Travis Landon Barker is known to rock fans as a songwriter and producer. The musician’s name is closely associated with bands such as Blink-182 and Transplants. The name of the American musician is often mentioned in the media, and people perceive him in various ways.
Who is Travis Barker – Where Did He Come From
The guy from California grew up in a full family with brothers and sisters. At the age of 6, Travis began taking drum lessons. The boy loved this hobby so much that he decided to dedicate his life to this craft. Throughout his school years, the musician constantly tried to showcase his skills to those around him. Unfortunately, no one noticed him at a young age.
Travis’s life turned out so that he had to drop out of school before graduating and start earning money for his family. The musician retrained as a garbage collector, quickly mastering this profession. But he did not forget his hobby. Daily performances with local punk bands helped the young man develop his skills.
From Local Punk Band to Superstar on a Big Stage
In 1997, Travis was fortunate to meet the punk band Blink. This event turned the entire life of the young musician upside down. Literally after one performance, the drummer became a global star. He was written about in newspapers and talked about on TV screens. And the popular magazine Rolling Stones named him one of the 100 greatest drummers on the planet.
From childhood, Travis Barker knew the value of earned money and never allowed himself the instant luxury like other equally famous musicians. Instead of buying expensive cars and yachts, he invested in business. The chosen direction was clothing manufacturing. Brands Famous Stars and Straps and LaSalle Records belong to Travis Barker. Such investments brought him stable income and respect among businessmen.
The World Was Not Ready to Be Without a Legendary Star
In 2008, Travis Barker was involved in an aviation accident. During takeoff, the plane’s wheel caught fire. By pure chance, the flames did not engulf the wing where the full tanks of fuel were installed. The musician only suffered burns and spent 11 weeks in hospital.
After the crash, the musician’s entire body was covered in burns, and he experienced severe painful sensations. Rumors even suggest that he offered 1 million dollars to friends who would help him get rid of the pain by cutting off his oxygen on the hospital bed. But everything turned out fine.
After the aviation accident, Travis Barker released memoirs in which he shared his thoughts with readers. The musician talks about a lifelong fear of flying and the luck that saved his life. By the way, Travis no longer flies by plane, preferring car and water transport.
Travis Barker’s Family Life
Like all musicians, the star’s personal life is eventful. He has been married twice and has two children. His first marriage was in 2001. Travis married a girl from the public – Melissa Kennedy. She was very attached to the musician and supported him in every way. For example, when flying on planes, she wore the same clothes as the drummer. Also, before going on stage, she kissed Travis’s hands and drumsticks.
Travis Barker’s first marriage was short-lived – they divorced after 9 months. His second chosen one was Miss USA Shanna Moakler. In 2003, the couple had their first child – son Landon Asher. They officially registered their marriage in 2004. And in 2005, they had a second child – daughter Alabama Luella.
With his second wife, the musician appeared in the reality show Meet the Barkers. But in 2006, the couple separated. The reason was banal – Travis was involved with alcohol and drugs, which provoked his wife to divorce.
The plane crash in 2008 dramatically changed the life of the musician. After rehabilitation, Travis Barker took up active sports – running and swimming. He also became a vegetarian.
The current situation of the drummer’s family life looks promising. Travis Barker more and more often appears in front of cameras with Kourtney Kardashian. The star denies any relationship with the model. But on February 16, 2021, Kourtney announced their official relationship on her Instagram (111 million followers).
What Do Travis Barker’s Tattoos Mean
Even tattoo artists envy the American drummer. After all, Travis has more than a hundred drawings on his body. And all of them are closely connected to the musician’s life:
- Portrait of his daughter on his back.
- Names of children on his wrists.
- His own tattoo on his knuckles – “done by himself”.
- On the crown of his head, the name of the non-profit organization One Life One Chance, supporting gifted children.
- The Cadillac brand emblem as a sign of gratitude to the American car manufacturer.
- On his neck – Dag Nasty, in honor of a friendly American rock band.
- On his stomach – angel wings, as a tribute to love for music.
Each tattoo on Travis Barker’s body has its own story. Most of the drawings are a tribute to the people and events he encountered in his life.