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Tom De Longe s
Tom DeLonge occupies an unusual place in the history of celebrity UFO culture because he did not simply mention unidentified flying objects in interviews or claim to have seen unexplained phenomena.
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How UFO themes became part of DeLonge’s musical identity
Unlike musicians who referenced UFOs occasionally, DeLonge made the subject a recurring creative motif from the early stages of his career. Friends and bandmates have long described his fascination with extraterrestrials as genuine rather than a marketing invention, and that enthusiasm naturally entered Blink-182’s songwriting. Interviews from the late 1990s and early 2000s consistently portray him as someone who read extensively about UFOs and frequently discussed the subject while touring.[nme.com]nme.comTom DeLonge: “If I played Blink-182 to aliens they would get really offended and start an inter-planetary war”August 10, 2019…
The best-known musical expression of this fascination is Blink-182’s “Aliens Exist”, released on the 1999 album Enema of the State. Although written with the band’s characteristic humour, the song differs from a simple novelty track. Its lyrics reference government secrecy, hidden knowledge and disbelief from others, themes that would later become central to DeLonge’s public advocacy. The song effectively preserved ideas circulating within UFO culture for a mainstream rock audience that might otherwise never have encountered them.[GQ]gq.comtom delonge ufos interview sekret machines novelTom DeLonge Has Something Very Important to Tell You | GQApril 2, 2016…
As DeLonge’s public interest deepened, listeners increasingly interpreted “Aliens Exist” not merely as comic science fiction but as an early expression of beliefs he would later discuss seriously in interviews.
Angels & Airwaves transformed UFO ideas into mythology
The formation of Angels & Airwaves in 2005 marked a significant shift in DeLonge’s approach. Rather than treating extraterrestrials as an isolated lyrical topic, he developed an expansive style built around space imagery, transcendence, hidden knowledge and humanity’s future.
Many Angels & Airwaves songs avoid explicit references to UFO sightings while drawing heavily on cosmic symbolism. Albums such as We Don’t Need to Whisper, I-Empire, LOVE and later releases repeatedly employ imagery of stars, distant worlds, exploration, awakening and human evolution. This allowed DeLonge to create an atmosphere in which UFO mythology became part of a broader philosophical worldview rather than simply a collection of unexplained sightings.[musicradar.com]musicradar.comClassic Interview: Tom DeLonge talks Blink-182 evolution – "We were nowhere near as good as Travis, but we got better" | MusicR…
The result is notable because the mythology is conveyed through mood and narrative as much as through direct statements. Expansive synthesiser textures, cinematic production and recurring themes of discovery reinforce ideas that listeners already familiar with DeLonge’s interests often connect to his fascination with unexplained aerial phenomena.
From songs to a connected fictional universe
DeLonge eventually extended this approach beyond conventional albums by creating interconnected entertainment projects. The most significant is the Sekret Machines series, developed through novels, non-fiction books, comics, films and music under the umbrella of his entertainment company.
Rather than presenting songs as isolated artistic works, DeLonge described them as pieces of a much larger narrative exploring alleged government secrecy, advanced technology and unexplained phenomena. In interviews surrounding the launch of Sekret Machines, he explained that music was intended to work alongside books and visual media, creating a transmedia experience rather than a traditional concept album.[GQ]gq.comtom delonge ufos interview sekret machines novelTom DeLonge Has Something Very Important to Tell You | GQApril 2, 2016…
This represents an unusual development within UFO-themed music. Earlier artists often referenced individual encounters or mysteries, whereas DeLonge sought to construct an entire fictional mythology inspired by subjects he also discussed as matters deserving public investigation.
The role of ambiguity in his songwriting
A defining characteristic of DeLonge’s music is its deliberate ambiguity. Most Angels & Airwaves songs avoid presenting UFO claims as factual declarations. Instead they explore recurring questions:
- Whether hidden truths exist beyond accepted knowledge.
- How individuals respond to profound discoveries.
- The relationship between fear and curiosity.
- Humanity’s place within a much larger universe.
This ambiguity gives the music longevity. Songs remain meaningful for listeners who interpret them spiritually, philosophically or scientifically, even if they have no interest in UFO research.
At the same time, fans aware of DeLonge’s interviews often read additional meaning into the lyrics, creating a layered listening experience in which personal beliefs, public statements and fictional storytelling reinforce one another.[NME]nme.comTom DeLonge on the return of Angels & Airwaves, his declassified UFO videos and Blink-182…
Music and public advocacy increasingly overlapped
As DeLonge became publicly associated with UFO research through To The Stars and later television and publishing projects, the relationship between his music and his public persona changed.
His artistic output increasingly served as an entry point into wider discussions about unidentified aerial phenomena. Journalists frequently noted that the same musician who once sang “Aliens Exist” was now producing documentaries, publishing books and arguing that governments should take unidentified aerial phenomena more seriously.[nme.com]nme.comTom DeLonge on the return of Angels & Airwaves, his declassified UFO videos and Blink-182…
This crossover altered how earlier songs were perceived. Tracks originally heard as playful pop-punk or speculative science fiction came to be viewed retrospectively as part of a long-running personal interest that eventually shaped DeLonge’s career beyond music.
Cultural influence and continuing debate
DeLonge’s musical treatment of UFO mythology has had an influence that extends beyond album sales. “Aliens Exist” remains closely associated with him in live performance and fan culture, to the extent that Blink-182 has continued performing the song even during periods when DeLonge was absent from the band. Its reputation has grown alongside renewed public attention to unidentified aerial phenomena in the United States.[NME]nme.comTom DeLonge: “If I played Blink-182 to aliens they would get really offended and start an inter-planetary war”August 10, 2019…
His work has also generated continuing debate. Supporters argue that his music encouraged curiosity about unexplained phenomena long before UFO discussions entered mainstream political and media coverage. Critics respond that artistic storytelling should not be confused with evidence, noting that compelling narratives can exist independently of verifiable facts. Both perspectives recognise that his songs function primarily as cultural artefacts rather than documentation of extraordinary claims.[guitar.com]guitar.comOpen source on guitar.com.
Why DeLonge’s music stands apart
Within the broader history of music that preserves UFO stories, DeLonge’s catalogue is distinctive because it operates on several levels simultaneously.
His songs preserve themes drawn from UFO folklore, but they also connect those themes to an evolving fictional universe, recurring philosophical questions and a public campaign encouraging greater attention to unidentified aerial phenomena. Few musicians have attempted to integrate popular music, novels, documentaries and claimed investigative interests so extensively around the same central mythology.
Whether listeners approach his work as speculative fiction, symbolic art or a reflection of sincerely held beliefs, DeLonge’s music has become one of the most sustained examples of UFO mythology being developed and preserved through modern popular culture rather than through isolated songs or single celebrity anecdotes.
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Endnotes
1.
Source: nme.com
Link:https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/tom-delonge-angels-and-airwaves-new-music-ufo-videos-blink-182-2505687
Source snippet
Tom DeLonge on the return of Angels & Airwaves, his declassified UFO videos and Blink-182...
2.
Source: nme.com
Link:https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/tom-delonge-played-blink-182-aliens-get-really-offended-start-inter-planetary-war-2536547
Source snippet
Tom DeLonge: “If I played Blink-182 to aliens they would get really offended and start an inter-planetary war”August 10, 2019...
Published: August 10, 2019
3.
Source: guitar.com
Link:https://guitar.com/features/interviews/tom-delonge-angels-airwaves-lifeforms-blink-182-ufos/
4.
Source: musicradar.com
Link:https://www.musicradar.com/news/tom-delonge-interview-blink-182
Source snippet
Classic Interview: Tom DeLonge talks Blink-182 evolution – "We were nowhere near as good as Travis, but we got better" | MusicR...
5.
Source: bloody-disgusting.com
Link:https://bloody-disgusting.com/interviews/3820631/tom-delonge-talks-the-ufo-phenomenon-and-sekret-machines-war-exclusive/
Source snippet
Bloody Disgusting!Tom DeLonge Talks the UFO Phenomenon and ‘Sekret Machines: War’ [Exclusive Interview] - Bloody Disgusting...
6.
Source: nme.com
Link:https://www.nme.com/news/music/tom-delonge-claims-aliens-may-have-been-present-at-birth-of-jesus-was-that-a-star-or-a-craft-2755195
7.
Source: nme.com
Title: tom delonge angels and airwaves new music ufo videos blink 182 2505687
Link:https://www.nme.com/music-interviews/tom-delonge-angels-and-airwaves-new-music-ufo-videos-blink-182-2505687
8.
Source: youtube.com
Title: [Tom De Longe]({{ ‘tom-de-longe/’ | relative_url }})
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o39YkW-WmdM
Source snippet
Tom DeLonge Talks Angels & Airwaves, Alien Existence with Kevin & Bean...
9.
Source: gq.com
Title: tom delonge ufos interview sekret machines novel
Link:https://www.gq.com/story/tom-delonge-ufos-interview-sekret-machines-novel
Source snippet
Tom DeLonge Has Something Very Important to Tell You | GQApril 2, 2016...
Published: April 2, 2016
10.
Source: wikidisc.org
Title: Tom [De Longe]({{ ‘de-longe/’ | relative_url }}) | Wiki Disc
Link:https://www.wikidisc.org/wiki/Tom_DeLonge
Additional References
11.
Source: ew.com
Link:https://ew.com/celebrity/blink-182-tom-delonge-celebrates-being-right-about-aliens/
Source snippet
During Blink-182's current reunion tour, fellow band member Mark Hoppus acknowledges DeLonge's correctness before performing their song "...
12.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Why Angels & Airwaves when you have Blink 182? Lennon’s UFO sighting
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slzwfb2FTa0
Source snippet
This selection of videos directly illustrates Tom DeLonge's evolution from writing UFO-themed songs in Blink-182 to expanding those theme...
13.
Source: benjaminbookjournal.home.blog
Title: blog Sekret Machines – Benjamin’s Book Journal
Link:https://benjaminbookjournal.home.blog/2026/03/26/sekret-machines/
Source snippet
HARTLEY * * * For as long as I can remember, I have sought answers. That search led me to the escape of music, expressing thoughts throug...
14.
Source: wikidisc.org
Title: Sekret Machines series | Wiki Disc
Link:https://www.wikidisc.org/wiki/Sekret_Machines_series
Source snippet
Sekret Machines series | WikiDiscJune 12, 2026 — SEKRET MACHINES SERIES [Input] Add languages Add links * Page * Discussion [Input] Engli...
Published: June 12, 2026
15.
Source: youtube.com
Title: TTS* Talks #15
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y15nvmoxS7o
Source snippet
Why Angels & Airwaves when you have Blink 182? Lennon's UFO sighting...
16.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Tom De Longe Talks Angels & Airwaves, Alien Existence with Kevin & Bean
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfjwOXTDWVc
Source snippet
The BIZARRE Story of Tom Delonge (What He Knows About UFOs is INSANE)...
17.
Source: theguardian.com
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/15/star-of-bethlehem-spaceship-tom-delonges-new-career-ufo-expert-blink-182
18.
Source: punkrockandufos.com
Link:https://www.punkrockandufos.com/blog/2019/3/5/all-the-times-tom-delonge-references-ufos-mysteries-of-universe-in-songs
19.
Source: the-independent.com
Link:https://www.the-independent.com/news/long_reads/aliens-pop-stars-music-believe-ufo-et-david-bowiee-robbie-williams-olivia-newton-john-a8269071.html
20.
Source: simonandschuster.biz
Link:https://www.simonandschuster.biz/books/Sekret-Machines-Man/Tom-DeLonge/Sekret-Machines-Gods-Man-War/9781943272426