Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan calls Blink-182’s Travis Barker the “most influential” drummer of the last 30 years

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has called Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker the most influential drummer of the past 30 years, saying his playing changed how many rock and alternative drummers approach the instrument. Barker, who appeared on Corgan’s podcast, said the praise meant a great deal to him.

Barker described his style as a mix of influences including Buddy Rich, The Meters, Tommy Lee, Jimmy Chamberlin and Dennis Chambers, as well as Animal from The Muppets. He also recalled returning to the drums after the 2008 plane crash that killed four people and left him with severe burns; he later returned to flying in 2021. Blink-182 are working on a new album after 2023’s *One More Time…* and have announced European shows for 2027.