Mark Hoppus: It never crossed my mind to stop blink-182

Blink-182 have said they have "never" thought about ending the group.

After years of uncertainty around the punk-pop group's future one of the founding members, Tom DeLonge, announced he was leaving in January 2015.

His departure came just before work started on the band's seventh studio album, California.

But ahead of its release Mark Hoppus has told Newsbeat: "It never crossed my mind to stop."

Blink 182 is now made up of Mark Hoppus ,Matt Skiba and Travis Barker (l-r)

Speaking after winning the icon award at this year's Kerrang! Awards, the bassist explained: "When we started off in a garage in San Diego our biggest hope was to be able to sell out a small club that we used to go and see punk bands play.

"This is more than we could ever hope for in the beginning."

Tom DeLonge left the band in January last year

Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba has stepped in on singing and guitar duty to join Mark and drummer Travis Barker since DeLonge quit.

"It never really crossed my mind that we would not be doing music," added Mark.

"Travis and I love Blink 182, Travis and I have dedicated our lives to Blink 182 and I can't imagine myself doing anything but."

Despite reports that Tom leaving was the end of the band, Mark says the group is in a good place.

"The past two years have gone better than I think a lot of people think that they've gone.

"The three of us together with [producer] John Feldmann - it's been just a very easy transition and a very natural one. It feels like home - it really does.

"Blink has been through so much and has worked so hard and we're very fortunate that after all that's happened with our band that people want to hear our band and people want to hear our music.

"People are very excited about the new album and it's a gigantic blessing."

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