Overview
A 2016 profile of Tom DeLonge’s Sekret Machines project examined the ideas and alleged sources behind the planned trilogy, presenting it as an ambitious attempt to address humanity’s most controversial questions about unidentified aerial phenomena. The project was designed as a multimedia franchise involving novels, nonfiction books, a documentary and music. Its stated subject was not simply extraterrestrial visitation, but the broader history of unusual encounters, government knowledge and the possible technological and psychological implications of the phenomenon.
The article emphasized that Sekret Machines offers competing models rather than a single, verified explanation. Its discussions range from ancient “gods” and alleged nonhuman entities commonly described as “Greys” to artificial intelligence, consciousness and the possibility that advanced technology may be misunderstood by modern observers. These ideas are presented as claims, interpretations and narrative possibilities—not as established scientific findings.
DeLonge’s Ambition
At the center of the project was DeLonge, the former Blink-182 guitarist whose interest in UFOs had previously surfaced in the band’s song “Aliens Exist.” After leaving Blink-182, he pursued projects through his company, To the Stars Inc., describing Sekret Machines as his most ambitious undertaking. The first novel, Chasing Shadows, was scheduled for release on April 5, 2016, alongside plans for nonfiction material and other media.
DeLonge said he wanted to build a long-running franchise comparable to Star Wars, Batman or Marvel. He also described the project as a way to communicate difficult subjects through popular culture. “We can put really large important themes and ideas within the building blocks of modern art,” he told GQ, arguing that fiction, music and film could reach audiences who might reject a conventional presentation about UFOs.
Ideas and Alleged Sources
The trilogy’s conceptual framework reportedly draws together several traditions of UFO speculation. Ancient accounts of gods or beings descending from the sky are considered alongside modern reports involving alleged “Grey” entities. Other sections explore whether some reported phenomena could involve artificial intelligence, forms of consciousness unlike human awareness, or technologies capable of influencing perception and belief.
The article’s treatment of these themes is significant because it does not establish a hierarchy among them. Rather, the books appear to map a network of hypotheses—some technological, some historical and some metaphysical. No claim that the project’s alleged sources prove the existence of extraterrestrial visitors, advanced nonhuman intelligence or government-held breakthroughs should be inferred from the books alone. The material is better understood as an account of ideas circulating within UFO culture and of the questions DeLonge believes deserve public attention.
Government and Defense Claims
A major element of Sekret Machines is its focus on government responses to UFO reports. DeLonge said he had approached people within government circles and presented the project as a kind of communications effort. “I took very strategic steps to earn their trust,” he said, adding that he delivered four-hour presentations to what he described as high-ranking officers.
He portrayed the subject as connected to defense, national security and technological developments, claiming that the project would reveal information about “what we’ve found” and “the steps that we’ve taken.” Those statements were presented as DeLonge’s assertions, however, and the interview did not independently verify the identities of his contacts, the contents of the briefings or the existence of the alleged breakthroughs.
Context and Significance
The project occupied an unusual space between entertainment, advocacy and purported disclosure. DeLonge argued that it could reduce public cynicism toward government and restore confidence in defense institutions, while also encouraging a more serious discussion of unexplained aerial incidents. Its value, therefore, lies partly in showing how UFO narratives are assembled: through testimony, historical speculation, defense claims, science-fiction concepts and questions about consciousness.
For readers, the central distinction remains essential. Sekret Machines is an exploration of allegations and possible explanations, not independently verified evidence. Its trilogy invites audiences to consider multiple interpretations of the UFO phenomenon while leaving the underlying claims unresolved.
