Tom DeLonge Says He’s ‘Doing Really Important Things’ With Area 51

While Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker are ready to head into the studio to record with Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba in place of Tom DeLonge, their one-time guitarist has kept his plate plenty full in the meantime – including, apparently, work with Area 51-related matters of “national security.”

Earlier this year, DeLonge quickly responded to Blink-182’s bad blood by releasing his solo debut, To the Stars… Demos, Odds and Ends. Now, he’s working up to the Oct. 6 release of his novel, Poet Anderson… Of Nightmares, which is joined by a corresponding Angels & Airwaves EP, … Of Nightmares, which is out today (Sept. 4). Beyond that, DeLonge is also reportedly working on a Poet Anderson movie, too.

Somehow, in the midst of all of that, DeLonge says he’s also been in talks with the Air Force Space Command -- something he can’t really elaborate on, but nevertheless brought up during a conversation with NME. “Beyond feature films, I’m doing a project I can’t talk about that’s bigger than Poet Anderson, that’s dealing with issues of national security,” DeLonge said. “So I’m flying out to New Mexico to have a meeting with the general of the U.S. Air Force Space Command.”

“This’ll be my third meeting with that individual,” he continued. “What’s even crazier is I had breakfast with two guys who work at Area 51 three days ago. So I’m telling you, I’m doing some really, really important things right now. And I don’t have time to try and get people to believe in me or buy into it. When it rolls out, people will understand.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time DeLonge has discussed his involvement and theories of top-secret government activities (he previously alleged his phone was tapped as a result).

With that said, DeLonge hasn’t completely closed the door on Blink-182. Just recently, he said he’s interested in playing with his estranged bandmates again someday -- just after a much-needed break from one another. He reaffirmed those feelings when speaking with NME.

“It doesn’t feel like Blink is behind me,” he said. “I loved that band. I started that band. That’s me… But at 39 years old, [being in Blink] cannot be the only thing in my life, or the absolute priority. But can it be part of my life? Absolutely.”