A ray of hope through the music of Tom Delonge

While the economy is progressing deeper into a recession and tough times surely lie ahead, here is an uplifting story about a man and his band that demonstrates hope throughout their work. That man is none other than Tom Delonge and his surrounding cast is San Diego rock band Angels and Airwaves. Many of you may recognize the name Delonge due to his previous stint in the very popular Blink-182. After the boys from Blink decided to call it quits, Tom decided that he wanted to change the world through his new project. His goal was to convey hope and belief into everyone that would listen. Delonge along with guitarist David Kennedy, Bassist Matt Wachter, and drummer Atom Willard released their second piece of work last fall titled I-Empire.
 

Delonge has always been known to write catchy song lyrics and that is quite evident with any of the blink-182 records. There are two differences from those days and they are the fact that Tom is no longer splitting writing duties like he did with Mark Hoppus. The second reason is the lyrics he has written for AVA show the progression that Tom has made as an individual. The message he sends out through his songs on I-Empire are still just as catchy as any Blink song ever was. This time instead of singing about toilet humor and pranks of that nature, his words have grown and his message is full of hope that anyone in this world can accomplish anything as long as they put their mind to it.

It certainly is refreshing to have someone sing about things that are so uplifting and gratifying. The world can be a harsh place and there are things that can knock anyone ever, but it's important to keep strong and always believe in the good. The man behind the music is what makes this band work, Tom Delonge's willingness to promote hope and dreams through his words just goes to show how serious he is about his idea's and morals.
 

During their first world tour as a band, Delonge would take time during each show to surprise his fans and walk through the aisles to grace people with his presence. While that in itself may be a little tacky or corny, he would also take a mic with him and talk about sad stories that people have told him throughout the years and how it just makes him want to be a better person and the only way he can do that is through his music and his fans. Delonge and the boys have a die hard fan base and that is obvious through the promising record sales that their first two albums had and the continuance of having thier concerts sold out across the globe.
 

The important thing to gather from this story is take a look at yourself. Tom Delonge went from being a rude mouthed punk into an uplifting renegade that promotes hope and change through his music. If there was one track by Angels and Airwaves that shows Delonge's progression it would be Rite of Spring which is track 11 on I-Empire. The song chronicles Tom's life from getting kicked out of high school to starting Blink-182 to surviving family problems, to promising his mother a better life. The line that really sticks is the end of the chorus which reads. If I had a chance for another try, I wouldn't change a thing, This made me all and who I am inside, And if I could I'd thank God that I am here and that I am alive. And every day I wake I tell myself another harmless lie, the whole wide world is mine.

Music can be a great asset and gateway to many people around the world, and the words of one Tom Delonge give everyone what they are seeking in this world and that is hope.