Book Review: Mark Hoppus' 'Fahrenheit-182' Is Candid, Funny, And Excellent
In the summer of 2021, Blink-182 bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus accidentally sent out a photo of himself that revealed he was undergoing chemotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. It sent a shockwave through not just the pop-punk community but the music industry as a whole. Blink-182 is a band that has always represented something bigger than pop-punk, showcasing the heights that the genre is capable of reaching, while simultaneously acting as the soundtrack to every summer vacation, road trip, college house party, and times when life felt more straightforward. Even serious moments (look no further than “Adam’s Song”) still feel approachable when shrouded in darkness. To see reality penetrating that bubble of youthful exuberance was a hard pill for everyone to swallow. Thankfully, just a few months later, Hoppus announced that his cancer was in remission, and it remains so to this day.
Throughout the pages of Fahrenheit-182, Hoppus’ candid memoir released earlier this year (co-written with writer Dan Ozzi), serious moments like this are tackled with a straightforward attitude while still managing to throw in pop-culture references to The Jerk and Dumb and Dumber. Hoppus talks early on about his love of comedy, devouring comedy specials from Richard Pryor and Robin Williams when he was a kid, and it’s evident that even in the darkest moments of his life, the ability to laugh is paramount to getting through the toughest of situations.
I’ve been a Blink-182 fan since I received a copy of Now That’s What I Call Music, Vol. 4 (FUCK I’M OLD), and I begged my parents to let me listen to “All The Small Things”. Years later, I would acquire copies of Enema of the State, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, Untitled, and so on. There are millions of fans like me around the world, and they will no doubt find themselves enthralled by every story Hoppus shares, both concerning his personal life and the inner workings of a band like Blink-182. But the glue that holds this entire story together is the direct nature in which Hoppus delivers these stories.
Hoppus is up front about his dealings with anxiety, OCD, and depression, which ended up being a major reason that I found myself unable to put the book down (yes, I read it in one sitting). I’ve never played on stage at Coachella in front of 150,000 (as much as I’ve tried, I assured security that my pass was legit!), but I have had panic attacks and thought patterns that have managed to derail entire periods of my life, and he recounts these moments in great detail. Hoppus might be a rock star on stage, but he is a relatable Star Wars nerd who grew up with a love of music, particularly punk rock, that took him to places far beyond any of us could ever fathom. Even amongst stories about fame and grandeur, there are moments where I knew exactly where he was coming from.
Fahrenheit-182 is a must-read for anyone who loves Blink-182; that’s a given. But I recommend it as a must-read for anyone who’s found themselves in situations bigger than themselves, whether positive or negative. In those situations, we often find ourselves at a loss for words, unsure of how to move forward. Hoppus has managed to effectively put these stories down on paper while merging honesty and humor, making for an engaging read. The last chapter feels like the end of a movie, cinematic while grounded in reality. What a life.
Fahrenheit-182 is available now from HarperCollins, wherever you purchase your books. You can find out more information on how to purchase your copy here.
