Initially billed as a “reunion tour,” Blink-182’s World Tour 2023/2024 marks the band’s 30th anniversary and first tour with original singer and guitarist, Tom DeLonge, since 2014. Given the significance of the tour, Front of House Sound Engineer Charles Izzo and Monitor Engineer Ray Jeffrey knew there would be high expectations for quality audio during performances from both the band and its audiences around the globe. Pulling from their past experiences with the brand, the duo set their sights on a variety of DPA Microphones vocal and instrument mics.
To ensure the band delivers unbeatable sound on stage throughout the North American and European legs of the World Tour, together Izzo and Jeffrey selected DPA’s d:facto™ 4018VL Vocal Microphones for Singer/Guitarist Tom DeLonge and Bass Guitarist Mark Hoppus. They also deploy DPA mics across Travis Barker’s entire drum kit, which features the 4055 Kick Drum mic, 2011 Twin Cardioid mics for snare and hi-hats, 4015 Wide Cardioids for underheads and 4099 Instrument Microphones on all other instruments, including toms and the cowbell.
“When Charlie and I got the call for this, we had to start at the very beginning, and it was on us to figure out what microphone solutions would be best,” says Jeffrey. “From my experience with DPA’s reliability when I was on tour with Lorde, mixed with Charlie’s experience with the mics while working with the band Passion Pit, we decided it would be the perfect choice for Blink-182. We initially brought in a few DPA mics and, once we realized Tom and Mark were extremely pleased, we went from there. Now, 95-percent of the mics we have are DPA.”
