In a heartwarming testament to the power of family and shared passion, Blink-182’s iconic drummer, Travis Barker, recently shared his excitement about collaborating with his son, Landon Barker, on new music. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the 47-year-old rockstar opened up about this unique father-son partnership and their mutual love for music.
“It was so amazing getting to work with Landon,” Travis expressed, reflecting on their collaboration. “To watch him grow up playing music and writing music since he was a kid has been a dream come true.”
Landon, at the age of 20, has been heavily influenced by his famous father and mentor, who ignited his love for music by taking him on some of the biggest tours as a young boy. This unwavering support paved the way for Landon’s burgeoning pop-punk music career.
In a recent musical endeavor, Landon’s single, “Friends with Your Ex,” was released under his father’s label, DTA Records, and showcased Travis’s involvement in production and drumming. The music video for the song even featured Landon’s girlfriend, Charli D’Amelio.
“He asked me to come in and help him with his song ‘Friends with Your Ex,'” Travis explained. “It was an honor to produce it and play drums on it.”
Landon’s musical journey began in 2011 when he made his stage debut, joining The Transplants during a raucous set at the annual Musink festival. In 2020, he lent his voice to a cover of the Misfits classic “Skulls,” at his father’s request.
This summer, Landon achieved a milestone by opening for Blink-182’s sold-out show in Los Angeles, a momentous occasion in his growing career.
Landon expressed his dedication to creating music that genuinely resonates with his father, stating, “I want the song to inspire him and I want the song to be appealing to him, and not just do it because I’m his son.”
Signing with his father’s Elektra Imprint DTA Records was a dream come true for Landon, but he knew he had to earn it. “My dad would be like, ‘Show me that you want to sign,'” Landon recalls. “I had to prove myself to get the opportunity to sign with them.”
Landon’s commitment to his work became evident when he co-wrote lyrics for Machine Gun Kelly’s “Die in California,” which was produced and co-written by Travis and featured on MGK’s No. 1 album “Mainstream Sellout.”
As he embarks on his musical journey, Landon finds inspiration in his father’s relentless work ethic. “He wakes up early and still goes to the studio even after all his success,” Landon says. “So I’ve taken that with me. No matter what I do, never settle and never stop doing what I love because that’s how you become great.”
As Landon celebrated his 20th birthday earlier this month with a performance at the El Rey in Los Angeles, he shared his excitement about releasing more music in collaboration with his father. “We have a bunch of songs that we’ve written together,” Landon said, adding that he’s “100 percent ready” to share their creations with the world.
When asked about the best advice he received from his father regarding the music industry, Landon emphasized the importance of enjoying the journey: “Have fun. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Be kind to people, share your life and experiences that can help people. Everything is a lesson. Make art, live life, grow, and write songs about it.”
In following his father’s footsteps, Landon Barker is doing precisely that, creating music that resonates with his experiences and his passion for the art.
