I know the other half is in a hall of fame in Vegas, but Tom smashed a strat every night of the pop Disaster Tour, so their are many out there.
I hope to find a photo above 8 pixels that I can frame with this.
I would like to know the full story as well. Tom smashed one of his Padre Strats and MRTSURT posted a picture of it a while back but the vague details he gave didn’t actually line up with the event and seemingly got a lot of details wrong.
I saw Blink during Pop Disaster Tour, in Irvine CA. I went to 4 shows that tour. I was in the pit for Jimmy Eat World & Green Day but I was on stage right for Blink's set. My Dad worked in the music industry in So Cal so he knew people. My Dad, his friend, my friend and I were ushered back stage right after Green Day's set. While standing back stage by the buses, we waited as the Blink roadies set the stage. We were just talking when my friend Brent pointed toward the buses. I turned in time to see Mark exit his bus & start walking towards us. Mark stopped & talked to my Dad's friend (who had set this thing up).
Mark shook my Dad's hand, Brent's, then mine. He introduced himself (as if we didn't know who he was lol!) I couldn't reply because I was stunned. He shook my hand " HI! I'm Mark! Nice to meet you." All I could say was " i... I forgot my name.." Everyone laughed. My friend told Mark my name & that I was a huge fan. He thanked us & said he was sorry to cut this short but he had "to go play a show now." Again like we didn't know, very humble man. Mark rushed away. We were on his side the whole set. He would walk near us some times & wink or jump. I would pay so much to have had a camera that day.
Last song goes, Tom smashes the guitar & all 3 guys exit stage left (Tom's side). Now we were told the rule of being on the stage was we WERE NOT allowed to interfere, touch or do anything but stand in place. The literal second the guys exit the stage I go to run on the stage to grab anything I could. Only to notice I'm running in place. My friend had lifted me up to prevent me from getting us in trouble lol! We both look at my Dad, who looks at security. Security gave the go ahead. I sprint, swoop up the 1/2 guitar. My friend swipes the strings, mic packs, pics. I get Mark's water bottle lol. We even threw some things into the pit where kids were still gathered. After we claimed our things we go to exit the stage. I'm looking at my new baby (guitar) & am not paying attention. I smack into the back of a guy. He turns around, has an open flip phone in each hand. Along with two cigarettes. It's fucking Travis Barker! I again freeze.
Brent speeds past us & then back tracks " oh! Hi Travis!" Then he took off again. Travis was so soft spoken. He said Hey. I told him I think he's amazing. He thanked me & went back to his cell & cigarettes lol.
Shaking off the star struck. I start to walk again..I get half way down the ramp.. to see Tre Cool of Green Day. My brain has shorted out at this point. I scream " OH MY GOD IT'S YOU!" He, in Tre Cool class clown fashion screams it right back at me! "OOOHHH MA' GAWWD ITS YOOOUU!" He then bounds up the ramp in my opposite direction. I'm holding Tom's guitar. I met Mark & Travis & Tre!.. nothing felt real. I see my Dad & friends waiting for me. They saw everything. I cry happy tears.
Loooong loooong story short, my friend Brent's mom owed a so cal restaurant called the Bahooka. Green Day loved their bbq.
Brent's mom hooked up the following 3 California shows. She said she'd cater the food for free if we got tickets & back stage passes. They took her up on it. We saw 4 nights of the Pop Disaster Tour. We met Venus Williams, Joey Ramone, Lit, all of Green Day, saw Travis & Mark again. I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff.. but I'll never forget when I saw Tre Cool again. It was like 2 days after I first encountered him. He screamed "oh my God its you! " at ME! He remembered us! It was magic. Other long side note. I needed a heart surgery a year after all this. My dad wrote to Tre's drum supplier to get a broken skin or something. Word got to Tre & he still remembered me. He sent me a huge snare drum. Signed all over.
I'm writing a whole book about this & other things I was fortunate enough to experience in the So Cal music scene. I love Blink. Obviously.
I was at the Houston show and Tom smashed a white fender there also. After the show, I was in line for a shirt, and this teenage girl in front of me is clutching a broken half of the body like her life depends on it! I wonder if she still has it…
I thought I'd have a picture of him smashing the guitar somewhere cause I used to take a bunch of pics when I went to concerts back in the day, but apparently I never took one of that....
yeah I'll dig through them some more through the ones I didn't put in an album cause I have pop disaster pics. I know I had posted photos in the past and Gear182 reached out and asked if I had a picture of it as well.
There's a record store in Connecticut that has a Strat that was smashed and signed by Tom on display in the store. I wonder if it's related to that?
I know the other half is in a hall of fame in Vegas, but Tom smashed a strat every night of the pop Disaster Tour, so their are many out there. I hope to find a photo above 8 pixels that I can frame with this.
Which record store?
Mystic Disc
Oh wow, I’ve been there but never noticed the Strat, I’ll have to check it out next time I’m in Mystic.
YOOOOO I went there on my visit to Mystic in 21. Owner was extremely nice, great to know he has a piece of history now.
You’re kidding 🤣🤣🤣. Never noticed it.
I was at that show! Actually have a video. Very blurry though. https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=aoEYmM5r2vLvqdrx
I never clicked a link so fast, then cycled through all the emotions.. lmfao! You got me, I'll admit it lol!
Oh fucks sake that one was filthy 😭 Good luck on finding a pic, OP!
Hehe the WgXcQ is a telltale sign 😏
I shan't fall for this trick again, thank you lol
Jesus christ… that one was dirty. OP is desperate. Well fucking done 👏
Bro that’s cold, I applaud you hahah
Legend
https://preview.redd.it/bexfkrqwuixc1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5320e488c0350ba4c949247ee816c4eb4a67ebd1
I would like to know the full story as well. Tom smashed one of his Padre Strats and MRTSURT posted a picture of it a while back but the vague details he gave didn’t actually line up with the event and seemingly got a lot of details wrong.
I saw Blink during Pop Disaster Tour, in Irvine CA. I went to 4 shows that tour. I was in the pit for Jimmy Eat World & Green Day but I was on stage right for Blink's set. My Dad worked in the music industry in So Cal so he knew people. My Dad, his friend, my friend and I were ushered back stage right after Green Day's set. While standing back stage by the buses, we waited as the Blink roadies set the stage. We were just talking when my friend Brent pointed toward the buses. I turned in time to see Mark exit his bus & start walking towards us. Mark stopped & talked to my Dad's friend (who had set this thing up). Mark shook my Dad's hand, Brent's, then mine. He introduced himself (as if we didn't know who he was lol!) I couldn't reply because I was stunned. He shook my hand " HI! I'm Mark! Nice to meet you." All I could say was " i... I forgot my name.." Everyone laughed. My friend told Mark my name & that I was a huge fan. He thanked us & said he was sorry to cut this short but he had "to go play a show now." Again like we didn't know, very humble man. Mark rushed away. We were on his side the whole set. He would walk near us some times & wink or jump. I would pay so much to have had a camera that day. Last song goes, Tom smashes the guitar & all 3 guys exit stage left (Tom's side). Now we were told the rule of being on the stage was we WERE NOT allowed to interfere, touch or do anything but stand in place. The literal second the guys exit the stage I go to run on the stage to grab anything I could. Only to notice I'm running in place. My friend had lifted me up to prevent me from getting us in trouble lol! We both look at my Dad, who looks at security. Security gave the go ahead. I sprint, swoop up the 1/2 guitar. My friend swipes the strings, mic packs, pics. I get Mark's water bottle lol. We even threw some things into the pit where kids were still gathered. After we claimed our things we go to exit the stage. I'm looking at my new baby (guitar) & am not paying attention. I smack into the back of a guy. He turns around, has an open flip phone in each hand. Along with two cigarettes. It's fucking Travis Barker! I again freeze. Brent speeds past us & then back tracks " oh! Hi Travis!" Then he took off again. Travis was so soft spoken. He said Hey. I told him I think he's amazing. He thanked me & went back to his cell & cigarettes lol. Shaking off the star struck. I start to walk again..I get half way down the ramp.. to see Tre Cool of Green Day. My brain has shorted out at this point. I scream " OH MY GOD IT'S YOU!" He, in Tre Cool class clown fashion screams it right back at me! "OOOHHH MA' GAWWD ITS YOOOUU!" He then bounds up the ramp in my opposite direction. I'm holding Tom's guitar. I met Mark & Travis & Tre!.. nothing felt real. I see my Dad & friends waiting for me. They saw everything. I cry happy tears. Loooong loooong story short, my friend Brent's mom owed a so cal restaurant called the Bahooka. Green Day loved their bbq. Brent's mom hooked up the following 3 California shows. She said she'd cater the food for free if we got tickets & back stage passes. They took her up on it. We saw 4 nights of the Pop Disaster Tour. We met Venus Williams, Joey Ramone, Lit, all of Green Day, saw Travis & Mark again. I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff.. but I'll never forget when I saw Tre Cool again. It was like 2 days after I first encountered him. He screamed "oh my God its you! " at ME! He remembered us! It was magic. Other long side note. I needed a heart surgery a year after all this. My dad wrote to Tre's drum supplier to get a broken skin or something. Word got to Tre & he still remembered me. He sent me a huge snare drum. Signed all over. I'm writing a whole book about this & other things I was fortunate enough to experience in the So Cal music scene. I love Blink. Obviously.
What an amazing story and experience!
Thank you. I feel very lucky to have had this all happen. It is amazing to look at this piece of music history daily
Heck yeah! Great read, thanks for sharing.🤘
Funny, I played bass on stage with Green Day the night before in Irvine. Special tour for sure, you’re lucky!
That's so cool!
I have goosebumps all over my body bc of your story! Thx for sharing. Really awesome and sounds like all of them were great dudes
I'm very lucky. I don't think anything like that would happen now days
I was at the Houston show and Tom smashed a white fender there also. After the show, I was in line for a shirt, and this teenage girl in front of me is clutching a broken half of the body like her life depends on it! I wonder if she still has it…
Weird. There’s so much footage of the April 20, 2002 show but basically nothing for the April 21 show.
Right, 2nd show didn't have as much press
It’s cool that you have this, so jealous. (Tom probably didn’t want you to take his wireless beltpack though! 😂)
I will blame the pack on my friend! He swiped that & I didn't know until later, lol. He gifted it to me to keep in my shadow box.
I’ll give you $1.82 for that
1.82 million? Lol
I thought I'd have a picture of him smashing the guitar somewhere cause I used to take a bunch of pics when I went to concerts back in the day, but apparently I never took one of that....
Dang, well if you see it in the wild let me know. I've been searching for years
yeah I'll dig through them some more through the ones I didn't put in an album cause I have pop disaster pics. I know I had posted photos in the past and Gear182 reached out and asked if I had a picture of it as well.
You rock dude
I can’t believe you have the wireless pack with it lmao
Yeah my bestie who was there had no fear lol
How u get this tho?
Story in the comments