Uranium Madhouse Blog

I saw one of Uranium Madhouse’s 9 Muses, Blink-182, for New Year’s Eve 1999/2000 in San Diego. A concert by the (at that time) biggest punk band in the world seemed like a great way to ring in the new millenium. And it was a great time.

Five years later, Blink-182 had broken up. It was a familiar story: familiarity had bred contempt, even between these guys, one of whom had climbed a streetlight to impress the other when they first met, and then broken both of his wrists getting down.

Then, after band member Travis Barker nearly died in a plane crash, they found their way back together, and began to play. And lo and behold, their new album is expected out this year.

They found, though, that they had to relearn how to collaborate creatively. They had broken up because they couldn’t get along, but when they got back together, they had another problem. According to bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus:

“When we got back together everything was so fresh and new, it was like we were all trying to protect a precious flame. We were so respectful of one another that we were all walking on eggshells – it was all too nice.

“But we realised we needed to be a proper band before we started recording. Now we’re comfortable enough in our friendship again not only to support each other, but to say things like, ‘Hey, that idea is cool, but what about if we did it this way?’

“We can do that now without being like someone’s going to have their feelings crushed. It was important for us to turn that corner.”

That’s a line that all creative collaborators have to walk, and Uranium Madhouse will be no exception. We have to be able to be honest with each other, AND we have to be able to be respectful. In the thick of the process, things can get hairy, but it’s important that we remember that we can always have candor AND civility. A deficit of either is a direct threat to the company.