Fans React To Travis Barker Bailing On Soundwave 2013

Blink-182 fans have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on Travis Barker quitting the Soundwave festival at the 11th hour – and most of them have, surprisingly, come out in support of the drummer.

As reported this afternoon, Barker failed to board his scheduled plane flight to Australia, despite trying for weeks to overcome his fear of flying and make the trip to Australia for Soundwave 2013 and a series of headlining shows on the East Coast. Barker has avoided flying since he was involved in a plane crash in 2008, in which four people died.

Fans described Barker as “a truly honest person”, and told critics to “lay off the man”, and that they are “obviously distraught about the news, but fully understand.”

Others were more critical, saying they are “muchos dissapointus”, while others irked up at what they consider a broken promise from the festival, declaring: “Correct me if I am wrong but didnt @soundwavefest promote @blink182 playing with the guarantee of @travisbarker playing?”

‘Jon’ kicked the boot in, telling “the people going to soundwave just to watch Blink 182 and no one else…Kill yourselves.” And Adrian Dixon was relieved, saying that “hearing that Travis Barker isn’t coming to Australia has made me feel better about not going to Soundwave or blinks shows.”

The whole situation hasn’t stopped AJ Maddah leaving a cheeky reply for a fan keen to have a ride in the road bus prepared to take him around the country – telling them they’ll be “still hitchiking”.

In their official statement today, Blink-182 announced that Brooks Wackerman – who sits behind the kit for Bad Religion and Tenacious D – will be filling in for Barker on the tour.

Soundwave 2013 kicks off in Brisbane next Saturday, February 23. Blink-182’s first sideshow is in the same city and at the same venue the night before.