Travis Barker has continued to speak out about his recovery, this time on his myspace page. It’s great to see him recovering, and hopefully he’s finding the messages for his recovery distracting. Anyone who has had an extended stay in hospital (he’s been in since September 20) know that it is the dullest place on earth, next to Starbucks.

Travis says he is recovering well, and thanks everyone for their support. He also pays tribute to his friends/employees Chris and Che that died in the crash, saying “I would give up anything to have them here with me today.”

Like the doctors said from the beginning, its been a slow recovery process. I am coming up on the 7th of my surgeries Monday. Today I finally was able to move all my fingers on my right hand. Every step seems huge at this point, and Im doing EVERYTHING I can possibly do to get back to my kids. Yes, I did start eating meat again, but if it helps me to be home holding my little humans sooner, then its all worth it. The staff here are all bomb! Dr. Grossman and his staff are the best. The BOSS Barbara, and nurses Betty, Jay , Emily, Julio, Lolita, and Stephanie (with the best scrubs ever!) are all taking the best care of me.

[From Travis Barker's myspace]

Travis also includes some pictures of himself in hospital, which shows his bandages and just how serious the crash was. Burns take an amazingly long time to heal, often years, and multiple surgeries.

Travis has this to say about his ex wife. The emphases are his own, not mine.

Despite any rumors you might have heard via my EX-wife Shanna Moakler, who I have not seen since the week I checked in, Ive been treated amazingly well, both here in LA and in Georgia. The hospitals Ive been treated at are THE BEST.

The comments that Travis refers to were made in this press release.

Today Shanna has a new PETA ad out, just a few days after Travis revealed he is eating meat to help his protein levels. Jaybird commented that at first thought she assumed the often squabbling pair were feuding again, but assumed otherwise. Perhaps they are, after all, when I’m sick I think my tolerance for people drops significantly, and that’s even people I like. It’s not unlikely that they could have had a falling out under those circumstances.

Travis ends by saying he had a visit from DJ AM and found it inspiring, highlighting the excellent medical team at their shared hospital. He also adds that he is sad to have missed his son’s birthday party, but is grateful to be around to see many more.

In the pictures the always thin Travis looks gaunt, and has his right hand bandaged past his elbow.

Travis Barker is shown in the header on 4/18/08, credit: PRPhotos. The small photos of him below in the hospital are from his myspace.

On Wednesday Travis Barker gave his first interview since surviving a plane crash that killed four out of six of the people on the plane. In it, Travis mentioned that after 25 years as a vegetarian he has started to eat meat again, saying that his doctors told him he needs the food protein to heal.

Ironically today PETA released a statement that Travis’ ex-wife Shanna Moakler has become a vegetarian and recorded a commercial for the animal rights organization. Though Travis and Shanna have had a very acrimonious relationship, she has been by his side throughout his entire hospitalization.

“There are so many good reasons not to eat meat, but for me, the well-being of my children is the most important,” says Moakler, who has also appeared in several films and on many TV shows, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Dancing With the Stars. “I want them to be healthy and also to understand that when they say ‘No!’ to meat, they’re saying ‘No!’ to animal cruelty. We talk about our pets, and I say, ‘You wouldn’t eat Biscuit, would you? Well, then let’s not eat any animal, O.K.?’”

Although Moakler originally went vegetarian out of concern for animals, the health benefits came as a pleasant surprise. “I don’t think I really realized what I was putting into my body and the actual effects that it was having on me, so now I feel so much healthier, and I have so much more energy, and foods taste better!”

The compassion for animals that Moakler is imparting to her children goes beyond the dinner table. She’s an ardent fur foe–she won several fur coats in various pageants but now plans to donate them to PETA to use in its campaign to educate the public about the cruelty of the fur industry.

[From PETA.org]

The timing sure is suspicious. However PETA doesn’t give any indication of when Moakler shot the ad, and I seriously doubt she’s had time to do it since Travis’ plane crash. What I find especially interesting is Shanna’s statement that she feels healthier and has more energy. Of his decision to start eating meat again, Barker said, “‘I don’t regret it at all, I feel so much better.’” I guess it goes to show everyone’s body needs something different.

My first instinct when I saw this was, “Uh oh, they’re feuding again.” But I think the timing is just coincidental. It seems like Shanna and Travis have been getting along really well lately – not only has she been with him the entire time he’s been in the hospital, but she took a bus back to L.A. with him because he was too afraid to fly. I’m hoping they avoided any arguments and just ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Protein-filled and totally awesome.

Here’s Travis and Shanna at the T-Mobile Sidekick LX Launch Party in Los Feliz, California in October 2007. Images thanks to Bauer-Griffin.

Travis Barker on 9/7/08. Credit: Starbux / WENN
Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is still hospitalized for burns he sustained during a horrific plane crash in Georgia last month. Barker and DJ AM were the only survivors of the crash, and AM has already been released from the hospital. Barker must have suffered worse injuries than his friend, because he is still in the hospital and undergoing skin graft surgeries. He gave a brief interview to US Weekly in which he gave some insight into his recovery, revealed that he hated planes before the accident and REALLY hates them now- which is why he traveled by bus from the Atlanta hospital to one closer to his home in Los Angeles to continue his treatment.

Travis Barker opens up for the first time since his tragic September 19 Learjet crash that killed four. He and DJ AM - the only survivors of the crash - suffered second and third degree burns on their hands and lower body.

“I hate planes,” the ex-Blink 182 drummer, 32, tells Us exclusively. “My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened … well, I’m just thankful to be alive! I’m just grateful to be here at all.”

He spoke to Us on Oct. 6 from the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles, where he is now being treated. (He said he was too afraid to fly cross-country from Georgia - where he initially recovered in a burn unit - so he arranged to travel by bus with his father and ex-wife Shanna Moakler.)

How are you doing?
“I am doing the best I can possibly be. I’m so anxious to get out of here. …I’ve just been in surgery after surgery. I have third degree burns basically from my feet up to my waist and both hands. One of my hands was second degree burns and one was third degree burns. I’m trying to have a quick recovery and play the drums again and be able to hold my kids again. [Barker has two children, Landon, 5, and Alabama, 2, with Moakler.] I’m going nuts not being able to see them and spend time with them!”

After over 25 years as a vegetarian, you had to start eating meat again. Why?
“I need protein from food rather than just protein supplements. I changed my diet. I would do anything I possibly could if they said like, ‘There’s a possibility you might heal faster if you do eat meat or just change your eating habits.’ So I did. I don’t regret it at all, I feel so much better.”

How much longer will you be in the hospital?
“Oh gosh, I hope not much longer. I sit here and I read books and watch TV. I think if this surgery went well, I’ll be here for at most two weeks.”

[From Us Weekly]

Best wishes to Travis for a continued recovery. I can’t say I blame him for hating planes! It sounds like he has a strong support system with his family and his spirits are good. It can’t be fun to be cooped up in the hospital like that - but he seems to be staying positive and focused on getting better.

Note by Celebitchy: In related news, DJ AM’s celebrity DJ friends have announced a benefit concert featuring Mark Ronson, Steve Aoki, Danny Masterson and Mixmaster Mike. Tickets for the October 14 Hollywood event cost $20, and the proceeds will benefit the memorial fun for the four victims of the crash, according to People.

Less than a week and a half after escaping from a fatal small plane crash which killed two friends and two crewmembers, Travis Barker has been released from the burn unit of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia. He suffered second and third degree burns to the lower half of his body. On Friday it seemed like Barker would be lucky if he got out of the hospital in a couple of weeks, but clearly he’s gotten better much quicker than originally expected.

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is out of the hospital on Monday after spending nine days in a burn center. Barker was in critical condition after surviving a plane crash in South Carolina on Sept 20.

The musician and DJ AM (nee Adam Goldstein) were the only two out of six passengers to survive the crash, though both suffered serious burns. Goldstein was released from the hospital on Friday.

“Travis is in good condition and was discharged this morning,” Beth Frits, a spokesman for the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, told People magazine. “He has left Augusta.”

There is still no word as to Barker’s expected recovery time.

[From the Daily News]

I really wish Barker or DJ AM’s spokespeople would release some sort of statement that talked about their prognosis. I’m sure their fans are all wondering just how bad (or good) things are. At first it didn’t even seem clear that they’d pull through, and then it seemed like if nothing else they’d be scarred in some serious way. Now they’ve both been released from the hospital in surprisingly short times – which speaks to both of their overall good health as well. Hopefully things will continue looking up for them, and both Barker and AM will keep surprising everyone with great progress.

Here’s Travis and ex-wife Shanna Moakler at the VMAs last September. Images thanks to PR Photos.

The two survivors of a terrifying plane crash, Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM, are on the road to recovery. In fact, DJ AM was released from the hospital this afternoon after being treated for second and third-degree burns. As more details emerge about the crash, their ability to escape the fate that met their friends is even more amazing. Somehow, both men were able to slide out a window near the wing of the plane, and used each other’s bodies to put out the flames that engulfed them. Truly horrifying.

A week after surviving a plane crash that took the lives of four people, DJ AM has been released from Doctors Hospital in August, Georgia, his rep said Friday.

“While he is deeply saddened by the events he is thankful for all of the love and support he has been receiving from fans and friends world wide,” the rep said. “We ask that you continue respect his privacy as he rests and heals and mourns the loss of his friends.”

The 35-year-old, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, was being treated at the hospital’s Joseph Still Burn Center for second- and third-degree burns.

Actress Mandy Moore, his ex, was seen buying a get well gift for him at Mr. Ballon and Cookies by Design in West Hollywood on Thursday.

[From Us Weekly]

Meanwhile, Travis Barker is still hospitalized for second and third-degree burns on the lower half of his body, but friends say that the drummer is responding well to treatment and could be released in a couple of weeks if all goes well.

With friends like Jermaine Dupri, who needs a publicist?

The music producer, Travis Barker’s So So Def clothing line partner, has been speaking out on his on-the-mend friend, saying the former Blink-182 drummer remains positive and is looking forward to leaving the hospital after last week’s fatal plane crash.

Dupri visited Barker, who, along with Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein, was critically injured in the incident, at Georgia’s Joseph Still Burn Center on Sunday.

“He’s doing good, he’s gonna be all right. He’s just got a lot of healing to do,” Dupri told People.

“He’s supposed to send a message out to everybody in a couple of days to let everyone know that’s he’s feeling better. He’s definitely feeling the love from everyone.”

Barker’s also feeling the love in the form of a pimped-out hospital room.

“He’s just now getting everything in the hospital set up for him—iPods, computers, everything that he needs,” Dupri added. “You got to make sure he is comfortable.”

His plugged-in suite will also no doubt help Barker communicate with caring fans, something Dupri says his friend is gearing up to do.

“He’s in good spirits,” Dupri added to OK! magazine. “He’s gonna be on iChat in like two days, so he’s going to send you all a message.”

In the interest of good measure, and mad PR skills, Dupri also spoke with Us Weekly about his recovering pal, who has undergone several surgeries to treat the second- and third-degree burns on his torso and lower body.

“It’s a seriously sad situation,” he said. “He’s doing good…but I really hate to see my friends go through this.”

[From E!Online]

That’s great news for DJ AM, and good news on Travis Barker’s improved condition. We hope both crash survivors continue to get well.

TMZ has a post up titled “Travis Cries for Help in Incredible Fiery Aftermath.” It features local news coverage of the dashboard camera video of a police car that was on the scene right after the learjet crashed Friday night in Columbia, South Carolina. You can’t see Barker but you can hear him pleading for an ambulance and the pain and anguish in his voice as he asks for help. Four people died in that crash, and US Weekly has the heartbreaking details if you’re interested.

The video didn’t originate with TMZ, it’s a sensational video that aired on a local ABC newscast, WOLO-TV. It seems to be common practice to air that type of footage and people will watch it like they’ll slow down for a car crash. Maybe I find it a little heartless because I haven’t watched US television in a while, but it just seems disrespectful to the victims’ families and the badly burned survivors to air it.

New video has emerged of the immediate aftermath of the South Carolina plane crash, and it’s a miracle that anyone survived.

WOLO-TV just posted the dash-cam vid from a local police car, and you can hear what is apparently Travis Barker pleading desperately for help.

[From TMZ]

Meanwhile AM’s ex girlfriend, Mandy Moore, has flown to Georgia to provide support as he is treated in the burn unit of an Augusta hospital. His condition is critical but stable. AM’s doctor says that both he and Barker should make a full recovery.

More details are coming out about the cause of the crash. Some speculated at first that the Learjet may have been overloaded with equipment, but it turns out that a tire burst when the plane was taking off, causing it to careen into a nearby embankment and catch fire. An official for the NTSB is looking into the cause and says that it doesn’t explain the severity of the crash, and that “it is rare for something like that [a burst tire] to end in a fatal accident.”

Here is a photo of the flowers and candles left outside Travis Barker’s store, “The Fast Life,” in West Hollywood, for the victims, Chris Baker and Charles Still. Travis Barker is shown at the VMAs on 9/7/08. Credit: WENN

DJ AM and musician Travis Barker survived the crash of a private plane late Friday night by jumping out of the aircraft as soon as it hit a nearby embankment on takeoff. The Learjet was on fire when they escaped and both were badly burned. They were the only survivors out of six people on the plane.

Yesterday the prognosis sounded poor for at least one of the victims. Travis Barker is said to be burned from the waist down, and it sounded like DJ AM, Adam Goldstein, was in worse shape as he suffered facial burns, and there was news that doctors had him in a medically-induced coma to do skin graft surgery.

E! Online quoted a source which said AM was “really, really badly burned,” that “his face is very burned,” and “More than 50 percent of his body is burned and the worst is on his face.”

Today there is more positive news about AM and Barker’s condition, with their doctor stating that both should have full recoveries despite the serious nature of their injuries:

Travis Barker and DJ AM suffered second and third degree burns from Friday’s jet crash that killed four people, Dr. Fred Mullins, Medical Director at Georgia’s Joseph Still Burn Center, announced at a press conference Sunday morning.

Barker has burns on his torso and lower body and Goldstein has burns on his arm and part of his head, Mullins said. (Mullins would not say the percentage of their bodies that were burned or whether they were conscious. He also did not go into detail about the type of treatment they are currently receiving.)

He said the two did not sustain any other injuries from the crash.

“I think these patients are going to make a full recovery,” Mullins said.

He added, “Anybody who can survive a plane crash is very lucky.”

During the conference, Mullins also read a statement from the families.

“The families wish to thank fans from all over the world for their prayers and concern. Deepest sympathy is expressed to the loved ones of those who perished in the crash. As the two recuperate and mourn this loss, privacy for them, their families and friends is requested at this time.”

[From US Weekly]

Our thoughts are with AM and Barker as they recuperate from this tragic accident. They are lucky to be alive and are likely to have a lot of surgeries and difficult rehabilitation ahead of them.

You can send well wishes to AM and Barker through the e-mail a patient form on their hospital’s website. They are likely to received tens of thousands of messages, but it can’t hurt.

Shanna Moakler has rushed to be with ex-husband Travis Barker after he was in a serious plane crash. Moakler’s mother spoke to People and said that Travis was doing okay – everything considered – but that he was incredibly upset over the deaths of four other passengers, one of whom was his assistant Chris Baker.

Both Barker and DJ A.M. made it out of the plane alive, but they were very badly burned and are still listed as in critical condition. Moakler flew out to Georgia early this morning according to her mother Gail.

Travis Barker’s former mother-in-law, Gail Moakler, tells PEOPLE, “We’re totally crushed,” but that Shanna Moakler has rushed to be with her ex… Moakler, whose daughter Shanna was married to Barker, tells PEOPLE, “Our heart pours out. We’re hoping he recovers. The family is rallying around him and saying our prayers.”

Both Barker, 32, and DJ AM (real name: Adam Michael Goldstein), 35, were taken to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia, about 75 miles southwest of the Columbia, S.C., crash site. Both are listed in critical condition. Four others on the plane were killed: pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, Calif.; security guard Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles; and Barker’s assistant Chris Baker, 26, also of Los Angeles.

Upon hearing the news of the crash, “Shanna flew out this morning, and I am going to L.A. to be with the children so that she can devote time to Travis,” Gail Moakler tells PEOPLE. “There’s still love between them,” says Gail Moakler. “They may be divorced, but they’re still very close. She spends a lot of time with him. Their priorities are their kids.”

The youngsters have yet to be told about the incident. “We’re waiting a bit to see what God brings,” says their grandmother, who adds, “Shanna spoke to Travis last night. He was defiant after the accident and didn’t want to be lifted in a helicopter, but rather an ambulance, so they had to knock him out.”

[From People]

Shanna and Travis were married in 2004 and divorced earlier this year. They had a pretty dramatic relationship which was documented on their MTV show Meet the Barkers. They were constantly breaking up and getting back together, and it was hard to guess at any given moment if their divorce proceedings were still going on or if they’d reconciled. Travis and Shanna have two young children: daughter Alabama is 2 and their son Landon is 4.

It sounds like things are still very much up in the air regarding Barker’s condition, but as I mentioned it’s still listed as critical. He and DJ A.M. are beyond lucky to have escaped the plane; but it sounds like the situation is still tenuous at best. Hopefully things will stabilize soon and they’ll both be okay.

Here’s Travis Barker and DJ Am at the MTV Movie Awards on September 7th. Images thanks to WENN. Header is an older picture of Shanna Moakler and Travis Barker when they were still together.

Musician Travis Barker and celebrity DJ Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, were among the surviving passengers in a private learjet which crashed taking off from a South Carolina airport Friday night. Both Barker and Goldstein are in critical condition in the burn unit of an area hospital. Four other passengers were killed, but their names have not yet been released. Barker and Goldstein were performing along with Perry Farrell, best known as the former lead singer of the band Janes Addiction, and Gavin DeGraw. It is not yet known whether Farrell and DeGraw were on the plane. (Update: according to various accounts, both Farrell and DeGraw are fine and were not on the plane.)

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and a popular disc jockey were critically injured in a Learjet crash in South Carolina that killed four people, authorities said Saturday.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the plane carrying six people was departing shortly before midnight Friday when air traffic controllers reporting seeing sparks. The plane went off a runway and crashed on a nearby road, she said.

Hospital spokeswoman Beth Frits said Barker and DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, were in critical condition at a burn center in Augusta, Ga., about 75 miles southwest of Columbia.

NBC News reported that Barker, who also starred in MTV reality show “Meet the Barkers”, had performed Friday night at an event alongside Perry Farrell, the former Jane’s Addiction singer, as well as Gavin DeGraw and Goldstein.

‘Terrible and tragic’
It was not clear whether Farrell and DeGraw were also traveling with Barker and Goldstein.

Federal officials confirmed that two crew members and two passengers were killed in the crash.

“It’s absolutely terrible and tragic,” Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said.

Bergen said the Lear 60 was headed to Van Nuys, California. She was unable to confirm the names of those on board.

Barker and Goldstein perform together under the name TRVSDJ-AM.

[From MSNBC]

This is awful news and our hearts go out to their families and to those who lost their lives. Part of me hopes that Farrell and DeGraw were not on the plane, but it’s a tragedy no matter who died in that accident.

We’ll have to stay tuned to this story and see if more information is available.

Update: Here is a photo of the crash and more information from the local news source, WLTX. The plane crashed into an embankment when taking off, and then caught fire. Baholicious notes Perez Hilton says Perry Farrell and Gavin DeGraw were not on the plane, but that has not yet been confirmed. There were two passengers and two crew members who perished in the crash:

An airport spokesperson says a lear jet–a small, private passenger plane–crashed just after take off a little before midnight Friday.

At this time, it appears the plane was attempting to take off, ran off the runway, through a fence, and hit an embankment along Highway 302. The plane then caught fire, and airport emergency crews are working to put out the blaze.

Six people were aboard the airplane. It’s believed four people are dead, and two were taken to the hospital.

CBS News has confirmed that Travis Barker, a drummer who once was a member of the rock bank “Blink 182″, and D.J. AM, who’s real name is Adam Goldstein, were aboard that plane, and survived. They have been taken to the hospital for treatment at the Augusta Burn Center, and they both are in critical condition.

Barker and Goldstein were in Columbia Friday night as part of a concert in Columbia’s Five Points.

Update 2: TMZ is reporting that Perry Farrell was not on the plane. Hopefully Perez Hilton was right and Gavin DeGraw wasn’t on the plane, either.

Update 3: Gavin DeGraw wasn’t on the plane, according to his rep, quoted in People.

The other two passengers who died are said to be males, while the two crewmembers were a female pilot and a male co-pilot.

Update 4: TMZ reports that the pilot and co-pilot have died, Sarah Lemmon and James Bland, along with another male passenger, Charles Still, and Travis Barker’s assistant, Chris Baker, 29, (no relation) who was featured on his reality show Meet the Barkers. Baker had a wife and baby at home.

Barker and Goldstein escaped by opening the door of the plane and jumping out right after it crashed and was already on fire. Barker is said to be burned from the waist down and it is thought that he will survive. Goldstein has suffered serious burns to his face.

Travis Barker and DJ Am are shown at the MTV Movie Awards on 9/7/08

Have you noticed that there are much fewer stories about Lindsay Lohan lately? A story in People made it abundantly clear that she’s completely fallen off the wagon. While the gossip magazines and sites covered it, it was barely a blip on our radar. She’s living with a woman and we covered a story that she yelled at Ashley Oslen for trying to talk to her girlfriend, saying “Get your 15-year-old Full House ass away from my girlfriend,” but it only got 7 comments. It’s not like anyone really cares about her at this point. Good for her for staying in a relatively long term relationship even if she’s insanely jealous and drinking again.

The stars of faux reality show “The Hills” get more press coverage than Lohan, and that’s really saying something. Over the weekend there was a story that she drink Shirley Temples and seemed to abstain from alcohol while at a gig her girlfriend, DJ Samantha Ronson, played in Las Vegas on Friday, but with Lohan you never can tell if she’s sneaking vodka into her drinks. Nor does anyone particularly seem to care.

Here she is at the Launch of the Scarlet HD TV Series yesterday, looking rough and awkward in that dress. Also shown are Heidi Montag and Spencer Prat, Emmy Rossum, Kristin Cavallari, Lauren Conrad, Tila Tequila, Vanessa Marcil, Bai Ling, and Travis Barker. Thanks to PRPhotos.