It’s the Enema of the State Anniversary. The 25th anniversary, as I’m typing this. So let’s look back at the big Blink-182 breakthrough.
We’ll start back a little further, actually. It’s the summer of 1997. I’m an intern for Music Director Laurie Gail at Boston’s late, legendary alternative radio station, WFNX. I’m in charge of helping find songs for our nightly new music feature.
Blink had dropped Dude Ranch on the first day of summer. I was obsessed. Night host Angie C was also obsessed, specifically with the song “Dammit.” The record label hadn’t even released it as an official single yet, but we got it on the air.
Enema of the State Anniversary: Dude Ranch Sets the Stage
The summer of ’97 saw the third Warped Tour roll into Massachusetts in late July. With a new record, Blink had graduated to full-time, main stage status. My first time seeing them live was at that Warped Tour in Northampton at Three County Fairgrounds.
They were the band everyone was buzzing about after the show. It was as if someone had taken Green Day and made them faster and funnier. The songs were catchy as hell, the onstage antics were hilarious. Blink-182 had arrived.
Enema of the State Anniversary: Right Place, Right Time
Less than two years later, on June 1, 1999, Blink-182 followed up Dude Ranch with Enema of the State. The anticipation was palpable, the delivery was massive. The band had spent the late ’90s ascending; the were now the pop punk kings.
Enema is like a 1999 time capsule. Irreverent title, immature lyrical content, insane hooks. All wrapped up in a bow, by way of adult film star Janine Lindemulder on the cover. 25 years on, it still takes you back. Let’s go back to the music.
