Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker says he quit smoking marijuana after being diagnosed with precancer of the esophagus. Speaking on the Nov. 11 episode of Big Bro with Kid Cudi, Barker recalled asking his doctor, who is also a friend, how serious the diagnosis was. "This is your warning shot, Trav," the doctor told him, urging him to stop smoking.
Barker said there was a time when he smoked 10 to 15 blunts a day. He remembered being in the studio and passing a blunt to someone who told him they had quit. At the time, Barker could hardly imagine doing the same. He joked that he once pictured himself smoking for the rest of his life, like Willie Nelson.
The drummer was candid about how he feels now. "I miss it, I won't lie," he told Kid Cudi. Barker said running has become more important to him than smoking and has helped him stay sober. He first took up running while expecting his son Landon, when becoming a father made him think more seriously about his health.
Barker also spoke about surviving the 2008 plane crash that killed four people. He has previously described the crash and his recovery as a turning point in his decision to stop using prescription opioids. The conversation with Kid Cudi also covered how he faced his fear of flying, a subject he explores in his documentary Louder Than Fear.
Listen to the full interview on Apple Podcasts
