Tom DeLonge has made light of a harsh review of Blink-182’s recent show at Lollapalooza, which called the band “cringe-worthy”.
The review of the set from over the weekend was shared by local outlet The Daily Illini, which shared a pretty negative take on their headline slot at the Chicago music festival.
In the piece, the journalist began by calling the set “cringe-worthy and repulsive”, as well as “unworthy” of wrapping up the festival. They also took issue with the crude sense of humour the musicians integrate into their performances.
“Why are two older men, aged 52 and 48, respectively, who have wives and children, making jokes about sleeping with the other’s mother?” a section read. “The crude humour may have landed with some, but to continue throughout the hour-and-fifteen-minute long set was a bit much.”
They also made note of how the band’s Mark Hoppus at one point delivered a smutty innuendo when discussing Chicago’s infamous Bean landmark, and added: “Unfortunately, their songs, lyrics and stage presence were not enough to make up for their excessively crude commentary”.
Now, frontman and guitarist Tom DeLonge has taken the comments in his stride, and shared a snippet of the review online to make light of the criticism.
Sharing a screenshot of the title, which read: “Blink-182’s performance distastefully closes Lollapalooza”, he quoted another snippet of the review in his caption, before adding his own take.
“Why are two men who have wives and kids making jokes about sleeping with each other’s mothers?… oh my god, I’m dying hahaha fuck, I love this band.”
Fans were quick to side with the musician too, with many calling out the reviewer for not having a sense of humour when it comes to the members’ whole schtick as a band.
“Tell you’ve never listened to blink without telling me you’ve never listened to blink,” one wrote, while Hoppus’ wife Skye Hoppus commented: “Dying. Love This so much.”
Sam Carter – frontman of Architects – replied with a string of laughing emojis, while filmmaker and photographer Rory Kramer wrote, “It wouldn’t be a blink show without some ‘crude humour’”.
Elsewhere during the Lolla set, Blink turned heads when they unexpectedly broke out a cover of Chappell Roan‘s ‘Pink Pony Club’.
Vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus interpolated ‘Pink Pony Club’ into their performance of ‘Dammit’, singing the chorus before smoothly swinging back into their own song on the line “Well I guess that’s growing up”.
Roan herself had performed earlier on at the festival, drawing a massive crowd for her set. She came out dressed in lucha libre attire – a popular form of wrestling originating in Mexico, which sees its wrestlers wearing masks to conceal their real-life identities.
Blink-182 will headline Reading & Leeds festival later this month, alongside Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey, Fred Again.., Gerry Cinnamon and Catfish & The Bottlemen. Visit here for remaining tickets.