Growing up in Southern California in the early aughts, getting into blink-182 in your tweens was practically a rite of passage — right up there with catching your first wave or devouring your first drive-thru taco shop burrito. All three go hand in hand, and so was my fate.

Dude Ranch, Enema of the State, and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket were basically my entire middle school personality, just like the rest of the spikey-haired boys in my class. So when I heard Mark Hoppus of blink-182 and Dan Ozzi had a memoir coming out, Fahrenheit-182, I was already sold on reading it.

But just a few pages in, I realized something: I’d always thought Tom DeLonge was the real star of blink, assuming Hoppus didn’t contribute much beyond the bass lines and backup vocals. That assumption was not only wrong — it was embarrassingly uneducated. Hoppus was, and is, the backbone of blink-182.

This memoir does a great job of telling the full blink story while keeping the beloved dick jokes intact. Although it’s framed around Hoppus’s life, it quickly shifts into a blow-by-blow account of the band’s formation, tracing their wild ride from San Diego skate punks in 1992 to surprise Coachella headliners in 2023. Hoppus also digs into the origins of some of blink’s classic tracks, some of which were written in just one night, offering behind-the-scenes context for longtime fans.

One of the most compelling sections centers on the band’s side projects, especially Box Car Racer and +44. Back in the day, when blink fans – who were also into hardcore bands like Drive Like Jehu – heard that DeLonge was doing a Fugazi-inspired project, we were stoked. But hearing Hoppus’s side of the story, the whole thing sounds... pretty fucked up.

DeLonge had told Hoppus he was just messing around with acoustic stuff and planned to record with an old friend. In reality, it was a full-blown project with a full album and tour... without Hoppus. DeLonge beat around the bush and never really told Hoppus the full scope of the project. Even blink’s drummer, Travis Barker, was involved. To DeLonge’s credit, after Hoppus confronted him about it, he was included on the song “Elevator”. Still, this moment feels like a major turning point for the band.

Eventually, DeLonge left blink, with very little explanation. Maybe it’s not Hoppus’s story to tell, or maybe DeLonge’s involvement with government alien research at the time made things too murky to fully explain. Oddly enough, UFOs are barely mentioned in Fahrenheit-182, even though they were a big part of why DeLonge left the band in the first place. But much like aliens, DeLonge’s motives loom mysteriously over blink’s history as a whole.

Despite the tension between Hoppus and DeLonge, the book is a fun read that stays true to Hoppus’s voice and wit. He also narrates the audiobook, so if you want the full Mark experience, that’s the way to go. Some of the crazier moments, already picked apart by the media, are still worth reading firsthand: Robert Smith from The Cure trying to kiss Hoppus at a party; Hoppus claiming he helped the U.S. government capture Saddam Hussein. Also you'll learn first hand why you don't fuck with the band Pennywise — I'll leave it at that.

And of course, it wouldn’t be blink without some cringe humor. One memorable moment: Hoppus introducing his mom on MTV’s TRL by saying, “That’s my mom – she gives great blowjobs.” Classic.

The book also covers the band’s hiatuses, the Skiba years, and Hoppus’s battle with cancer — which is probably the darkest, most emotional section. He goes into detail about chemotherapy and the resulting depression. It’s heavy, honest, and really shows what he’s been through.

Notably absent, though, are the kinds of drug-and-alcohol-fueled stories you’d expect from a rock memoir. There’s one mention of pills and a note about original drummer Scott Raynor struggling with alcohol, but that’s about it. No epic binges or rockstar meltdowns. No sex, drugs, and pop-punk. It’s almost hard to believe — but maybe blink really was the cleaner-cut band in the scene.

After reading Fahrenheit-182, I’ve gained a deeper respect for Hoppus. He’s the reason blink is still around. He started the band with Tom, brought Barker into the fold, kept things going with Matt Skiba after DeLonge bailed, and welcomed Tom back when the time was right. He’s been the consistent thread through 33 years of chaos, change, and pop-punk history.

This book isn’t just for blink fans — it’s a solid read for anyone, as evidenced by its being a NYT Best Seller. Hoppus and co-writer Ozzi keep it funny, fast-paced, and full of charming side stories. As for the title? Fahrenheit-182 doesn’t really mirror Fahrenheit 451 (the dystopian novel) in any way, so maybe it’s just another blink-style joke that flies over our heads.

Fahrenheit-182 is out now. Pick up a copy here