Don’t Drink and Drum? The Real Reason Blink-182 Fired Scott Raynor

The story of why Scott Raynor was fired from Blink-182.

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Scott Raynor was the original drummer of Blink-182 and a foundational force during the band’s earliest years, helping to define their distinctive pop-punk sound. Before he joined, Raynor played drums in a Metallica cover band, bringing energy and technical skill influenced by heavier music. He met guitarist Tom DeLonge after Tom was expelled from Poway High and transferred to Rancho Bernardo, where their shared musical ambitions quickly bonded them. Together with bassist Mark Hoppus, the trio started knocking out songs in Raynor’s egg-carton-padded bedroom and recorded their first demo, Flyswatter, which mixed punk, ska, and alternative sounds. A warehouse co-worker helped fund studio time that resulted in their first proper release, Buddha, while Raynor’s family moved and he stayed behind, living at Mark’s mom’s house just to keep rehearsing.

The band’s grueling early days saw Raynor endure van tours and tiny venue shows, cementing their classic fast, snotty, and catchy style. By 1997, they’d signed to MCA Records and released Dude Ranch, which contained the breakout hit "Dammit." That period marked a turning point: under the surface, Blink-182’s dynamic was starting to unravel. Stories and recollections suggest Raynor was shy, reserved, and not as close personally with Mark and Tom, who were louder and more outgoing. As touring intensified, Raynor reportedly began drinking heavily—the band was young, suddenly flush with access to alcohol, and buckling under new pressures.

Mark described Scott as withdrawn and irritable, with drinking habits hurting his performance and relationships. Tensions escalated, culminating in an infamous incident where Raynor broke both heels after a drunken hotel-room altercation, forcing him to record Dude Ranch from a wheelchair. Raynor has maintained that his firing was not solely about drinking, pointing to deeper disagreements about the band’s direction—he favored sticking with independent punk roots, while the others pushed for a major label.

In 1998, Raynor left a tour for a family emergency, and The Aquabats’ Travis Barker filled in as a substitute drummer, reportedly learning Blink’s set in under an hour and impressing everyone with his power and precision. On Raynor’s return, the chemistry was clearly altered; Tom, Mark, and management gave him an ultimatum: quit drinking, enter rehab, or leave. The final break came through a telephone call, not a dramatic confrontation. Raynor claimed he agreed to go to rehab, but was dismissed anyway, feeling trust was permanently broken.

After Blink, Raynor went on to play with smaller bands like The Axidentals and The Wraith, and became involved in charities helping homeless youth. In 2023, it emerged he’d become a police officer in San Diego, trading rock stardom for a quieter life. Despite the painful split, Raynor has never expressed malice toward his former bandmates, admitting they were likely right to part ways but lamenting the way things ended.

Blink-182 soared with Travis Barker, their next album Enema of the State launching them to global superstardom. Yet, Raynor’s contribution remains crucial—he helped establish the band’s blueprint and their early momentum. The haunting sense of “what if” follows his story, reinforced by songs like “Man Overboard,” believed to be about his firing and its impact. Raynor’s exit underlines the reality that for every chart-topping success in rock history, there’s a forgotten player whose personal struggles and unresolved drama shaped the music behind the scenes.​

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