Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone - Tom DeLonge "The Adventure"

Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone, an AT&T Original Series features acclaimed Blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves guitarist and singer-songwriter Tom DeLonge. In this clip Tom the "life-changing moment" of writing the Angels & Airwaves transformative hit "The Adventure".
Catch the exclusive documentary in its entirety premiering August 19th at 8pm et/pt exclusively on Audience Music (Directv ch.239 and U-Verse ch.1114)
To see more clips and past episodes visit www.ernierball.com/thepursuitoftone
Tom DeLonge plays Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom guitar strings.

[@quartzmoon]

The Adventure changed my life, completely. I was in such a bad place and it really saved me.

[@twite2691]

i know how it feels, music is really helpful in such moments...

[@jefferyk5203]

Hey fam, can we get an update?? How’s life been????!

[@quartzmoon]

@@jefferyk5203 I've had depression for about twenty years, but it's not like it was back in the day when AVA formed. It's much more manageable nowadays. Very kind of you to ask. I hope you're doing okay in these strange times. Take care, fam.

[@BrutishManboy]

It’s been helping me with my divorce

[@pens6564]

my too bro! same words!

[@busteddon]

"There is no great genius without some touch of madness."

[@aspirintax1840]

Lol at inferring Tom is a musical genius.

[@MoooseBlood]

+Aspirintax ; how is he not?

[@aspirintax1840]

+Marco Resendez He simply is not. Matthew Bellamy, John Mayer, or Omar Rodriguez Lopez are musical geniuses. Their compositions are that of brilliance. Utterly shocking in their technical mastery, and musical intuition. Tom Delongue does not even excel at anything musically, let alone show even the slightest bit of genius. He has basic skills at best in all respects. Unless you are a student of music, I can understand how you might not understand my points. This isn't a matter of taste, either. I like Blink-182. I just can't stand by when people accredit such floundering art such as anything Blink-182 has released, or anything AVA has released, as "genius".

[@MoooseBlood]

+Aspirintax ; John Mayer and those other artists use a simple formula for their music. Perhaps technique maybe sharper in follow through but Tom does what he does with what he has. Art cannot be measured by technique. He is a master at his craft of songwriting and his decades of success attest to that.

[@aspirintax1840]

+Marco Resendez art definitely can be measured by technique. The simpler the technique, the lesser the art. I'd agree that Tom does the best he can, and I'd agree that all the Musician's I listed use a formula. Music is a mathematical formula, however. Tom is a master of high school algebra, at best given the metaphor.

[@VARIALskating]

1:14 is where I get the chills up and down my arms

[@2010LilWeezy]

Yes! Me too. I love this track. Still a fave of mine to this day.

[@pens6564]

I will die without never understand why The Adventure was not more hyped and mainstream! For me this is the best music of all times!

[@rockeroski]

The Adventure It's so beautiful and inspiring. It was my favorite song for many years, until I fell in love with another song from Angels and Airwaves, "Heaven".

[@TheSkatereel]

haha, i love "heaven" as well.

[@km17ten81]

👍🎤🎸

[@skynet_marauder1102]

Both arguably their best work, especially heaven (not discrediting the love album)

[@ejoshcoron]

Oh wow, yes Heaven is a contender

[@M8WhoSk8s]

Just hearing him play the opening riff for the adventure gives me chills

[@tastybaconsensation]

damn seeing his old signature strat in the background gives me some hope

[@fastestgunoftheast683]

The 👽 got him. I still love him. I saw Blink last night in Greenville. Matt Skibba is amazing

[@francoaranda6499]

@@fastestgunoftheast683 I finally found someone who loves Tom delonge and Matt skiba, Holy shit

[@hanbanan4]

And to this day I consider this one of the greatest songs of all time. Tom is and will always be a musical genius.

[@claymallory7502]

Fax

[@michaelpalmer5351]

Argh this is absolutely great. Thank God that Tom is still self-aware and humble about the things he's saying, rather than giving additional fuel to the fire of the "he's crazy and he's heading for a mental breakdown" argument - which I really don't want to see happen. We love ya, pal.

[@nonyobussiness3440]

I can't wait for the documentary. I hope its a long one

[@dylanweltz]

+non yobussiness it's a DeLONGe one

[@censoreverything8072]

The Adventure brought me to my soulmate and let us see each other in the moment we needed to. We worked in the same store and a preview was playing on a TV. We were both drawn to it like moths to a flame. We had already been secretly feeling for each other from a distance, but The Adventure somehow became our signal that we were about to start our own. It’s the kind of thing that really makes you believe in fate. I feel so lucky to have found love like that, no matter how much its loss hurt. RIP Adam.

[@flone2122]

frickapoop

[@ashberesford9773]

Song will be played at my funerals. Gives me feelings that I've never ever felt

[@ZWortek]

Not that I don't love all the different stages of Tom Delonge, but long hair, 2006 Tom Delonge is my absolute favorite. I remember listening to We Don't Need To Whisper everyday, several times for a year or so. I felt chills on just about every song on that record. Seafoam green and alpine white strat signature in the background is a rare and majestic sight. What if Tom went on stage with the old Fender and played a show with blink when he's finished finding aliens? That would be incredible...

[@pawcio247]

I love the way he smiles after he says: "Well, fuck then!". This guy is an example of living legend. The way he speaks about his songs is so emotional. Absolutely love the guy. Shame that I won't be able to watch this documentary on it's premiere day.

[@fanana_bishh]

It's so nice to see him doing what I personally think he does best. I'm in no way going to disparage what Tom DeLonge wants to accomplish. There's just something very inspiring about seeing him in touch with what he fell in love with first. What the world got to know him through; his musical work.

[@dylankennedy6389]

I completely relate with Tom for this song, it was the first AVA song I learned to play and sing on guitar, I sat for hours messing around to find the closest tone effects on my guitar rocked it through and felt myself choking up whilst singing it. Thought I was lame at the time but after watching this I see now that I experienced emotion very similar or the same as Tom felt writing this song. It's incredible how that can even happen from the other side of the planet through a song.

[@DeltaXY]

Tom is a big child having kept his dreamer side and wishing to share the best of himself. Great artist❤ Congratulations!👏

[@DarrenMalone253]

still his best song, started a 7yr relationship with this tune and took her to Vegas to see them live :)

[@canjay4033]

I felt exactly the way Tom described he had intended the song to make people feel when I heard it first.

[@BrandonSchulze]

I love Tom. Musical Magician

[@1967lathrop]

Funny now in 2020 Tom DeLonge is still not crazy but a unique genuine and brilliant mind. He will be a legend for those of us who are lucky enough to appreciate his work.

[@raygunromance772]

Great song from a band that has yet to get the respect and credit they absolutely deserve. AVA fan for life.

[@EvanMelen]

It cracks me up to see anyone under the age of 23 (

[@eddyb2302]

evan melendrez i wouldnt really say that. i kinda think i jumped on the bandwagon, but then i dont because my dad listened to them since he was in college and so ive been listening to them since ive been born (im 15 years old) and just now im figuring out about all the meanings and it is really impacting me knowing that this is what ive been listening to my entire life

[@nicholasgeorghiou616]

evan melendrez perfectly said.

[@Gaenico]

+Evan Melendrez I totally agree, Hoppus is great, but he has never matured compared to Tom or Travis.

[@user-vc5rp7nf8f]

yeah i agree. i think it was just creative differences that drove them apart

[@akatsukijonny]

I forever love neighborhoods because that’s how I exactly feel too and so many can’t appreciate that and it’s truly an amazingly album and shows their growth as musicians and time apart merged into one again

[@andrewbattle7384]

"give you the chills up and down" Well Tom Dealings, it still gives me chills to this day and will forever do so!

[@Tidauhimovic]

this guy can tell a story of a pen falling from a table and it still would make me cry

[@dylanthomsen9771]

I watch this whenever I'm feeling shitty, makes my day everytime. Tom needs to make more music like this, I liked everything up to Chasing Shadows but there hasn't been anything quite like this song ever since.

[@oscarchavez7712]

This guy is incredibly talented. His music is truly powerful and takes you to a universe full of blissful galaxies. it changes my perspective of life and how amazing it can be despite all those dark times. Everytime I listen to his songs, I feel like i can do anything.♡ No other artists makes me feel the way tom does, it's like his voice touches your soul and gives it life and a bit of magic.

[@user-vc5rp7nf8f]

Knowing the story behind The Adventure makes you appreciate it even more

[@JabunAudio]

Beautiful! That feeling when you stumble upon something musically within yourself which feels so much bigger than you. Simple awe inspiring

[@95VictimMark]

He's so inspiring, I love his passion when he talks about music.

[@92Nick182]

Angels And Airwaves will forever be my favorite band. We Don't Need To Whisper will forever be my favorite album. And The Adventure will forever be my favorite song by any artist or musician. Means a lot to me. I remember the very first time I heard The Adventure and it felt like I heard it before or it meant something to me. Thanks Tom.

[@chaseallsup10]

toms song writing ability is a gift. I know very few people that can do what he can do.

[@GoMArkkrAM]

Hey Tom, I just let ya know even after 10 years that riff still causes me chills every time I hear this tune, it was remarkable in such a good way in my life, thanks to bring us good n meaningful songs across those years, ya are a legend man!

[@TheliteralJ]

The adventure to me means... a safe place where I can be myself and accept who I really am... no matter who says so otherwise. Thank you so much tom and ernieball 🖤🖤🖤

[@cassiecadz6798]

He's one of the greatest period.

[@Richlucch]

Tom writes the best/nicest sounding riffs pop punk and currently

[@jimgrammar7499]

Tom's the man.

[@grosebud4554]

6th grade. Still remember watching this on MTV and VH1

[@okwhocares]

He seems like he pulled his shit together I'm proud of the guy

[@Bennykaay]

can't wait to see the full one!! tom is the reason I fell in love with blink182 & poppunk in general about ten years ago and since then I've always wanted to be a musician!

[@TheRoarWithin]

Best song ever.

[@mattscarpace2424]

Tom Delonge=Mad Hatter...#rock(s)

[@ChrisThornleygainz]

powerful

[@SilentMutinyDundee]

If this was truly magical and gave you chills, get AVA's next album to sound like it!! This song literally changed my life

[@danbrown141]

God I love Tom

[@gordieparenteau6555]

I've always thought of "The Adventure" is Tom's answer to U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name". The two songs are virtually mirror images of each other.

[@henryraditya7631]

Masterpiece

[@iempire100]

AVA = magic Incredible song writer. FTW Tom.

[@thekrakets328]

El mejor! 👊👊🔥🔥❤

[@TheHappyCoder]

How come this guitar solo sounds much much better than in the actual production version of the song? I would buy 2h long solo!!!

[@jlav9594]

It's like Tom is the one who grew up. The one who learned the meaning of life... If only Mark would have walked alongside him...

[@tristangruener9571]

interesting perspective... I always looked at the situation as wondering why Tom chose not to grow with blink, and instead went off on his own. But it makes a lot of sense... he was clearly going through an awakening of his own. I guess we'll never know if mark wanted to change with him... but if you listen to how much things changed from TOYPAJ to self-titled, it makes me feel like it could have worked out if Tom didn't go off on his own. Tom kinda took on this larger than life sort of vibe at that time I remember. Saying things how AVA was going to change the world, stuff like that

[@jlav9594]

+Tristan Gruener Yeah, he did get a little out there but I think its because he wanted his music to be more than music. Hence the whole "art project" ideology. Personally Neighborhoods and Self Titled are my favorite albums by them but Neighborhoods always hurts to listen to because they are already so disconnected from each other and it doesn't feel as genuine. Anything by AVA feels REAL while the new California album feels like a over produced and fake pop album.

[@whitebaer3034]

He was out of his mind on painkillers when AVA was starting as well which was part of the reason why he was talking about it being world changing and stuff

[@jlav9594]

+Whitebaer yeah, the music was stunning but not life changing. I feel like he has really come back down. I wish they could just work that shit out among the three of them.

[@chrissbenitez]

Best AVA song ever

[@ph8818]

Heavenly music

[@jonsaunders2179]

A good human

Awesome

[@adamartcollier]

Can't wait.

[@AndrewSFrech]

The guy holding the compact camera at 3:25, oh how times have changed

[@flightofapaullo72]

Still a favorite man!

[@ArthurTaytSohn]

Tom is a genius.

[@annavillarreal1515]

Fukin love that song!

[@calmartins4231]

Tom talks like he came up with something revolutionary: Delay. Pink Floyd, U2, Coldplay and many others have 964369 riffs like this one. Tom is the reason I started playing guitar in 2000. To be honest, he hasn't produced anything important in 10 or 15 years. Blink is doing better then ever. Hope the search for UFO's goes on and on...

[@RobyHaw]

he's not talking about the effects but the overall feel of the song he created, "made u feel like u can conquer the world"..damn right :)

[@calmartins4231]

+Shoko Hirano I understand and respect that, I just hope he sticks to this stuff rather than holding Blink back, like he did for 10 years...

[@calmartins4231]

+Shoko Hirano you're missing the point here. A band is supposed to be touring and recording together, and not exchanging emails with riff ideas. Tom has made very clear that he wanted to pursuit other projects and did not want to be on the road/studio with Blink. That's ok! Let Tom do his comic book/alien thing, while Blink makes music.

[@blitzzace]

+Cal Martins yea..while blink makes music. lazy, thoughtless, generic "summer hits" like he and Tom used to hate being pressured to write, like Rock Show and First Date. Blink's entire new album is nothing but those. continuing for the sake of good music is one thing. continuing for the sake of continuing is selfish and has no substance. blink is dead, they should just let it be dead. instead, they're keeping this feeble corpse alive on life support and it's sad and embarrassing. no Tom = no blink. their songwriting sucks without him.

[@codcraftshalo]

He may not be able to sing anymore but goddamn he can play the guitar

[@RSgaming1337]

he sings better now than he used to, he sounded better than ever in the new Angels & Airwaves EP "of nightmares"

[@codcraftshalo]

+Chris Halpin that is true, I really loved that EP, hopefully they might make a album soon, loved to hear another one.

[@archangel76106]

+codcraftshalo dream walker?

[@aspirintax1840]

He isn't even very good at guitar.

[@patthefall]

Legend

[@hendrabudipermana6854]

awesome...

[@nathanhollow0]

Thank you for making this.

[@Sebastian85]

"Life´s waiting to begin"

[@robbiecurtin8508]

This is great

[@FernandoTorres-gx4hk]

this is so amazing

[@justinschw]

keep it coming!!!

[@grantprice4456]

Tom delonge is an artist in its truest form. The other dudes just want that money.

[@FOX11GUY]

wish it was all him on this doc.

[@Juaan1211]

its not?

[@JustBlinkMe1]

It is all him isn't it?

[@calleucano]

it is

[@whytezebra2312]

This guy inspired my music on my page.

[@robblack7582]

with all these instruments you can do what you want

[@Tekniq182]

I am pretty sure the lead guitar part from "The Adventure" was taken from "Guest List" by Screeching Weasel

[@monkeyboi282]

💯

[@fajriderians2138]

great

[@davepeace8560]

Tom DeLonge es el mesías de los chavorrucos

[@rv7569]

will you upload the full version after its aired??? i don't have audience music on my local cable company n don't no anyone w direct tv please i can't fuckin miss this!!!!

[@Abdulmelodies]

wow

[@mellofan2012]

Ghosts on the dance floor and the adventure sound exactly the same to me

[@SKATER720PRO567]

The way of how he talks reminds me of Rodney Mullen

[@patrickconners]

Southern California talk

[@SKATER720PRO567]

Wait but Rodney's from Florida

[@hermanpesina6328]

It took me almost the entire video before I realized that's tom. He looks like thst guy from falloutboy in this video

[@matthewgd3]

the adventure is amazing. sucks that after i-empire they kinda went downhill

[@kMn010]

Love Pt 1/2 is great, and Dream Walker is their best album.

[@adambarnard5561]

Check out Dream Walker and Chasing Shadows.

[@ph8818]

nothing can touch iEmpire I agree on that part, but I believe they just changed their sound

[@liamking719]

The Love albums are incredible tho

[@nightwing1823]

matthewgd3 i love wdntw and iempire but love and the dream walker are my favs

[@stevehamin1618]

It's so captivating how Tom is believing that he is doing something ingenious...)

[@markmirabella4066]

look up Guest List by Screeching Weasel.

[@IAmNeomic]

The thing is, almost every riff or melody you can come up with has been done before, and artists are ALWAYS gonna pull inspiration from things they like or think sound good. Tom grew up listening to punk, so even when he's creating something out of "thin air", it will always be rooted in the music he enjoys, the melodies he thinks sound good. I know you didn't say it, but there are a lot of people who accuse Tom of "stealing" the riff without understanding how creativity works, especially in music. Every song will always sound like something else.

[@WriteOnTheMoneyProd]

Where is the link to the doc with that B&W footy?

[@pb12661]

cool...I've got U verse..definitely check it out.

[@Killenmachine05]

How I wrote my very own U2 song by tom delonge

[@Nwhhhhh]

Heh heh heh.

[@kcave23]

My thoughts exactly

[@illuminatiCorgi]

Tom: "Buy my new album now, and half of that money WILL go to The Edge."

[@skyneyenhuis7001]

what we are seeing here is punk going full circle. The Edge basically copied Andy Summer's tone and style while adding his own touches. the Police were a british punk/reggae band from england. this is them sending waves, and then waves being sent back. What a wonderful time to be alive

[@igotabsyouprobablydont6085]

+Sky Neyenhuis I think this sounded more like the cure than u2

[@bobbydrex5268]

if anyone can link me to that gorgeous beauty in behind him thats blue and orange i will forever be in your debt

[@JustBlinkMe1]

I'm pretty sure it's the same guitar as he's holding. He likes to spray paint his guitars, the same with the white acoustic behind him, he sprayed that too.

[@samcooke343]

They're all customs.

[@bobbydrex5268]

yeah i knew it was his model, i just really really like that blue paint job

[@adambarnard5561]

Gibson ES-333 -- or something in that family. But he customizes all of them.

[@daleweber2579]

That's something we all would have to donate our kidneys, it's like around 5 grand just guessing. But on the bright side if want one make a replica version buy one of the Agile semi hollow body from 1970s-1980s that has same headstock and body shape. Go watch Tom Delonge other Ernie Ball The Pursit of Tone video where he talks about that guitar and how he made. Tom, did hendrix thing to it caught it on fire and he then painted it.

[@cashmandrummer2917]

Jesus loves you!!

[@superunknown831]

Let me jus say this, I love their new album. Can play it from beginning to end again and again. Imo, when you start to add all these delays and effects over and over in each and every song, the true message about the music gets obscured to me. When the music is simple and raw and honest and heartfelt, it's timeless. I think that's why we all love the old blink stuff. I really honestly tried so hard to get into Ava and i just couldn't. It didn't capture me. It felt forced and unnatural. Like a stale version of the cure. By no means am I saying tom is a bad artist he's actually one of my fav guitarist of all time. I jus really preferred his previous style and drive. Simple yet effective. As for mark, that guy is my favorite bassist of all time. People tend to forget that mark also wrote MANY guitar riffs for blink yet they only credit tom. His +44 album is one of the best I've ever heard. And this new album blew my expectations away. I do miss Tom, but the last effort with him was forgettable. Mainly due to the Ava ingredient he added to the music. Just not for me. Mark can hold his own whether it was with +44, or blink with skiba. I enjoy the shit outta everything he's out out more than toms other projects.

[@modernlife1321]

Luis M nothing like the cure but okay

[@steeelj]

Wrong

[@jaydiemusik]

3:40 the Dave Grohl sig!

[@brianleonardus6481]

ryan gigs

[@cjchurchi]

God gave greedy people money, show offs pride, and angels music.

[@YB-sk8bc]

You're genius with AVA, but you looked happy and free with Blink-182. Thats all.

[@chrisramirez1671]

Aliens

[@AllThingsUnplugged]

is there anyway I can watch this without AT&T cable?

[@samanthaowagner]

Yeah, on KZbin about an hour after it airs. 😉

[@AllThingsUnplugged]

Thanks man!

[@CyberneticArgumentCreator]

If your drums don't sound gigantic Tom isn't going to fuck with you so don't bother

[@jakewalsh6029]

whats this song called??

[@riopradana6777]

chris pratt join skate punk band?????????????

[@mwboost]

:)

[@Martdream1]

What are his delay pedals ? PLS :)

[@albinjohansson7926]

Boss DD-7