Beth is an 18-year-old super fan of the punk rock band Blink-182. She has devoted her life and spent thousands of pounds on the band over the years, collecting merchandise like flags, pins, and a guitar pick she caught at a show. Beth discussed her first experience seeing the band live in 2014, queueing for 5 hours, and the surreal feeling of watching them perform. While her family is less supportive of her obsession, music is her passion and she finds inspiration from Blink-182's influence.

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So then, back in March us at Crowd Surf were on the hunt for fans out there
who went to crazy extremes in order to show their dedication to bands within
the Rock Music Genre. After endless days of searching for the one, we hit the
jackpot, we found eighteen year old Beth from Hartlepool who has spent not
only years devoting her life to Punk Rock Legends Blink 182, but she has also
spent thousands of pounds on everything from limited edition flags to
pointless crap like pin badges and stickers. Here’s what Beth told us when we
asked her a few questions about her Instrument Shredding Heroes..
Hey there Beth! So we read your email and we had to find you straight away
because we didn’t believe what we were reading at first. All I can say is
WOW! Talk about super fan ey?! So, how long have you devoted your life to
Blink 182 then?
Hey there Crowd Surf, thanks for having me, this is awesome! I feel famous
now. And nobody ever believes that I spend so much time on this band so I
don’t blame you for not believing me really. And erm, since I was a kid really,
and I first heard them when ‘All The Small Things’ was on the music channel, I
saw Tom Delonge and said that I wanted to marry him, I was six. I didn’t start
collecting until my early teens, I started off basic you know with just the cds
and shirts, but it all kind of went skew whiff after that.
Wow Beth, that’s a long time to have liked a band and not have gone through
a scene kid phases huh? And I think we all have a soft spot for Mr Delonge!
Right so now that we’ve covered the basics I’ll get down to the ultimate
questions..Have you ever met them?
I can gladly say that I haven’t been through the scene phase thank God, I don’t
know how some people do it, I guess you could say this band have saved my
reputation as well as my life. And aww man I hate this question, unfortunately
not but it is my dream to meet them; I will stop at nothing until I have done so.
Don’t worry buddy, you will get your shot one day I just know it. Now,
roughly, how much would you say you have spent on the band?
I am still hoping I really am, I have everything crossed including my toes! And I
would say well over a thousand pounds, they are worth every penny and I

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don’t regret a thing. I always joke to my parents and say that at least I am
spending the money on Blink and not drugs.
By the sounds of things you get your fix off this band anyway and hey, drugs
are expensive and you could die, and what’s the fun in that? But, less drugs
more gossip, what is your favourite piece of merch and why?
I’ve never taken any drugs and I never plan to so it’s all cool, however I do
often take Paracetamol after a show when I’ve been caught in the pit but
that’s standard. And I would say one of my two UK Blink flags that I got from
Leeds Festival because I had to run through thousands of people in order to
get them and it was a great achievement, they also sold out in ten minutes so
that makes it better. I also caught Tom Delonge’s pick at a show and I treasure
that on a special part on my shelf.
Oh, watch out guys we’ve got a hardcore mosher in the house! And yeah I
wanted one of them flags but I missed out (grr) I guess I didn’t run fast
enough, and jeez you’re so lucky! When was the first time you saw the boys
live?
August 6th Wednesday 2014 at London Brixton Academy. It was a special one
off show before Leeds Festival and I travelled six and a half hours just to be
there. We queued from 5AM in the morning also.
Seriously? Sometimes I’m just coming in at 5AM an you were queuing for a
Blink show? That’s dedication for you right there, and how did you feel when
you first saw them?
A feeling that I have never quite felt before in my life. It was a very surreal
feeling to have in my opinion, the world’s most talented drummer smashing it
on his drums before my very eyes and to witness the infamous toilet humour
between Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge in real life was quite amazing. The
feeling of the lights shining in my eyes and nearly blinding me was more than
worth it and I was smothered by people’s sweaty bodies but I did not mind at
all, I felt at home.
That is one of the best things I’ve ever heard, this band really mean a lot to
you and that makes me feel happy, I know you love them but, have the band
ever done anything to upset you?

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It makes me happy as well haha and yes very much so, they hardly tour the UK
so it is difficult to see them live in action and the low balance in my bank
account makes me feel sick every time I check it. I was also very upset when
the band announced that they were going into an indefinite hiatus, I still have
nightmares about that day.
Oh man I remember that day as well, I’m pretty sure my sister’s friend cried
for two weeks straight and yeah I can relate to the bank balance bit, it’s like
it magically disappears before you’ve even seen it, crazy stuff. And if you
could meet Blink 182 right now, what would you say?
Yeah I didn’t leave my room for quite a while and my face was sore from the
tears, and I would firstly thank them for giving kids who felt like outcasts a
reason to shout every single swear words there is out loud and not be afraid to
do so, I would also thank them for giving me a beautiful reason to spend all of
my money, I would thank each member for inspiring me to be a better person
and I would congratulate them on inspiring so many people because without
them, half of the bands would exist.
How have the band inspired you on the music front?
Mark Hoppus once said in an interview that ‘I play bass because it is the easiest
thing to play’ and that made me pick up my first bass and start a band.
Yeah I think most people did the same because of this interview, a moment
to go down in History I’d say, and I know you love Blink but, do you have any
other favourite bands?
I totally agree buddy. And yes I do, Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, Joy
Division, Neck Deep, Greenday, Bring Me The Horizon, Pierce the Veil, All Time
Low, My Chemical Romance (cry), A Day To Remember, The Story So Far, New
Found Glory, The Wonder Years, The 1975 and Of Mice And Men, but Blink will
always have the number one spot.
Long live MCR that’s all I have to say, damn I miss that band, and I can see
you like a diverse crew. And last question for us today Beth, how do your
family and friends feel about your obsession?

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I miss MCR so much; at least I have Blink I guess. And my mam is very
unsupportive as she doesn’t feel I am spending my time or money accordingly
and not to mention that she can’t stand the band, my dad just laughs at me
and asks where I’m travelling to next week and my sister is forced to pay her
way to join me. I have no friends but that doesn’t matter to me because I have
music and music doesn’t have end in like friends does.
Thank you to Beth for taking the time to talk to us about her crazy obsession,
check back next issue to see what another super fan said about the guys who
she spends her time bowing down to and crying over in the poster covered
bedroom.