Aliens Exist

Several commentators have viewed the song differently following DeLonge's continued investigation into UFOs later in life; his company To the Stars was instrumental in the 2017 release of military footage of unidentified aircraft, prompting the Pentagon to formally establish the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.

[4] When the band received their first royalty check after signing to Universal Music Group in 1996, DeLonge bought his first personal computer, which he immediately used to research alien phenomena.

The two would leave each other handcrafted messages on their live performance rigs with duct tape, with DeLonge most commonly saying "aliens exist," while Hoppus would reply "no they don't.

"[9] Barker receives no songwriting credit, as he was considered a touring musician at this point in their career but did serve as the song's arranger, "selecting the tempos and organizing the flow of verses, choruses, and breaks.

[6][2] In a 2000 program for their arena tour, DeLonge delves into the song's subject matter: As a hobby all I ever do is read books and study material on UFOs and government conspiracies.

Houston Chronicle reporter Mike Damante ranked it among the band's best, calling it hugely "underrated",[20] while Chris Payne at Billboard praised it for its break from "the mold of pop-punk lyrical tropes.

[29] Following DeLonge's return, the band continued to perform the song as part of its 2023 world tour, with video screens showcasing tabloids of him and his "brush with aliens".

[33][34] DeLonge continued to explore alien phenomena in his work with his band Angels & Airwaves, which he started in 2005; songs like "The Flight of Apollo" and "Valkyrie Missile" reference these topics.

[35] The song has been frequently referenced[36] and viewed through a different lens in the wake of DeLonge's continued investigation of UFOs, and his succession to becoming one of the country's most famous researchers.

[37][38][39] After many years of exploring the concepts through other endeavors, DeLonge co-founded a company, To the Stars, with several senior government and intelligence officials, focusing on aerospace, science, as well as entertainment.

In 2017, the company released leaked footage, in partnership with the New York Times of unidentified aerial phenomena that the Pentagon later confirmed as real; these efforts were viewed as legitimizing DeLonge's longtime pursuit.