Blink-182 Pay Tribute to DJ AM

Tears are about the last thing anyone would expect at a Blink-182 show, but Saturday night at the Comcast Theatre in Hartford, the typically jubilant pop-punk trio had good reason to cry.

"We lost a really dear friend yesterday," said bassist Mark Hoppus, honoring Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, the renowned DJ and club owner who was found dead Friday in New York City at the age of 36.

Goldstein was famous for both his music and romantic dalliances, having dated Mandy Moore and been engaged to Nicole Richie. In recent years, he'd taken to performing with Blink drummer Travis Barker (billed as TRV$DJAM), who would bolster the DJ's canned beats with powerhouse live accompaniment. Goldstein and Barker made headlines in September 2008, when a plane they chartered after a college show in South Carolina crashed during takeoff, leaving both musicians with severe burns. Four others died in the crash.

The incident led Barker, Hoppus and Blink guitarist Tom DeLonge to reconnect, settle old grievances and stage this latest tour -- the band's first since going on hiatus in 2005.

As Hoppus spoke Saturday of Goldstein, his voice quivered with the kind of emotion and sincerity that, while present in many of Blink's best songs, are often overshadowed by juvenile humor. "He was a genius and an innovator, and he loved music about as much anything in the world," a tearful Hoppus said, thanking Connecticut fans for their support.

Hoppus asked for -- and received -- a moment of silence before leading a ferocious version of 'Down.' Later in the show, DeLonge, too, got serious, if only for a moment, urging fans to "forget every bad thing" in their lives and allow themselves an evening of catharsis.

Barker, who shared perhaps the deepest bond with Goldstein, never spoke, opting instead to let his drums do the talking. Always a nimble and energetic performer, he seemed to ratchet up his playing, chasing complex fills that threatened to throw him off the beat. Barker opted out of his routine solo and instead donated that time to an onstage vigil, asking for all the lights in the arena to be turned off.

Earlier in the evening, Barker broke his silence on Goldstein's death via his Twitter. "Don't know how I am gonna play 2night but I am for AM," Barker tweeted. "My brother is gone. I love u and miss u, I'll never forget all the good times we had. I'll never forget everything we've been thru and every time I play the drums I'll think of you. U were an amazing friend/DJ/human being. Rest In Peace my brother, this really f---s me up."