Now we know why Coachella organizers waited so long to announce set times for the festival’s first weekend: They’d been hiding news that Blink-182 would make a surprise performance, the band’s first set since its famed lineup reunited last year.
When Blink-182 takes the stage at 6:45 p.m. Friday on the festival’s first night, it will mark the first time Travis Barker, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus have played together publicly since 2014.
Blink-182’s performance comes on top of an already star-studded lineup that includes Blackpink, Frank Ocean, Calvin Harris and Friday night’s headliner Bad Bunny. British singer James Blake was also announced as a last-minute addition, playing the Do Lab stage at 8:30 p.m.
Blink-182 is scheduled to perform in the Sahara Tent, which was around in the festival’s early days and has been called the “beating heart of Coachella.” Sahara usually hosts EDM music, a far cry from the pop-punk for which Blink-182 is famous.
In classic Blink-182 style, DeLonge announced the surprise performance with a slew of the band’s not-safe-for-work lyrics.
The San Diego punk rockers announced their reunion last fall and are about to set off on a world tour. They were scheduled to open the tour in Mexico and South America in March but had to postpone after Barker injured his finger in rehearsals.
The band’s members have all had eventful years since last playing together. DeLonge dedicated himself to proving the existence of UFOs, with shockingly successful results; Hoppus was diagnosed with cancer but announced he was fully in remission after treatment; and Barker married a Kardashian.
Blink-182 is scheduled to play two Northern California shows this summer, at the SAP Center in San Jose on June 22 and at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on June 23. They are also scheduled to spend two nights each in Los Angeles (June 16 and 17) and San Diego (June 19 and 20).
Those who can’t make it to Coachella in person can watch along on the festival’s official YouTube livestream.
