Career In Beats: Travis Barker

© Tim Mosenfelder/Corbis

With a solo record on the way, Blink-182 back together and Transplants back the studio (as well as a ton of other commitments, we're sure), Travis Barker is one of the hardest-working men in drumming. To celebrate the tireless sticksman's purple patch we've taken a look at the defining drumming moments in his illustrious career behind the kit.

Dumpweed

The song that introduced the world to Travis Barker. Within 30 seconds you've heard Travis' inventive snare work and raw power, before his uncanny ability to pull awesome fills out of the bag and sheer intensity come to the fore in the chorus. Not a bad way to start his career with Blink-182, really.

First Date

Surely one of the poppiest tracks in Blink's back catalogue, but the opening fill and the fact that this one has been mimicked in a million-and-one drum cover versions on YouTube make 'First Date' a must in this list.

The Fallen Interlude

A strange choice on first glance, but this one shows that even in the pop-punk surroundings of Blink-182, Travis isn't afraid of bustin' out some hip-hop beats. Back in Rhythm 97 he told us that this was one of his favourite tracks he had ever recorded, noting the drum'n'bass and hip-hop feel running throughout the song, which he also revealed was in the bag after one take.

All Systems Go

New band. New mature sound. Same Travis. Here he wows us with his mixture of groove, power and scattergun chorus fills with are punctuated with perfectly-judged hi-hat work. Travis is a big fan of this drum track as well, as he told us in Rhythm 97 that he loves Boxcar Racer's 2002 self-titled record from start to finish. And we love it too.

Diamonds and Guns

For many of us this was the first material we heard from Travis' link-up with Rancid mainman Tim Armstrong, and what a belter it was! Not just a killer song, but an awesome drum track from Travis as he lays down one hell of a groove built around an eight-note hi-hat feel. Not his most technical work, but it has an almighty swagger.

For more on Travis, including how to play 'Diamonds and Guns', pick up the latest issue of Rhythm. You can order a copy from www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk.