Cheshire Cat (Blink-182 album)

Cheshire Cat
Original cover with original band name. Current pressings use the same cover with the added "-182" in the band name.
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 17, 1995 (1995-02-17)[1][2][3]
Recorded1994
StudioWestbeach Recorders, Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length41:59
LabelCargo
ProducerOtis Barthoulameu
Blink-182 chronology
Buddha
(1994)
Cheshire Cat
(1995)
Dude Ranch
(1997)
Singles from Cheshire Cat
  1. "M+M's"
    Released: September 6, 1995
  2. "Wasting Time"
    Released: June 28, 1996

Cheshire Cat is the debut studio album by American rock band Blink-182 (then known as simply "Blink"), released on February 17, 1995, by Cargo Music. The trio, composed of guitarist Tom DeLonge, bassist Mark Hoppus, and drummer Scott Raynor, formed in 1992 and recorded three demos that impressed the San Diego–based Cargo label. In addition, their reputation as an irreverent local live act at venues such as SOMA alerted the label, who was seeking to expand into different genres.

Due to budget constraints, the album was recorded quickly with producer Otis Barthoulameu at Westbeach Recorders in Los Angeles. Producer Steve Kravac engineered the recording and advised the trio to record additional overdubs. As such, the band spent an additional week re-recording several tracks at Santee, California's Doubletime Studios. The album was originally released with the band's name as Blink, until an Irish band of the same name threatened legal action, after which the band appended "-182" to the end of their name.

Released during the breakthrough year for punk rock in California, the album brought the band great success in and outside of the San Diego skate punk scene. "M+M's" and "Wasting Time" were released as singles to promote the album, and received popularity locally through radio play. The band toured in support of the album vigorously, most notably on the GoodTimes Tour in 1995, which brought them outside of California for the first time. Cheshire Cat is cited by bands and fans as an iconic release, and has sold over 250,000 copies as of 2001.

  1. ^ Sources for 1995 release date:
    • "BLINK". alt.punk. Google Groups. January 6, 1995. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
    • "san diego bands". alt.punk. Google Groups. January 18–22, 1995. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
    • "Blink, from San Diego". alt.punk. Google Groups. February 15–17, 1995. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  2. ^ Brackett, Nathan. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Fireside, 904 pp. First edition, 2004.
  3. ^ Walker, Morgan (January 4, 2013). "Ultimate 2014 Rock Guide". Kerrang!. p. 50. We put out our debut Cheshire Cat in 1995...