Travis Barker Says He's Honored to Drum for His Son Landon's Band: 'It's a Dream Come True' (Exclusive)
Landon — whose new music features dad Travis on the drums — tells PEOPLE he was inspired by his famous father
Like father, like son.
Featured as a drummer on his son Landon's new music, Blink-182's Travis Barker reflects in a new interview with PEOPLE about teaming up with the rising star.
"It was so amazing getting to work with Landon," says Travis, 47. "To watch him grow up playing music and writing music since he was a kid has been a dream come true."
Landon, 20, grew up heavily influenced by his famous father and mentor — who fueled his love of music early on by taking his son on some of his biggest tours.
That support naturally extended to his son's budding pop-punk music career: Landon's recent single, "Friends with Your Ex," was released on his father’s label DTA Records and features Travis on production and drums. (The music video for the song also featured Landon's girlfriend Charli D’Amelio.)
Related: Landon Barker Details How Overcoming Mental Health Struggles Inspired His Music (Exclusive)
"He asked me to come in and help him with his song “Friends with Your Ex,"' Travis explains. "It was an honor to produce it and play drums on it."
In 2011, Landon hit the stage for the very first time, joining The Transplants during a raucous set at the annual Musink festival. He also lended his voice to a 2020 cover of the Misfits classic “Skulls" that his father asked him to sing on.
Earlier this summer, he even opened for Blink-182's sold-out show in Los Angeles.
"I obviously wanted to look for help in the right places because I feel like I'd be stupid to not use my resources and the people that are around me," says Landon. "So I've always tried to take advantage of that and use that to my ability. I obviously wouldn't put out a song — one, that [my dad] tells me is awful, and two, that he doesn't want to drum on. I want the song to inspire him and I want the song to be appealing to him, and not just do it because I'm his son."
Signing to his father's Elektra Imprint DTA Records was his ultimate goal, but he had to work hard for it. "My dad would be like, 'Show me that you want to sign,'" recalls Landon. "It wasn't as easy as being like, 'Sign me.' I feel like I had to prove myself to get the opportunity to sign to them."
Travis realized his son was serious about his work when he wrote some lyrics for Machine Gun Kelly's "Die in California," which was co-written and produced by Travis and included on MGK's No. 1 album Mainstream Sellout.
"It couldn't have gone better," says Landon. "I had seen several of my peers that had signed to DTA — people like Avril and whatnot, and obviously I wanted to. But I kind of didn't go into it with expectations. I feel like that is something that I do a lot in my life — is not go through life with any expectations."
Related: Avril Lavigne Announces New Single After Joining Travis Barker's Record Label: 'Let's Go'
Landon's work ethic and desire to succeed was also inspired by his father, who he claims still practices drumming every day.
"He wakes up early and still goes to the studio even after all his success," Landon says. "So I've taken that with me. No matter what I do, never settle and never stop doing what I love because that's how you become great."
A week before Landon performed his new music at the El Rey in Los Angeles on his 20th birthday earlier this month, he told PEOPLE he's feeling ready to release more music with the help of his dad, who continues to produce, write and record with him.
"We have a bunch of songs that we've written together," Landon says, adding that he's "100 percent ready" to release them.
When asked what the best advice Travis has given him about the music business, Landon says it's all about enjoying the thrill: "Have fun. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Be kind to people, share your life and experiences that can help people. Everything is a lesson. Make art, live life, grow and write songs about it."
And Landon is doing just that.
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