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+44 (pronounced "Plus Forty Four", also known as (+44) or Plus-44) is a band formed by former blink-182 members Mark Hoppus (bass guitar and vocals) and Travis Barker (drums and keyboards). +44 is a punk rock super group that consists of former Transplants touring guitarist Craig Fairbaugh and the lead guitarist of The Nervous Return, Shane Gallagher. The band's debut album, When Your Heart Stops Beating, was released on November 14, 2006 in the United States. According to Hoppus, the band's name, +44, refers to the international dialing code of the United Kingdom, the country where Hoppus and Barker first discussed the project.
After the blink-182 "indefinite hiatus" in February 2005, former members, Hoppus and Barker wanted to continue working on music; the duo began to colloborate which resulted in the writing and recording new songs together in Barker's basement. Originally, electronic drums, keyboards, samples and direct computer recordings were used in the majority of recordings. Barker later stated that the whole electronic element of the band was derived from "155", the first song he and Hoppus wrote as a band.
As work continued on the demos, punk rock vocalist Carol Heller was invited, by Hoppus and Barker, to try out her vocals. Heller's performance was agreeable enough to the band and as a result the three kept working on more songs together. The band's formation changed again early in the year of 2006, with the addition of guitarist Shane Gallagher. In order to progress with their demos, Barker and Hoppus acquired a studio, a move which marked a "turning point for +44." The band began working solely in the studio they had purchased, playing live drums, guitars and vocals. The band's sound had started with an electronic element which became less evident, but still remained a key feature. As a result, Heller found she wasn't compatible with the band's direction, and with the addition of her wish to start a family, she left the band. The vocal work that Heller contributed is still present in the songs "Make You Smile", "Weatherman" and the "No, It Isn't" demo.
Work continued on the band's first record, with members, Hoppus, Barker and Shane Gallagher, until three quarters of the recording had been done. At this point a new member joined, Craig Fairbaugh, who was to play second guitar and backup vocals.