An MTV article released on February 10 claimed that Barker had recently undergone surgery to repair "extensive nerve damage", from which a recovery could take up to ten weeks.

DeLonge stated that the new Blink-182 record would be a fusion of all his previous works, including Box Car Racer and Angels & Airwaves.

[6] As a surprise to fans, the band played their first live performance since 2004 at the T-Mobile launch for the new Sidekick at the Paramount Pictures lot in Hollywood, California on May 14, 2009.

At the Las Vegas opener, Jason Bracelin of Spin called the gig a "prolonged rim shot," while observing "there has always been an almost child-like vulnerability and tender-skinned emotiveness at the core of the band.

"[8] Evan C. Jones at Billboard reviewing the band's Madison Square Garden shows, called the set ferocious, praising the showmanship of Barker, "thrusting his signature, kinetic flourishes onto the drum kit.