+44 (band)
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Founder | Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
+44 (pronounced Plus Forty-four) was a rock supergroup originating from Los Angeles, California, established in 2005. The lineup featured vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus along with drummer Travis Barker, both formerly of Blink-182, lead guitarist Shane Gallagher from the Nervous Return, and rhythm guitarist Craig Fairbaugh of Mercy Killers. Following the initial breakup of Blink-182 in 2005, Hoppus and Barker launched +44 prior to their former band's eventual reunion. The band's name is derived from the United Kingdom's international telephone dialing prefix, the country where the duo first conceptualized the project. Initial tracks leaned heavily on electronic elements and included vocals by Carol Heller, who previously performed with the punk ensemble Get the Girl.
After acquiring their own recording studio, the group shifted toward a more robust sound. Their sole album, When Your Heart Stops Beating (2006), experienced modest commercial success and garnered mixed critical feedback. +44 conducted tours worldwide throughout 2006 and 2007, notably joining the summer lineup of the Honda Civic Tour alongside Fall Out Boy. Although Hoppus began working on a follow-up album, the band ceased activity following Blink-182’s reunion in 2009.
Blink-182 challenges and hiatus
By 2004, Blink-182—comprising bassist Mark Hoppus, guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker—stood as a dominant force in the pop punk genre, boasting multiplatinum albums such as Enema of the State (1999) and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001), both chart-toppers. The band took a brief pause in 2002 when DeLonge suffered a herniated disc. During this downtime, he developed material with a darker tone that did not fit Blink-182’s style, culminating in the album Box Car Racer, recorded alongside guitarist David Kennedy and Barker. Initially intended as a side project, it grew into a full-fledged band, which caused friction as Hoppus was excluded and felt betrayed. This experimental direction influenced Blink-182’s fifth release, the untitled album (2003).
During a European tour later that year, DeLonge expressed frustration over creative restrictions and the toll touring had on his family life, requesting a six-month break to prioritize personal matters. Hoppus and Barker opposed such an extended hiatus. Additionally, DeLonge disapproved of Barker’s reality television series Meet the Barkers, citing concerns over privacy.
Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, DeLonge participated in Music for Relief’s Concert for South Asia. Nevertheless, ongoing disagreements intensified, leading to deteriorating communication within the band. DeLonge ultimately felt that diverging priorities related to fame and family had caused them to drift apart. This resulted in his exit and Blink-182 announcing an "indefinite hiatus" on February 22, 2005. Despite their previous close friendship, DeLonge refrained from contact with Barker or Hoppus for several years. Meanwhile, Geffen Records president Jordan Schur counseled Barker to maintain a positive demeanor during media interactions.
Formation of +44 (2005)
Hoppus and Barker initiated the creative process by experimenting with electronic music production, utilizing Barker's basement and Hoppus' dining room as makeshift studios. They explored various electronic instruments, including drum machines, samples, keyboards, and computer-based recording techniques. In April 2005, Hoppus disclosed the band's formation during an MTV News interview but subsequently refrained from further discussions about the project. The band's name is derived from the United Kingdom's country code, reflecting the location where they first envisioned working independently. Initial recordings made in basements were intentionally subdued and atmospheric due to environmental constraints.
When Your Heart Stops Beating (2006–07)
+44 progressively grew its roster. By April 2005, Barker had brought on vocalist Carol Heller, formerly of the punk group Get the Girl, who shared vocal duties with Hoppus on early demo tracks. Guitarist Shane Gallagher was later added to the lineup. The pace of production increased significantly after acquiring Opera Music, a North Hollywood studio previously owned by Richie Kotzen of Poison, in October 2005. This facility contributed to a transition towards a more natural sound. Heller departed by the end of that year, citing discomfort with the evolving musical direction and personal reasons. Craig Fairbaugh was recruited shortly thereafter as the fourth member.
The debut album, When Your Heart Stops Beating, was co-produced by Hoppus and Barker with Jerry Finn serving as executive producer. Although there were early rumors suggesting a January 2006 release date, management dismissed these claims. The lack of communication from Hoppus and Barker led to speculation and unauthorized song leaks online. One such track, "No, It Isn't", leaked in December 2005, directly addressed Blink-182's breakup. Prior to the album’s release, Hoppus avoided formal interviews to prioritize production work and other commitments, contrasting with his former bandmate Tom DeLonge’s active media engagement.
The album was officially released on November 13, 2006, debuting at number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales near 66,000 copies in the United States. Critical reception was mixed; The New York Times described it as more immediately catchy than Angels & Airwaves’ debut but not quite matching Blink-182’s impact. By September 2011, US sales had surpassed 274,000 units.
+44 made their live debut at Hollywood’s Roxy Theatre on September 7, 2006, followed by a performance at London’s Astoria and a promotional tour throughout the UK. Despite suffering from arm pain caused by a broken bone sustained during a video shoot, Barker continued performing but was eventually replaced by Gil Sharone for subsequent dates due to health concerns. The band also toured Australia and Japan, drawing predominantly Blink-182 fans. Hoppus expressed a preference for intimate club venues over large arenas that Blink-182 typically played.
Between April and June 2007, +44 participated in the Honda Civic Tour across North America alongside Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is..., and Paul Wall. During this period, the band started including classic Blink-182 songs like "What's My Age Again?" and "The Rock Show" in their live sets despite initial reluctance—demonstrating Hoppus and Barker’s ongoing connection to their previous band.
Cancelled second studio album and hiatus (2008–09)
Tour dates scheduled for August 2007 were postponed as Hoppus announced plans for recording a second +44 album. Throughout the remainder of that year, Hoppus and Barker engaged in negotiations with record labels before confirming that their next release would be under Interscope Records. However, journalist Joe Shooman reported minimal progress on this follow-up project. In May 2008, Barker began issuing hip-hop remixes which evolved into a solo venture fully produced by himself. Meanwhile, by August, Hoppus was working on potential solo material while maintaining collaboration with Barker.
In September 2008, Barker and collaborator Adam Goldstein survived a catastrophic plane crash that claimed four lives. Barker suffered severe burns and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), requiring sixteen surgeries along with extensive medical care. Tom DeLonge visited him during hospitalization; an October 2008 session at Opera Music ultimately laid the foundation for Blink-182’s reunion.
After Blink-182 reunited in February 2009, Hoppus informed Alternative Press that +44 was on hiatus; however, he later indicated in Blunt Magazine that there remained potential for continuing the project.
During a 2019 interview about his side project Simple Creatures, Hoppus reflected on +44’s impact and expressed willingness to revisit performing their album live again—highlighting its personal significance amid Blink-182’s breakup era.
In 2024, Blink-182 incorporated the opening verse and chorus of "When Your Heart Stops Beating" into their setlist during their One More Time tour.
Musical style and influences
While +44's early work was heavily shaped by electronic sounds, their music has gradually incorporated more prominent guitar-driven elements. Numerous songs fuse classic punk energy with melodic nuances, maintaining electronica as a significant inspiration throughout. Observers frequently compared +44’s musical approach to that of Blink-182’s final album before their hiatus, Blink-182 (2003), particularly noting the contrast between subdued verses and powerful choruses, as heard in the track "Stay Together for the Kids".
Their only full-length release, When Your Heart Stops Beating, was influenced by groups such as The Postal Service, Missing Persons, and The Cure. The album’s style has been categorized under genres including pop-punk, emo pop, and alternative rock.
Final line-up
- Mark Hoppus – bass, lead vocals (2005–2009)
- Travis Barker – percussion, drums, keyboards (2005–2009)
- Shane Gallagher – lead guitar (2005–2009)
- Craig Fairbaugh – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2005–2009)
Former members
- Carol Heller – rhythm guitar, vocals (2005)
Touring musicians
- Gil Sharone – percussion, drums (2006–2007)
Discography
References
- Bibliography
External links
- (Archived)