Musical Hero Mark Hoppus How

Musical Hero Mark Hoppus

How I Chose My Subject

When asked to choose a musical hero my answer was immediate. I chose Mark Hoppus, ultimately because I admire his musical skill, humor, humility and most of all his relatable lyrics. Though some would have chosen an activist, I chose Hoppus because he cares about issues but on a more human level, a level that is relatable, especially to my generation and younger. When Hoppus discusses why he writes about the universal themes of love, rejection and youth rather than writing about things he does not know like politics he is very frank; "If we tried to write about politics, you'd realize that we're all a bunch of idiots." ("Biography for Mark Hoppus" (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0394457/bio) Thoughthis is likely another expression of his humility, as he often strikes one as an old soul, he nonetheless makes clear that for the most part the world is made up of people who are simply going about their lives trying to be the best they can be with what they have. As far as other heroes of music go, Hoppus strikes me as a modern Tom Waits, a man I also consider a hero because of his candor and public self acceptance, not to mention his phenomenal musical skill.

II What I Knew

When beginning this investigation I new very little about Hoppus, other than the fact that he was a phenomenal musician with fundamental skill and an uncanny ability to be the butt of his own jokes. He challenged the norms of society by posing naked in music videos and on album covers and despite his success and the success of his band refuses to allow the culture of success to define his music and his ideals.

In fact he is well-known for his witty hoppusisms regarding the way things are, one of which, at least reflects this particular sentiment. When asked about how he felt about being called a sell-out as a result of the success of Blink 182 he says;

We've done the same things that we were doing in the beginning, and we never wanted our band to stay small. I mean, we want our band to be as big as it can, and I'm not going to die wondering about some kid that calls us a sell-out at a show. I don't have a problem being on MTV, and I don't have a problem being on the radio. I actually like it. So there. And anyone that calls me a sell out is just jealous." ("Biography for Mark Hoppus" (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0394457/bio)

Again Hoppus demonstrates that he is a very real person, willing to be honest about his ambition and his success.

Though I did not have this exact quote memorized I was aware that Hoppus had expressed the hypocrisy of the punk culture, when they express the idea that musicians should accept failure or mediocrity rather than accept success, which in reality is likely a good part of why they begin and continue to be musicians. In other words the punk culture demands that musicians live contrary to human nature, i.e. seeking to create a name for ones; self to such a degree that more and more people hear the music and listen to the message.

Lastly I knew that Hoppus' musical talent and expression speaks to me as a listener and a musician. He flies in the face of stereotypes and challenges the status quo, i.e. The acceptance of failure as a universal generational standard. This sentiment is reflected in the literature we have read this year as well as the idea that heroes are militant about what they believe is right and are honest about the world they live in, while still striving to do the right thing. Hoppus in particular expresses this most when he discusses the knowledge he wishes to impart on those who come after him, a very relatable sentiment that is often lacking in those who are experiencing it;

Everything in high school seems like the most important thing that's ever happened in your life. it's not. You'll get out of high school and you never see those people again. All the people who torment and press you won't make a difference in your life in the long haul. ("Mark Hoppus Quotes" (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_hoppus.html)

Not unlike Socrates Hoppus, wishing to offer youth guidance for the future expresses keenly that the world is not what it seems and that the individual is likely to know far less than they think they do.

III the Search

As with many modern pop heroes information about Mark Hoppus is limited. Though he is willing to challenge untruths he is still rather tight lipped about the truth, regarding anything but his music. What limited facts about him that are accurate include the fact that he was born in Ridgecrest California on March 15, 1972, he is a self taught bassist who began his music career with a bass as a gift from his father and a trade of work for amplifiers. ("Wikipedia is Wrong" Mark Hoppus blog (http://www.pickrset.com/markhoppus/?p=248)

The information that is available is filled with myth, legend and even colored by the fact that Hoppus and his bandmates have the habit of answering questions to the contrary and keeping secrets about how and why certain things came about. To some degree this is reflective of the idea that Hoppus constantly espouses, i.e. don't take yourself so seriously. ("Blink 182 History" (http://www.iamfan.com/~blink_182/blink-182-history.htm)

Hoppus information had to be sought through popular media. There is little if any scholarly or even print work about Hoppus, or really anyone in his position. Music, just like information is in a period of transition, where those who are in the know are more likely than not to have a limited literary presence, and those who are really popular or getting there are to be found almost exclusively on the web.

Though I was able to find a few newspaper articles about Hoppus and the band Blink 182 or Hoppus' more recent incarnation +44, this information was limited to concert announcements and promo interviews about the bands, touring and limited personal opinions. The meat of the information on the other hand is available on the internet.

Hoppus quotes, seem to be the most profound examples of who he is and why he is the way he is in the context of his life. These quotes, as one can see from the few that have already peppered this work are not only profound but even smack of confusion tokens, heroic ideals and standards that are universalisms. Mark in many ways is an enigma, expressing challenges to the status quo while embracing morality and family.