Blink 182 was one of the main bands responsible for popularizing the pop punk sound in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
As such, there are many bands that sound like Blink 182.
First, there are the other huge pop punk bands that heralded in this new movement in punk music along with Blink.
Then there all the bands that came after and rode the pop punk wave just as it was cresting.
The former are all included in our list of bands like Blink 182 below. We also included the best of the bands that came after and copied the style and sound.
Table of Contents
Bands That Sound Like Blink 182
Green Day
Is there any other way to start this list off than with a band like Green Day? Although two completely different and easily recognizable brands, there are some obvious parallels that you can draw between Blink 182 and Green Day.
In fact, they both started their careers only a few years apart. They are two of the bands credited with heralding in the pop punk movement.
The most recognizable element of Green Day is Billie Joe Armstrong. The lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter has kept this trio going for quite some time.
Of course, we shouldn’t overlook the greatness of drummer Tré Cool and bassist Mike Dirnt. This rhythm section is proof that punk musicians can be pretty proficient, contrary to some fairly widespread opinions.
The Offspring
The Offspring are another band like Weezer and the rest that blew up during the 1990s and is credited with popularizing pop punk, along with Blink 182 and Green Day. They brought us some of the most entertaining, yet thought-provoking, punk rock tunes of the day.
They originally started their work back in the 1980s as Manic Subsidal, changing their name to The Offspring in 1986.
The band was always led by singer and guitarist Dexter Holland and lead guitarist Kevin John Wasserman, also known as Noodles. Another long-lasting original member was bassist Greg K., although he left the band in 2018 to be replaced by Todd Morse.
The band’s breakout album was 1994’s Smash. However, Ixnay on the Hombre from 1997 and Americana from 1998 were bigger hits.
The best way to get started on them for most people would probably be with Americana, but pretty much any of their records are worth your attention. Smash is their most raw and my favorite. It’s also the only one I ever owned.
Sum 41
Although described as punk and pop punk, Sum 41 are one of the most diverse bands out there. You can definitely draw some comparisons to Blink 182 as they have plenty of songs that you can describe as classic pop punk. But they’ve ventured into plenty of other territories.
From 2001 to now, they released a total of seven full-length studio albums. Commercially, their most successful record is Chuck, released in 2004.
This is where they’ve mixed different styles, even writing and recording some full-on metal tunes. But if you want straight-up pop punk in the style of Blink 182, then their 2001 debut All Killer No Filler would probably be the best way to go.
Alkaline Trio
Matt Skiba is mostly known as a member of Blink 182, filling in the spot that once belonged to Tom DeLonge. But way before joining Blink, he had his own band called Alkaline Trio. Of course, the band is still active and it got more attention after Skiba replaced DeLonge.
Coming from Chicago, Alkaline Trio also features Dan Andriano and Derek Grant. The lineup has been going steady since 2001 and together they released six out of the band’s total nine albums.
Matt Skiba, of course, has been the only constant member since the beginning, taking lead vocal, guitar, and bass duties. You’ll definitely like Alkaline Trio, especially if you enjoy Blink 182’s stuff after Matt Skiba joined the fold.
Bloodhound Gang
You most likely know Bloodhound Gang by their mega-hit The Bad Touch. But this alternative rock band has a lot more to offer.
Although they are not strictly pop punk, or at least what you’d expect from that label, they tend to be very popular among Blink 182 fans. Their humorous lyrics also made them popular with fans of the band Sublime, which you might also want to check out.
Originally, Bloodhound Gang started as a hip hop group, which you can definitely notice in many of their songs. But they ventured into punk rock, pop punk, rap rock, and even electronic music.
Ever since the beginning, the band has been led by James Franks, also known under his stage name Jimmy Pop. Taking vocal, guitar and occasional keyboard duties, Franks is also the group’s principal songwriter.
The Bloodhound Gang released five albums, before finally calling it quits in 2015. Pretty much any of their releases is worth checking out.
Strung Out
Strung Out is another interesting band that you should check out if you’re into Blink 182’s work. Although a punk band with some melodic passages, they’re certainly way heavier than Blink.
In fact, a lot of their work can fit the melodic hardcore movement. They’re a pretty exciting group if you’re looking for a more aggressive approach to Blink’s classic style.
The band is mostly known for their lead singer Jason Cruz, although guitarists and backing vocalists Rob Ramos and Jake Kiley have also been steady members since the group’s formation back in 1989. And they’ve had quite a career so far, exploring skate punk, hardcore punk, and many other subgenres along the way.
Good Charlotte
If you’re into straight-up pop punk and emo stuff, then your playlist simply can’t exist without Good Charlotte. This 5-piece band has had seven albums worth of material so far. The band’s creative vision is led by brothers Joel and Benji Madden.
Since they’re obviously pop punk, you can try pretty much any of their albums. There’s no obvious gateway song into their material, although The Anthem from their sophomore album The Young and the Hopeless attracts the most attention on streaming platforms.
Jimmy Eat World
We can say the same thing about Jimmy Eat World. This is an unavoidable mention on a list of mostly pop punk bands. In fact, we’d say that Jimmy Eat World is arguably the closest you’ll get to Blink 182 and their style.
Coming from Arizona, they’ve had quite a prolific career since their beginning in the early 1990s. With ten full-length studio albums, they’ve conquered the hearts of millions of pop punk fans worldwide.
The group is mostly known for singer and lead guitarist Jim Adkins. However, they’ve kept a steady lineup since 1995, with Tom Linton on rhythm guitar, Zach Lind on the drums, and bass guitar player Rick Burch, who replaced their original member Mitch Porter.
Angels & Airwaves
A lot of Blink 182 fans have mourned Tom DeLonge’s departure from the band. In fact, a huge portion of fans still can’t get over it. If you’re one of them, then why don’t you check out Tom’s own project Angels & Airwaves?
Tom started this group back in 2005 when Blink 182 went on hiatus. Of course, he continued to work with Angels & Airwaves after leaving Blink 182 in 2015. So far, they’ve released five full-length studio albums and four EPs. Throughout most of their career, they’ve operated as a quartet.
+44
Formed in California in 2005, +44 was Mark Hoppus’ and Travis Barker’s side project while Blink 182 was on hiatus. Lasting until 2009, they released only one studio album, titled When Your Heart Stops Beating.
Launched in 2006, it was a tasteful mixture of Blink’s classic pop punk style and electronic music. The group also featured Shane Gallagher on lead guitar and Craig Fairbaugh on rhythm guitar.
The band also featured Carol Heller for a while in 2005, and drummer Gil Sharone of Puscifer (led by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan), The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Stolen Babies, who was a touring member for a while.
Box Car Racer
Going deeper into Blink 182 members’ side projects, Box Car Racer is also a band worth mentioning. This was a short-lasting project, going on from 2001 to 2003.
It was a trio that featured Tom DeLonge on vocals and guitar, Travis Barker on drums and keyboards, and David Kennedy of Angels & Airwaves on lead guitar.
They had one self-titled album during this brief period. But there’s some pretty great stuff on it. Compared to Blink 182, it is a bit heavier, exploring some hardcore punk territories. There’s a total of 13 tracks, one of them also featuring Mark Hoppus. You’ll definitely love it.
Yellowcard
Although they’re no longer a thing after their disbandment in 2017, Yellowcard was a highly-regarded name of the pop punk movement. Coming from Florida, they’ve had a solid number of musicians pass through their lineup.
Violinist and backing vocalist Sean Mackin remained the only constant member since their formation in 1997. Yes, you’ve read that correctly – he plays the electric violin.
Although a punk band, they incorporated a few pretty interesting elements over the years. In their earliest days, they were a hardcore punk group, jumping over into pop punk not long after their second album Where We Stand.
Bowling For Soup
Bowling for Soup, also known as BFS, is an unavoidable mention if we’re talking about American pop punk bands. Starting back in 1994, they’ve had a pretty prolific career, releasing a total of 10 full-length studio albums. The band is led by guitarist and vocalist Jaret Reddick, who’s also the principal songwriter.
Bands Like Blink 182: Final Thoughts
Green Day and The Offspring are two of the other bands, in addition to Blink 182, that are credited with the popularization of pop punk. Their inclusion in this list is obvious.
The other bands on the list came after, but all are similar to Blink 182 in some way. If you like Blink, you are sure to like at least some of the groups above. For more pop punk bands with a bit of an emo twist, check out our lists of bands like Fall Out Boy and bands that sound like My Chemical Romance.
Let us know which are your favorites in the comments below. Please also let us know if we left any important bands off the list that should have been included.
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