“It’s not like I (permanently) walked away. They have someone doing my job for me."
It's now been over two years since he split from blink-182 for a second time, but as far as Tom Delonge is concerned, his departure was never going to be concrete.
Speaking with the San Diego Union Tribune, the 41-year-old reiterated that while he doesn't regret walking away from the band he co-founded, a reunion is very much on the cards.
"Blink is in my DNA," Delonge said.
"I talk to [drummer Travis Barker] quite a bit and we try and figure out how and when it’s going to make sense."
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Delonge continued, "It's not like I (permanently) walked away.
"They have someone doing my job for me. It's just that I'm so busy. If I wanted to, I could be back in a period of days."
In an interview with The Music last year, bassist and singer Mark Hoppus dismissed comments made by Delonge that he was in talks with the band about touring and recording.
"I don't know what [Delonge] is talking about because I haven't spoken with him at all about recording and touring," Hoppus said last June.
"I've spoken with Tom one time since 2014 and it was totally genial enough and it was fine. But it's not something that we're even talking about."
Despite this, Delonge says that he does miss being actively involved with blink, who have since released their latest LP, California, which went on to score a Grammy nomination — the band's first.
"Oh, yeah, I miss the relationship we had, and the growth, and the crazy times," Delonge said of his memories with blink-182.
"But I don’t miss the grind. Like, every band has a grind, so you have to love it so much that you tolerate the grind.
"And, being on tour was such a grind. I didn't love it enough; it was too much disruption for me. And playing the same songs every night and moving your body with your guitar, it felt like you were 'vogue-ing,' like you were faking it. 'Here's the same song again — 1, 2, 3, 4!' I felt like a robot."
While Delonge continues work on directing his first feature film, blink-182 are gearing up to release an extended edition of California, reportedly due out on 19 May.