The one that got away? Which iconic ‘80s star Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus almost kissed—and why he wishes he had
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Rock and roll is full of wild stories—some hilarious, some scandalous, and some that leave you wondering, “What if?”
For Mark Hoppus, the ever-youthful bassist and co-founder of Blink-182, one of his most memorable “almost” moments didn’t involve trashed hotel rooms or wild parties, but a near-smooch with one of his musical heroes—a man also from the rock and roll scene. What!?
Let’s set the scene: It’s 2004, Wembley Stadium, London. Blink-182 is riding high, and thanks to some behind-the-scenes magic from bandmate Tom DeLonge, Robert Smith—The Cure frontman—himself is about to join them onstage. For Hoppus, a lifelong The Cure fan, this is the stuff of dreams.
Together, they perform All of This (a track Smith had guested on for Blink’s self-titled album) and a cover of the classic Boys Don’t Cry. The crowd is electric, the moment is surreal, and for Hoppus, it’s a career highlight.
But it’s what happened backstage that’s become the stuff of rock legend.
As Hoppus recounted in a recent interview with The Independent (while promoting his new memoir, Fahrenheit-182), he went in for a hug with Smith after the show. That’s when Smith leaned in and, with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Give me a kiss.”
Now, let’s pause for a second. Imagine your idol—someone whose posters you had on your wall as a teenager—asking for a kiss.
Hoppus, caught off guard, offered his cheek instead. Smith declined, and the moment passed. “I wish I had done it,” Hoppus now laughs. “It would’ve made such a better story than it almost happened.”
A Different Kind of Rock Star Life
If you’re picturing the typical rock star backstage scene—booze, chaos, and groupies—think again. Hoppus is quick to dispel the myth.
“We weren’t really big partiers,” he says. “Sometimes we’d drink or whatever, but it wasn’t part of our lifestyle. People would literally come back, take a look around and be like, ‘This is f***ing boring.’”
For Blink-182, the music always came first. “The band was always too important to us to put it at risk by doing the stuff that we saw had ruined bands,” Hoppus explains.
That’s not to say Blink-182 hasn’t had its share of rock and roll drama. They’ve broken up and reunited (twice!), spent a million dollars recording an album, and weathered public spats.
But through it all, they’ve managed to avoid the pitfalls that have derailed so many of their peers.
“Luckily, it hasn’t been drugs and alcohol,” Hoppus says.
The Power of Second Chances
Of course, life has thrown Hoppus and the band some curveballs. In 2021, Hoppus accidentally revealed his cancer diagnosis online—a moment that, while terrifying, ultimately brought the band closer together.
“Everybody really respects and cherishes one another,” he says now. “We all love Blink and what we built, and we don’t want to mess that up any more. We have a common goal.”
Source: TMZ / Youtube.
That renewed sense of unity is fueling Blink-182’s next chapter. The band—now including Travis Barker (yes, Kourtney Kardashian’s husband)—is gearing up for a massive 2025 tour, kicking off in Hollywood, Florida, in August and crisscrossing the country through October 4.
For fans, it’s a chance to see a band that’s not just survived, but thrived, through decades of change.
Source: The Cure PL / Youtube.
A Nod to the ‘80s—and to Regret
For those who grew up with The Cure’s moody anthems and Blink-182’s pop-punk energy, this story is a delightful collision of musical worlds.
It’s also a gentle nudge to seize the moment—whether that means dancing like nobody’s watching, reconnecting with old friends, or, yes, going in for that unexpected kiss.
Have you ever had a “what if” moment you still think about? Maybe you almost met your favorite celebrity, or passed up a chance to do something bold or silly. Do you have a favorite story about a musical hero, or a concert memory that still makes you smile? Share your stories in the comments below!
For Mark Hoppus, the ever-youthful bassist and co-founder of Blink-182, one of his most memorable “almost” moments didn’t involve trashed hotel rooms or wild parties, but a near-smooch with one of his musical heroes—a man also from the rock and roll scene. What!?
Let’s set the scene: It’s 2004, Wembley Stadium, London. Blink-182 is riding high, and thanks to some behind-the-scenes magic from bandmate Tom DeLonge, Robert Smith—The Cure frontman—himself is about to join them onstage. For Hoppus, a lifelong The Cure fan, this is the stuff of dreams.
Together, they perform All of This (a track Smith had guested on for Blink’s self-titled album) and a cover of the classic Boys Don’t Cry. The crowd is electric, the moment is surreal, and for Hoppus, it’s a career highlight.
But it’s what happened backstage that’s become the stuff of rock legend.
As Hoppus recounted in a recent interview with The Independent (while promoting his new memoir, Fahrenheit-182), he went in for a hug with Smith after the show. That’s when Smith leaned in and, with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Give me a kiss.”
Mark Hoppus from Blink-182 revealed he almost kissed The Cure’s Robert Smith at Wembley Stadium in 2004, but regrets chickening out. Image source: NME / Youtube.
Now, let’s pause for a second. Imagine your idol—someone whose posters you had on your wall as a teenager—asking for a kiss.
Hoppus, caught off guard, offered his cheek instead. Smith declined, and the moment passed. “I wish I had done it,” Hoppus now laughs. “It would’ve made such a better story than it almost happened.”
A Different Kind of Rock Star Life
If you’re picturing the typical rock star backstage scene—booze, chaos, and groupies—think again. Hoppus is quick to dispel the myth.
“We weren’t really big partiers,” he says. “Sometimes we’d drink or whatever, but it wasn’t part of our lifestyle. People would literally come back, take a look around and be like, ‘This is f***ing boring.’”
For Blink-182, the music always came first. “The band was always too important to us to put it at risk by doing the stuff that we saw had ruined bands,” Hoppus explains.
That’s not to say Blink-182 hasn’t had its share of rock and roll drama. They’ve broken up and reunited (twice!), spent a million dollars recording an album, and weathered public spats.
Hoppus explained that Blink-182 have always focused more on music than on the traditional sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll lifestyle, saying the band avoided wild backstage parties. Image source: Red Bull Music / Youtube.
But through it all, they’ve managed to avoid the pitfalls that have derailed so many of their peers.
“Luckily, it hasn’t been drugs and alcohol,” Hoppus says.
The Power of Second Chances
Of course, life has thrown Hoppus and the band some curveballs. In 2021, Hoppus accidentally revealed his cancer diagnosis online—a moment that, while terrifying, ultimately brought the band closer together.
“Everybody really respects and cherishes one another,” he says now. “We all love Blink and what we built, and we don’t want to mess that up any more. We have a common goal.”
Source: TMZ / Youtube.
That renewed sense of unity is fueling Blink-182’s next chapter. The band—now including Travis Barker (yes, Kourtney Kardashian’s husband)—is gearing up for a massive 2025 tour, kicking off in Hollywood, Florida, in August and crisscrossing the country through October 4.
For fans, it’s a chance to see a band that’s not just survived, but thrived, through decades of change.
Source: The Cure PL / Youtube.
A Nod to the ‘80s—and to Regret
For those who grew up with The Cure’s moody anthems and Blink-182’s pop-punk energy, this story is a delightful collision of musical worlds.
It’s also a gentle nudge to seize the moment—whether that means dancing like nobody’s watching, reconnecting with old friends, or, yes, going in for that unexpected kiss.
Have you ever had a “what if” moment you still think about? Maybe you almost met your favorite celebrity, or passed up a chance to do something bold or silly. Do you have a favorite story about a musical hero, or a concert memory that still makes you smile? Share your stories in the comments below!
