Travis Barker is hitting the pause button on his rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle—seriously, folks! After a diagnosis of precancer of the esophagus sent shockwaves through his world, the Blink-182 drummer finds himself at a crossroad between partying hard and prioritizing his health. Joining Kid Cudi on the Big Bro podcast, Travis opened up about this life-altering change and his decision to quit smoking marijuana, a habit he adored but now sees in a stark new light. So, as the stars align for change—what’s next for this punk rock icon? With Venus shifting into health-focused Virgo, it’s a perfect time for Travis to redefine his priorities and embrace a cleaner lifestyle. Let’s dive into his inspiring journey of transformation, from surviving a near-fatal plane crash to confronting a serious health scare. Click on through to see how he’s navigating through this high-stakes situation while balancing fame, family, and wellness!
Travis Barker has revealed a massive lifestyle change amid his precancer of the esophagus diagnosis. The Blink 182 drummer, 51, was a recent guest on the Big Bro with Kid Cudi, with the November 11 episode bringing a massive reveal. Discussing his health, Travis revealed that he’s been diagnosed with precancer of the windpipe, prompting him to re-evaluate his behaviors as he prioritizes his health. The musician and husband to reality star Kourtney Kardashian is already massively tapped into his health, having been vegetarian since he was 13 years old. Following surviving a plane crash in 2008, he became fully vegan.
For Travis, smoking marijuana is now strictly off the table. “I only quit because I got diagnosed with precancer of the esophagus. I loved blunts and I would smoke too much,” he revealed, also stating that he’d probed his doctor over whether or not his situation was “serious.”

“He’s like, ‘This is your warning shot. Don’t f— around. You’ve got to stop smoking,’” Barker continued, admitting that without the firm advice from his physician, he probably would have continued smoking joints. Referencing country music legend Willie Nelson, Travis joked: “I thought I could be like Willie Nelson and smoke to the day I die.”
Travis Barker had spoken out about his marijuana habits back in 2008, when he was profiled by Men’s Health. Prior to the plane crash, the drummer was able to work his way through 20 joints per day, something he admitted was an “excessive amount.”
“People are always like, ‘Did you go to rehab?’” he shared, adding: “And I [say], ‘No, I was in a plane crash.’ That was my rehab. Lose three of your friends and almost die? That was my wake-up call. If I wasn’t in a crash, I would have probably never quit.” During his podcast feature, Travis declined to specify when his diagnosis was given or any details of his follow-up following it. He did, however, reveal that he misses smoking, also mentioning a love of distance running as she continues to tap into his wellness.
Travis is not the only celebrity to have battled precancer or cancer.
Elsewhere, Travis Barker continues to make headlines for his rock-solid marriage to Lemme founder Kourtney Kardashian, whom he married in 2022. The couple’s son Rocky was born in November 2023. This Instagram photo showed Travis enjoying time with his son as fans left over 500,000 likes. Follow us on Facebook for more celebrity news and photos.
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