Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus Might Have Played a Crucial Part in the Capture of Saddam Hussein

Joining forces with Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus formed the hit rock band Blink-182. Known for songs like “Adam’s Song”, “All the Small Things”, and “Stay Together for the Kids”, the group gained international fame as they sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Continuing to take the stage together, Hoppus recently released his new autobiography about his life in the spotlight. And according to the musician, he might have played a part in the capture of Saddam Hussein. 

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Serving as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until 2003 when he was overthrown, Hussein played a crucial role in the invasion of Iran and was accused of mass killings. The Human Rights Watch suggested that during his reign, Saddam’s regime was responsible for the death of nearly 300,000 Iraqis. Back in 2003, armed forces invaded Iraq on rumors that Saddam was housing weapons of mass destruction. 

With Saddam on every watch list, it seemed that Hoppus might have given the government the right tool to catch the politician labeled a tyrant. Recalling the moment in his new book Fahrenheit-182, he wrote about how Saddam often sent videos from an unknown location. This gave him an idea. Speaking with a Navy admiral, he said, “Sir, I have a plan for how to catch Saddam Hussein. Sir, what about having drones fly all over the region in carpeting patterns, broadcasting time codes above the level of human hearing but at the level that a video recording would catch it.”

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Mark Hoppus Declares “You’re Welcome Everyone”

Setting up his plan, Hoppus added, “Then, the next time he releases one of his videos, you can listen to it, pull the ultrasonic data, and triangulate the drones you have flying all over.” 

Explaining how shocked the admiral was over the suggestion from Hoppus, the top brass hoped to mention it to the Chiefs of Staff. Not knowing if the admiral ever got the chance, the musician concluded, “Four months later, Saddam was located and captured in Iraq. So, you’re welcome everyone.”  

While Blink-182 prepared to hit the road in 2025 with the Missionary Impossible Tour, the band’s contributions to the United States could have gone far beyond their love for punk rock.  

(Photo by Natasha Moustache/Getty Images)