Photo: famoussas.com
It's never easy stepping into someone else's shoes - especially when those shoes belong to Blink-182's Tom DeLonge.
Dauntingly, that's exactly what Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba had to do when the band parted unceremoniously with DeLonge earlier this year. No doubt he was delighted to be a part of such a huge and enduring band, but some Blink's fans were less than welcoming.
Why not Scott Raynor ?? I wanted to see old school blink with him. Like who's Matt Skiba? No one cares if he is/was AT member.
— Lilly (@Dumpweed_) March 12, 2015
We live in a time where Matt Skiba is in Blink and Ben Affleck is Batman. I don't know what to believe. #alternate2015
— Cameron Walker (@CameronWalker) March 13, 2015
I feel sorry for Matt Skiba he must feel awkward as hell
— ㅤㅤ (@fayefellshort) March 12, 2015
Wanna see blink. Don't wanna see matt skiba
— Brian Moser (@Madis0nTwatter) March 12, 2015
Instead of letting the controversy get to them though, the band decided to embrace it - and sold T-shirts adorned with "Who the fuck is Matt Skiba?" at their first show together in LA.
Unsurprisingly, the shirts sold out. Travis Barker told Billboard, "The bass player from Bad Religion was wearing one last night - it was great. And then the first night the singer of the Interrupters, Aimee [Allen], was wearing one. Everyone's been very supportive."
They're now on sale for the bargain price of $26 on Famous Stars And Straps' website.
Matt Skiba played his first gig with Blink-182 at LA's Roxy last week. British fans are eagerly anticipating the first batch of UK dates for the band.
