Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus Reflects on 2002 Rivalry Inspiring Green Day’s American Idiot

Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 has reflected on the intense yet strangely competitive rivalry between Blink-182 and Green Day during their 2002 Pop Disaster Tour. Despite being a longtime fan of Green Day, Hoppus described the experience as unusual because Blink-182 was ascending in popularity while Green Day was experiencing a decline after their 2000 album 'Warning'. The bands were co-headliners, but Blink-182 closed every night, which felt odd to headline over their musical idols. The rivalry was musically charged, with Green Day initially outperforming Blink-182 on stage, pushing both bands to elevate their performances in a back-and-forth battle to win over audiences. Hoppus credits this competition with making Blink-182 a better band and even joked that it inspired Green Day's acclaimed 2004 album 'American Idiot'. Today, the bands reportedly have a more amicable relationship, having grown from this early rivalry.