection and, as a result, now lives with ongoing nerve damage.
The musician got the infection following a serious car accident in July that year. Barker and his teenage son were travelling in an SUV in Calabasas, California, when they were reportedly struck by a school bus. Thankfully, no school children on the bus were hurt and neither was his son.
But Barker's health was impacted when during a routine check-up MRI technicians were unable to find a vein and stuck him at least 40 times in the arms with a dirty needle (Barker was to be sedated before the procedure). He claims this is what caused his severe nerve damage.
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The condition side-lined him from touring with Blink-182 that year and the band also had to postpone their Las Vegas residency.
Who is Travis Barker's ex-wife Shanna Moakler?
Barker was married to former beauty queen and Playboy model Shanna Moakler.
The pageant star placed first runner-up in Miss USA 1995. She ascended the title later that year when the reigning Miss USA, Chelsi Smith, won the Miss Universe crown.
Barker met Moakler in 2002, shortly after his divorce from first wife Melissa Kennedy, who he was married to for nine months.
In 2003, the new couple welcomed their first child together, son Landon, now 20. Barker would later propose to Moakler while on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland, before exchanging vows in a gothic ceremony at a Santa Barbara resort in 2004. The following year on Christmas Eve, they welcomed daughter Alabama, now 17.
Moakler also has a 24-year-old daughter, Atiana, from her previous relationship with boxer Oscar De La Hoya.
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Barker and Moakler split in 2006 after four years together. They attempted to reconcile after the drummer almost died in the plane crash but separated again and were officially divorced in 2008.
Their split was messy with Barker accusing his wife of cheating on him while he was recovering in hospital. Moakler, now 48, then accused him of cheating on her with Paris Hilton.
Despite their contentious divorce, the estranged couple continued to live together until 2012, saying it was better for their children.
When did Travis Barker start dating Kourtney Kardashian?
After weeks of speculation, Kourtney Kardashian, 44, confirmed her romance with the Blink-182 drummer on February 17 by sharing a sweet photo of them holding hands. Barker then reposted the image to his Instagram Stories.
The new couple had known each other for years and are neighbours in Calabasas, California.
Barker's kids have even been invited over for playdates with Kardashian's three children — Mason, 14, Penelope, 11, and Reign nine – and the family have also appeared on past episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
Days after their couple debut on Instagram, Barker's ex Shanna Moakler cheekily 'liked' a fan comment referencing her ex's new relationship.
"Shhhhiiiii that broad don't got nothin' on you. Travis downgraded big time," the user commented on a recent photo of Moakler.
What is Travis Barker's net worth?
Barker is doing alright for himself. A well-recognised drummer since the '90s, he has sold millions of albums worldwide, toured globally and owns a record label.
According to reports, Barker is worth an estimated US$50 million dollars (approx. $65 million).
If you or anyone you know is suffering, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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Title: What happened to Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and what is he doing now?
Sourced From: celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/travis-barker-what-happened-drummer-blink-182-what-is-he-doing-now-explainer/bef3b110-8c03-4071-82ee-a77076d6fff6
Published Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:07:00 GMT
