Mark Hoppus: Mom made me Blink

Mark Hoppus was encouraged to quit college and pursue music by his mom.

The Blink-182 bassist has topped the charts the world over with his rock bandmates Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge.

But when the band first started out Mark found juggling college work and gigs a struggle. On his mother's advice he decided to abandon his studies and give music a shot.

"We'd play San Diego on a Friday night, then San Diego and Los Angeles the next weekend and these little runs started getting longer and longer and it was hard for me to maintain being in college and also touring as much as Blink needed to tour," Mark explained to the British edition of Esquire magazine.

"We made no money – like $50 a night – so I couldn't support myself and I was living at my mom's. One day I said to her, 'This band thing is kinda starting to go, but I don't know what to do about school,' and she said, 'You have the rest of your life to go back to college, this is your one chance to be in a band,' so she's the reason I got to do what I do now."

The band are gearing up to headline this year's Reading and Leeds Festival in the UK later this month, one of the most hotly anticipated music events in the rock calendar.

It's the second time the band have earned top billing, with 42-year-old Mark gushing that being able to play to adoring crowds will never get old.

"There's no worse part [of being in a band]. I'd have to think of stuff to complain about, and I'd sound stupid because it would be stupid. Being in a band is the best thing in the world. I couldn't imagine being happier with anything that I do," he smiled.