Drummer Adam "Atom" Willard of Angels and Airwaves appears onstage during MTV's 'Total Request Live' at the MTV Times Square Studios Tuesday, May 23, 2006 in New York. Angels and Airwaves' debut album entitled "We Don't Need To Whisper' hit stores Tuesday, May 23, 2006. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Perhaps the most popular musical Angels since that girl group from the '60s (famous for their hit "My Boyfriend's Back"), Angels & Airwaves will probably pack the the Majestic Ventura Theatre on Tuesday night.

Often referred to as a supergroup, San Diego's A&A; is clearly on the upward spiral. The frontman is singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge, once upon a time a member of those pop-punk kingpins blink-182 and, before that, Box Car Racer. The lead guitarist is David Kennedy, of Hazen Street and also a former Box Car.

Yes, they do play a few Blink and Box Car songs but, most likely, tunes from the pair of A&A; albums. Matt Wachter thumps the bass and Adam "Atom" Willard gets the view from the back as the drummer.

"The Adventure" was the first single from the band's debut album, in 2006, and turned out to be the ticket, propelling "We Don't Need to Whisper" to a metal beloved by corporate suits: gold. Another song, "Start the Machine," is thought to be about the untimely demise of blink-182.

A&A;'s latest album, "I-Empire," has been selling like free pizza. Released Nov. 6, it reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200. The CD's first single, "Everything's Magic," lit up the switchboard at L.A. radio station KROQ, and the video was filmed at Birmingham High School in the San Fernando Valley. So we get the band without all that traffic hell.

When the new album came out, according to fans, the band's Web site had a video of a biker and a voiceover by Ike — not Ike Turner, but President Eisenhower, golfing his way to a secure America in the '50s and also a very prescient voice when it came to military-industrial shenanigans. The video ended with lyrics from "Secret Crowds," a track on "I-Empire:" "If I had my own world, I'd build you an empire."

Perhaps not as deep is a discovery DeLonge made about the band's name. He was fiddling with the band acronym and discovered that by inverting the middle "A," the group's name looked like "AVA," not coincidentally his daughter's name, Ava. Who knew? Drummer Willard did — well, not about Ike, but everything else as he responded to an easy e-mail grilling.

What's new in the Angels & Airwaves circus?

Just being on tour in the dead of winter whose idea was this anyway? Don't they know it's FREEZING?!?!?!

How do you handle the ongoing media frenzy?

One question at a time.

How does the new album fit in with the first one?

It's really just a continuation. There are new messages and new moods on this one, stuff we didn't get to last time around.

Rock, pop-punk — or whatever they call it this week. Does it matter what it's called as long as someone's listening?

No, it doesn't matter, since everyone's idea about what's what is different; there is no "standard" to base the label off of.

What do you think the band sounds like?

Atmospheric rock.

What became of blink-182?

I can't say because I wasn't there. But from what I understand, the three of them slowly grew apart in terms of what their priorities were.

Who goes to your shows — zillions of teenage girls?

It's a total mix of people. There are kids, college students and fans up to about 40 years old.

Can music change the world?

I think music can change a person's outlook, change the way they feel about themselves or their surroundings, and in turn THEY can make a difference in the world and make a change.

Most of your fans wouldn't know Ike from Ike Turner. Are military industrial complex conspiracies and misdeeds more relevant than UFO activity?

Huh?

What was the original band plan compared with the present reality?

Pretty close to where we are now. We're playing amazing shows for sold-out crowds who are passionate about our music. It's pretty great.

What's the strangest gig you ever played?

I have played in people's basements, squatters' warehouses, laundromats. To pick one might be tough.

How do you do your laundry on the road?

With soap, of course!

Any advice for an aspiring musician?

Practice! Play shows and go on tour, any way you can.

What's the most misunderstood thing about the life of a musician?

People have the idea it's all easy and fun, which it mostly is, but there is a lot of work that goes into it, too. You don't always think about the 15-hour drive that's right before the autograph signing you agreed to do for 1,500 people. It's just a lot sometimes.

Complete the cliche: It's only rock 'n' roll, but ?

I like it with mustard.