Tom DeLonge: At Guitar Center, Music Business 2.0

Frontman, guitarist, producer, songwriter, businessman these are some of the many hats that musician Tom DeLonge has worn throughout his dozen-plus years in the music scene, whether as the on-stage co-lead to bassist Mark Hoppus in platinum pop-punk powerhouse Blink-182 or as the sole frontman of the more experimental, alternative rock act Angels and Airwaves. Or perhaps its as the head of Macbeth Shoes or the visionary behind the social networking website Modlife.

[@georgeheaton]

He really was years ahead of his time in his thinking of where the business has now moved to today

[@DRUMOCDP4LIFE]

Tom is so damn smart

[@tommybones93]

It's actually weird cause no one thought that before blink broke up, everyone thought they were just dumb funny guys and then tom comes out of no where with all this smart talk ahah

[@AlmarWinfield]

Tyler Vaillancourt That's one of the reasons he said he wanted to end blink at that time. he didn't want to be seen as immature. Maybe that's why he ended it over again?

[@AlmarWinfield]

+Dylan Burton182 That was the first time and only one of the reasons. If you watch interviews from circa 06 - 10 he also says to do what he wanted to do he needed to be taken seriously. He talked about how in interviews after blink 182 he would walk in and people would say "isnt this the guy who talked about fucking dogs every night on stage?" and that made it difficult for him to launch his companies and start everything he has begun already today. I do think he could have found a middle ground within the Band but chances are whatever old wounds they had before travis' plane crash were never fully healed. They got together because of his accident not because they wanted to be best friends again. It's a shame too because of that we got an emotionless Skiba in his place who sounds just like Mark. Two Mark singers doesn't work- if you're going to have two singers they need different voices like Tom/Mark.

[@SonikJesus]

you could tell he was smart just cause of his wit

[@Maczilla96]

wow i never knew tom was so brilliant. the things he said about business, artwork, and judging music are all very true.

[@georgeheaton]

Even 10 years later you look at how the business has changed but he was so so ahead of his time with this. Referencing kids using laptops to make their own music which people like Billie Eilish started doing years later and now they’re the biggest thing. He’s got a great mind.

[@Davinia77]

He's very intellectual

[@fldsryn]

i think it is nice to see the serious side of tom-- people forget that he has grown up/has a family/is in his thirties now-- i like his ideas about the future of the music industry

[@Pooters.]

dude it so awesome i cant believe i sat in that chair everytime i go to guitar center and now i know Tom Delonge sat in that chair so insane!!

[@playthemdrums]

This is a great interview, he's an interesting guy

[@blackfusion100]

Ahhhh Tom! I love you. You are amazing.

[@peanutbutterisfu]

He plays guitar with feeling, that's something your born with, there is no shortage of extremely great guitar players but playing with feeling is what it takes. Many dudes like Tom can play harder stuff then they play in there band, it's just not needed for there style

[@noahrubio2939]

This is why I love Tom, his thinking is this amazing

[@bassdiary]

Tom got the point. Selling music should not be the main revenue stream for bands todays. Merch and Touring is what you make money with.

[@stryprks]

Look how relevant this interview to music industry today.

[@marly1272]

tryin to listen to what he's saying but what my eyes are seeing is cloudin all my other senses

[@ahagamin6180]

turn ur computer or phone or whatever around and put in headphones

[@scottwashere23]

he still does them on stage thank god

[@PunkRock815]

man tom delonge is so fucken wise. he's my hero :]. AvA

[@clemenzaman17]

wow i didnt realize how smart he was with his business side he is very right about music being free

[@Etigress]

If I was in the music business then I would wish for Tom to be my manager because he is AMAZINGLY AWESOME and knows what the hell he's talking about. GO TOM!

[@natalie_rose2861]

He's always been so ahead of his time.

[@Scorch428]

surprisingly well spoken, coming from Tom....

[@GamenMetRobin]

It's crazy how accurate he is and was.

[@thebipolarbear1]

That's great man but easy for you to say you already made millions from the traditional (dead) way. These are great videos Tom and guitar center. Tom delonge is the reason I picked it up. It's a life changing thing, for the better. Thanks Tom

[@Kuhlyedascope69]

yo tom helped me pick it up too cheers pal

[@punkdcboy]

Tom DeLonge is one power full man in the music business his versions. but the main focus on this conversation is relation, how people relate to that band, why we get attracted to certian types of music, just amazing ore artist should do this type of thing

[@kubiloser]

its nice guys!

[@beifongtoph]

The voice of Experience!

[@JuniorsWackyWorld]

Well said Tom.

[@parvdize3968]

6:55 Just thought this is the most normal interview tom had ever did，only music，no aliens，he proved me wrong.

[@AngelsAndAirwavesAVA]

with all illegal downloading of songs and movies these days musicians have to make a living some how so you pay to have the access to modlife to support the bands! sounds fair to me :-)

[@emittscool]

live shows and merch are where the money's at

[@Dyeingbrad]

Black and white can be vastly superior than colour it can make a grand impact! As a colour blind individual I wouldn't be able to see some tones of the colour anyway.

[@mandipthapablink]

yes i know the logo is 2 As, but obviously it has more meaning to it, knowing what sort of a band ava is and also from the fact that ther are songs called the architect and similar themes of life...nd the A that is the right way up is a 100% some sort of measuring instrument (a compass)...which is the same as the freemasons logo...i think it is pretty easy to see that this logo does have something to do with freemasonry

[@SuperTravis182]

yea amazing genius :)

[@peaches12392]

True, true.

[@uns66]

words of wizdom!!!

[@saffronthurkettle6795]

Now I love Tom DeLonge even more he just praised iron maiden

[@EuphoriaMusicSession]

how is he naive??? he's one of the most successful men in the music industry... apparently he's doing something right.

[@mandipthapablink]

and the also "et ducit mundum per luce' which is on the bottom of the logo....means he leads the world by light...nd this is also in line with freemasonry srta stuff

[@ColbyCristiano]

If you're reading this I pray something good happens for you and your family soon ❤ you're not alone and im sending you my love. ❤

[@davidford9958]

dont worry guys he still has the awesome sense of humor!

[@cloudedashes]

He's not boring he's just sober XD

[@blink182irishfan1]

i love his hair(sigh!)

[@SeventhSalute]

I totally agree but I think people mean that he's not playing all technical riffs or parts. Yeah he's not but that doesn't make him a shitty guitarist. Look at the stuff Kurt Cobain wrote and played....the parts weren't difficult but they got his point across. What I'm getting at for everyone else, push aside the fact that Tom isn't such a technical or shredding guitar player and just listen to the music he's written, it amazing and brilliant. In a musician view, he's a genius.

[@LACIPPO]

tom god delonge is a fucking genius!!! :) really.. :) RESPECT!

[@TheYoplaid]

I'm french...I don't understand anything...But just listening to Tom is cool :')

[@greatfelixo]

free music agreed

[@greatfelixo]

@VivaLaMac666 just because he makes money doesnt mean hes good but he is good because his creativness

[@yeenar]

i think he meant "subjective" 5:10, just in case that confused anyone else

[@fvs182]

Tom's a genius His only problem is that he is an egomaniac AvA would be the biggest band in the world if it were produced by Daniel Lanois or Brian Eno, that's just what they need to become a HUGE phenomenon

[@N_A578]

@TheGarrettsee i agree that compared to others neighborhoods isnt the best but its still great and AVA is incredible if you understand their goals and meanings and what they try to project especially Secret Crowds. +44 i agree was ok i like a few of there songs but am a bigger AVA and blink fan

[@rockpwnsu]

hes both

[@Billyman182]

@TheGarrettsee That lyric is about people who live in country's destroyed by war that have helicopters flying above them all the time

[@mandipthapablink]

i think he may be....check out the new ava logo...nd look at the freemasons logo.....nd there is like whole forums on this....nd bout how he may b one

[@VivaLaMac666]

@greatfelixo thats almost exacly my point dudeXD

[@R.T.and.J]

@RRRHalospark even IF this guy's a freemason you still gotta give him props, he drops alotta knowledge and wisdom on this vid....

[@manoverboard18277]

@TheGarrettsee neighborhoods was great, what are you talking about?

[@sandihume]

0:49 - Talking from experience -Angels and Airwaves - their music was stolen from their email accounts and leaked on net and radio

[@rockman1994]

ya kno even tho he makes ups easy riffs on guitar. I think he a pretty good musician. P.S. If Tom is everything about free for his new AVA album how come you need to pay for modlife

[@N_A578]

@TheGarrettsee How can you say any blink or AVA album has sucked?????? Neighborhoods is awesome your tellin me up all night and after midnight sux? really

[@mojorasta1]

he grew up.....

[@RETIREDAMATUER]

He’s trying so hard to not mention ufos 🛸

[@Pierre12383]

As I would like to know the English and to go to america with the Blink 182!!

[@emmahallows]

It's easy to say "Cut thought the noise and get millions of people to look at you", When you we're in one of the biggest bands of the 21st century and already have millions of people looking at you. For an independent touring artist using the internet as a tool to create and distribute, it's not so easy.

[@astechhh]

I think Tom should get a Nobel Peace Prize for making music and making people who listen to it feel better each day

[@mercuryman9]

what did he try saying at the start!? hahah.

[@Mcchicken1366]

sosososo tru lol

[@FloChris]

hes basically saying that mainstream is the key to succes

[@sandihume]

no hes not?

[@StealthyEnema]

lol people can still steal the stuff from modlife tho

[@saffronthurkettle6795]

I think it’s safe to say that Tom loves computers lol

[@retromanxvii]

Tom is hot either way ;D

[@alexzemaitis1207]

Nice haircut : )

[@DubstepHero1]

When he's talking about why bands are still famous... what about kiss?

[@carriedelonge]

Wow. Turns out his brain stores far more than dick jokes. He's so intelligent and clever and wise! I love you so very much dude!!

[@shokyu42]

I really cannot agree with him when he says that all good art in the western world gets found. If he's only referring to the UK, Ireland, the US and Canada, maybe, but in the rest of Europe, mainly in countries like Portugal, Greece, Luxemburg, Hungary, - just to name a few, - it's really not common to get found, no matter how good you are.

[@ahagamin6180]

The only thing that i disagree with is when he said all good art will be found. I dont think thats true at all

[@peaches12392]

WHY IS THIS SHIT IN BLACK AND WHITE!? Man, I wanna see Thomas. In COLOR!

[@cashdenning2366]

Jesus loves you!!

[@leedebo2006]

If someone tells you they don't like something about you, then you tell them to fuck off... music and art isn't about perfection, it's about expression of self...not conforming to what everybody wants to hear, maybe the type of attitude works in a business manner and no doubt Tom Delonge is smart guy but i feel there's something a little less genuine about a guy i thought was always himself. Go chase the dollar Tom..hope it makes you happy..

[@aachafin]

it also helps if you have a lot of money.......

[@ayusha149]

well, he started off as a normal 17 year old, he just made all this money with good music

[@Screatouro]

wtf did he just say?

[@mandipthapablink]

hes a freemason...he knows everything...lol

[@atogers]

Tom is really smart. Many people don`t think so because he was a clown but what the same people forgot is that it takes intelligence to be funny.

[@arkhamnights]

He was mocked for being ahead of his time. Let that be a lesson to all of us. He saw where the ball was going and was laughed at for doing something about it. Snarky cynical people where like hey dur there's facebook and connecting with fans insinuating that modlife dumb. To bad modlife couldn't weather the storm and died due in large part because of cynicism.

[@MartinHannett_]

7 people like Mark better.

[@VivaLaMac666]

@javisambora but who makes a lot of money of that "crappy" guitar playing...not you i belive?

[@CrownRoyalSociety]

Nope. He is the present.

[@GreggleZz]

2 girls one cup is wat he was refering to gross and crazy on internet

[@darthbeaner23]

Tom Delonge a shitty guitarist? Are u kidding me? Lol he can play the guitar perfectly while being completely shit faced. That's pretty impressive to me

[@EuphoriaMusicSession]

hey... guy.... calm down. you can go two ways with music. you can either conform and make money, or you can do your own thing and be much less successful. if Tom wants to evolve with the industry, what gives you a say? so please shut your mouth and listen to your reggae and "good hard rock" by the way Angels and Airwaves is amazing. you may think that it's gay, but obvioiusly you're not a musician, so you really can't understand... peace and hairgrease, broseph.

[@penspinningnovice092]

When did he become so quiet and boring

[@alexzemaitis1207]

Blowupguitarr He’s never boring

[@str8tballa]

slipknot might not be real music but they have REALL money...and lots of it $_$

[@MUFCitizon]

OH MY GOD IT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@back2thefutre]

Gay