In his captivating memoir Fahrenheit-182, Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus shares a remarkable encounter with one of his greatest musical inspirations, Robert Smith from The Cure. This unexpected moment left Hoppus both shocked and, upon reflection, amused as he recounts the story, showcasing the unique and often unpredictable nature of the music industry and the personal connections that arise from it.

Hoppus vividly recounts that this unforgettable incident took place following a spectacular performance at Wembley Arena in 2004, where Blink-182 had the honor of inviting Smith onstage to collaborate on their emotive track “All of This.” As the night progressed and the afterparty unfolded, Hoppus found himself in a surreal moment when Smith leaned in unexpectedly, attempting to kiss him, an encounter that would leave a lasting impression on Hoppus.

“My wife and I were preparing to leave when all of a sudden, Robert tries to kiss me,” Hoppus reflected in an interview with Us Weekly. He humorously noted that the only witnesses to this unexpected moment were members of Blink-182’s dedicated road crew. “He was my hero. Growing up, I was profoundly influenced by his music, which has shaped my life in countless ways. Then, at a party, he tries to kiss me, and I’m left thinking, ‘Should I have done that? Why not?’ It would have made for an incredible story to tell, rather than just a funny anecdote about an awkward moment. It would have been amazing to say, ‘Yeah, I kissed my idol!’”

Hoppus candidly admitted that he did not inform Smith ahead of time about including this surprising story in his memoir. “I should have reached out to him or given him some sort of heads-up,” he mentioned. “But really, how do you initiate such a conversation? ‘Hey, remember that time you almost made out with me?’ It’s a topic we’ve never actually addressed before, which adds to the awkwardness of it all.”

Interestingly, Hoppus revealed that despite this unusual incident, they have encountered each other multiple times since then, and it has always remained a light-hearted affair. “It’s been completely chill, and we’ve never spoken about it,” he clarified. “I wasn’t upset at all. My reaction was more of astonishment that no one else seemed to notice this unexpected moment.”

Fahrenheit-182, released on April 8, provides an intimate look into Hoppus’ battle with cancer, his complex family dynamics, and his enduring friendship with longtime bandmate Tom DeLonge, who made a triumphant return to the band in 2022. Blink-182’s latest album, One More Time, achieved the remarkable feat of debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in October 2023, signifying their first full-length LP featuring the original lineup since 2011.

The reunited Blink-182 will be hitting the road alongside fellow punk rockers Alkaline Trio. Notably, their singer, Matt Skiba, had stepped in for DeLonge during his second hiatus from the group between 2015-2022, contributing to two albums, namely 2016’s California and 2019’s Nine, alongside Hoppus and Barker. Concert tickets for this highly anticipated tour will be available for purchase starting Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m. local time. Additionally, a Citi pre-sale event will commence today at 12 p.m. ET and will run through Thursday, April 10, at 1 p.m. local time.