Perhaps because it's so hard to honor someone with a fart joke, Blink-182 singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge has formed a side project called Box Car Racer to pay tribute to the bands that influenced him.

The group, which also includes Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Over My Dead Body guitarist Dave Kennedy, will release its still-untitled debut album on May 14. DeLonge wrote all of the material, played guitar and bass, and sang almost all of the vocals.

"This record is directly influenced by the bands that mean the most to me — Fugazi, Refused and, of course, Blink-182," DeLonge told MTV. "It's a tribute to the music that made me want to be in a band in the first place."

DeLonge began recording the album in December at San Diego's Signature Sound, according to a spokesperson for Box Car Racer. Jerry Finn (Green Day, Sum 41), who has produced the last three Blink-182 releases, produced the album, and Blink-182 singer/bassist Mark Hoppus contributed vocals on one song.

Before Blink-182 embark on the Pop Disaster Tour with Green Day and Jimmy Eat World this spring (see [article id="1451792"]"For The Record: Quick News On Green Day, Blink-182, Lenny Kravitz & More"[/article]), Box Car Racer will hit the road for a string of dates. DeLonge will recruit a bass player for the tour, the spokesperson said.

"First Date," the latest single from Blink-182's Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001), is currently climbing radio and video charts (see [article id="1446836"]"Blink-182 Return To '70s In 'First Date' Video"[/article]).