Blink-182 reunion rumor causes premature exhilaration

Pop-punk group's various side projects, however, are progressing.

A quick note to Blink-182 fans out there: Don't hold your breath for a reunion anytime soon.

Last week, fan sites were abuzz with rumors that Blink — who went on "indefinite hiatus" in February— were reuniting to play Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM's Inland Invasion concert on September 17, a move that probably would've shattered the record for shortest indefinite hiatus ever.

But according to Blink's label and management team, there is no truth to those rumors, and Blink-182 will not be performing. Even KROQ seemed to have no idea where the rumor came from.

"Um, no, I haven't heard about it. But it would be great," Gene Sandbloom, KROQ's operations manager, laughed. "We were actually joking about it earlier. It was one of the ideas that had come up in the room when we started talking about Inland, because we always try to make it a mix of old and new bands. But we never made a call to Blink's management, because we decided it was too soon after they had announced their split. It wouldn't have made sense."

So if you've already booked flights to L.A. in September, perhaps now would be a good time to cancel. Unless you wanted to check out the Alfalfa Festival being held at the nearby Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (it's pretty awesome). There's also the outside chance that you can cruise on over to drummer Travis Barker's house, where he and fellow Blink alumnus Mark Hoppus will be no doubt working on their side project, Plus-44, which Barker is recording in his basement.

The band's Web site, PlusFortyFour.com, recently went live, bearing the optimistic message: "Musical masterpiece in progress. Please be patient." While not a note of Plus-44's music has been heard, they're making strides on their debut album, which they hope to have a majority of written before Barker departs on this summer's Warped Tour with another side project, the Transplants.

Of all the former Blink members, Barker is easily the most active. When he's not starring in his own reality-TV show, managing his clothing line or recording material with Plus-44, then he's getting ready for a round of promo to support the Transplants' upcoming Haunted Cities, due June 21. The band recently relaunched its Web site, TheTransplants.com, in anticipation of the release, where fans can view in-the-studio videos, stream the single "Gangsters & Thugs," or buy a ring-tone version of the tune.

Barker also recently revealed plans to collaborate with Nicole Richie's fiance, DJ AM (not his real name), for a jammy "DJ versus drummer" act.

— James Montgomery