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Travis Barker Opts Out of Blink-182’s Australia Tour

blink-182, travis barker

Travis Barker won’t be playing drums for Blink-182 during the pop-punkers’ upcoming Australian tour, the drummer revealed on Facebook on February 16. The 37-year-old confessed that he’s (understandably) still haunted by the memory of his near-fatal plane crash in 2008, in which he suffered second- and third-degree burns.

“I’m sorry to announce I won’t be joining Blink-182 on this Australian tour,” he wrote. “I still haven’t gotten over the horrific events that took the last time I flew when my plane crashed and [four] people were killed, two being my best friends.”

Chris Baker and Che Still, Barker’s assistant and security guard, respectively, were both killed in the incident, along with the plane’s pilot and co-pilot. The crash’s only other survivor, DJ AM (a.k.a Adam Goldstein), died in 2009 of an accidental drug overdose. Barker sued several companies — including aircraft manufacturer Learjet and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., as well as the jet’s owners and contractors — in 2008. The suit was settled in 2009, with the terms being confidential.

Barker wrote that he’s open to traveling to Australia in the future, but would only head down under by ship. “I hope to come to Australia again some day perhaps by ship if need be,” the Grammy performer posted. “Unfortunately, there wasn’t a boat that worked with the schedule this time around. Once again I’m sorry to all the fans.”

Billboard reports that Tenacious D’s Brooks Wackerman will take over drumming duties while Blink makes the rounds in Australia. The newly independent So Cal trio released the Dogs Eating Dogs EP, their follow-up to 2011’s comeback album Neighborhoods, back in December.

Read Barker’s entire statement below, and scroll down further for Blink-182’s forthcoming Australian tour dates.

I’m sorry to announce i won’t be joining Blink-182 on this Australian tour. I still haven’t gotten over the horrific events that took place the last time i flew when my plane crashed and 4 people were killed, two being my best friends. I gave the band my blessing to take another drummer if they still wanted to do the tour without me. I hope to come to Australia again some day perhaps by ship if need be. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a boat that worked with the schedule this time around. Once again I’m sorry to all the fans.

Blink-182 Australia 2013 tour dates:

February 20 – Sydney, Australia @ Allphone Arena
February 22 – Brisbane, Australia @ RNA Showgrounds
February 23- Brisbane, Australia @ Soundwave Festival
February 24 – Sydney, Australia @ Soundwave Festival
February 26 – Melbourne Vic, Australia @ Myer Music Bowl
February 27 – Melbourne, Australia @ Myer Music Bowl
March 1 – Melbourne, Australia @ Soundwave Festival
March 2 – Adelaide, Australia @ Soundwave Festival
March 4 – Perth, Australia @ Soundwave Festival