Blink-182 singer/bassist Mark Hoppus made his first public appearance on Sunday (June 27) since announcing his cancer diagnosis last week, dropping into a game of Blinko on Twitch to play with fans and answer some questions about how he’s feeling. Wearing a black t-shirt, black baseball hat and glasses, Hoppus seemed happy to be on camera and interacting with fans, answering their questions and sharing his gratitude for their well-wishes.
“How am I feeling today? I feel much better than yesterday,” Hoppus said near the top of the nearly 45-minute session of online bingo in a clip first spotted by Absolute Radio. “Yesterday was hellish for me and I woke up today feeling better – I went for a walk, and I had a decent breakfast, and I haven’t felt like I was going to throw up today, so we’ll take it as a win.”
The 49 year-old rocker revealed last week that he has cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy for the last three months. “I have cancer,” Hoppus wrote. “It sucks and I’m scared, and at the same time I’m blessed with incredible doctors and family and friends to get me through this. I still have months of treatment ahead of me but I’m trying to remain hopeful and positive. Can’t wait to be cancer free and see you all at a concert in the near future. Love to you all.”
Telling fans he’s hoping to tour Australia again “as soon as possible” in the chat, and that he “can’t wait” to play in Finland again, Hoppus thanked one commenter fan for their kind wishes for a speedy recovery, saying “we’re doing this.” So far, Hoppus hasn’t revealed what kind of cancer he’s fighting, but he did explain during the game what his daily routine looks like during treatment.
“On good days, I go do stuff. I went on a walk outside today and it was the first time I’d left my house in like… five days pretty much,” he said in between descriptions of the “HiMyNameIsMark” sticker packs he was sending out as prizes for the Blinko winners. “But this round of chemo I wasn’t totally stuck on the couch, miserable. I’ve actually watched movies and walked around and cleaned the house and hung out with my dogs.”
Hoppus seemed focused and relaxed during the game, trying his best to help fans understand how to play and even answering questions about his favorite pro wrestlers of all time (Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter, Iron Sheik) and making a note to check for a later stream if there’s a tempo change in the intro to “Stockholm Syndrome” from the band’s 2003 untitled album. “Today I’m feeling pretty good,” he said in answering a question about his favorite current Blink song, “Feeling This” and what other video games he’s currently playing.
He also noted that all proceeds from the game were earmarked for Children’s Hospital and that if he were to support a baseball team it would be the Chicago Cubs, since his son is going to college in Chicago.
The singer said he can’t really “go anywhere right now” because of his treatment, though, noting that he would have gone to see his home team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the night before if he could have. “I wanted to go to the Dodgers last night – I can’t. I want to go hang out with friends and go to a restaurant – I can’t,” Hoppus said. “My white blood cell count is way too low for me to go out so I am stuck trying to get better. That’s alright, I’ll take it.”
In between chatter about how the band puts together their set lists and the revelation that it’s pretty boring backstage during the day of a show, Hoppus described the difference between a good and bad day of treatments. “I didn’t just feel like a poisoned electrified zombie leaning up against an electric fence like I did the rest, the past couple of rounds,” he said of his chemo regimen, noting that he’s been watching “gritty” old movies during treatment, including Midnight Cowboy, The Italian Job and The French Connection.
And, yes, he still listens to the Cure and will not ever retire “What’s My Age Again?” or “All the Small Things” “No way, they’re great songs, why would I stop playing songs I love?” he said.
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