 Beginning in the summer of 1997 , Blink @-@ 182 would enter an extended period of touring to support their second studio album , Dude Ranch . The group had played a handful of dates on the Vans Warped Tour 1996 , a lifestyle tour promoting skateboarding and punk rock music . However , upon Dude Ranch 's release and popularity , Blink @-@ 182 would play every date of the 1997 tour worldwide with the bands NOFX and Social Distortion . The group were gone from their hometown of San Diego for nearly nine months straight beginning in late 1997 . " When we did our longest tour stretch , it was right when I started dating my fiancee , " recalled vocalist / guitarist Tom DeLonge . " We were all new and in love , and I had to leave . It was just , " Hey , I 'll see you in nine months . " It was really hard . " 
