Sublime
Sublime build upon their SoCal alt-rock reputation, furthering the ska, punk, and reggae sound they helped champion. Sublime rose to fame in the mid-'90s alongside fellow California punk outfits Green Day and the Offspring, adding elements of reggae, ska, and dub into the mix. The band released only two albums during its first seven years before breaking through with 1996's eponymously titled Sublime. However, their success proved bittersweet as lead singer Bradley Nowell died from a heroin overdose just two months before the record's release. Consequently, the band was already broken up by the time singles like "What I Got," "Santeria," and "Wrong Way" were climbing the charts. Along with forming Long Beach Dub Allstars, the surviving members eventually re-formed as Sublime with Rome (featuring singer Rome Ramirez) for 2011's Yours Truly and embarked on a more official reunion as Sublime for 2026's Until the Sun Explodes with Bradley Nowell's son Jakob Nowell taking on lead vocal duties.
Formed in 1988 in Long Beach, California, Sublime initially started as a garage punk band with vocalist/guitarist Bradley Nowell, bassist Eric Wilson, and drummer Bud Gaugh. The group began touring heavily while amassing an increasingly substantial following, especially among the surf/skate beach crowd. After four years of concentrating strictly on live shows, Sublime recorded their first album, 40oz. to Freedom, in 1992. The LP was released on Skunk Records -- a label formed by Nowell with Sublime manager Michael "Miguel" Happoldt -- and sold at local shows, but it really started to break after it started getting played on local radio station KROQ.
Mostly due to that radio exposure, Sublime signed to MCA in time for 1994's Robbin' the Hood, which revealed an experimental ethic more in keeping with cut-and-paste dub than the well-tuned rage of the Cali punk revival. The album performed well at college radio and set the stage for the breakout success of their self-titled third album. On May 25, 1996, however, Nowell was found in a San Francisco hotel room, dead of a heroin overdose. The band collapsed, but the album was still slated for a July release.
On the strength of the chart-topping alternative radio hit "What I Got," the eponymously titled Sublime was certified gold by the end of 1996. "Santeria" and "Wrong Way" also enjoyed heavy airplay, and Sublime eventually sold more than five-million copies, making it one of the most popular ska-punk albums in history. Such success spread to the band's earlier albums too, leading 40oz. to Freedom to double-platinum sales and Robbin' the Hood to gold certification. As Sublime's legend lived on, Wilson and Gaugh formed a new band called Long Beach Dub Allstars. There were also a number of posthumous Sublime releases, among them 1997's Second Hand Smoke, 1998's Stand by Your Van and Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends, Greatest Hits in 1999, and Gold in 2005.
In 2009, Wilson and Gaugh began touring with singer/songwriter Rome Ramirez under the moniker Sublime with Rome. Together, they released their debut album, 2011's Yours Truly, on Fueled by Ramen. Soon after, Gaugh parted ways with the group. In 2013, Sublime marked the 25th anniversary of their first show with 3 Ring Circus - The Bootleg Series: Live at the Palace, a concert DVD capturing a 1995 show at Hollywood's historic Avalon theater. Another archival-based project, Sublime Meets Scientist & Mad Professor Inna L.B.C., appeared digitally in 2021, featuring dub remixes of Sublime songs.
In 2023, Gaugh reunited with Wilson to officially re-form Sublime, bringing on board Bradley Nowell's son Jakob Nowell as lead singer. In the wake of the reunion, Sublime with Rome disbanded with Ramirez pursuing a solo career. The re-minted group returned in 2026 with their fourth album, Until the Sun Explodes, featuring the title track and the single "Ensenada." ~ Matt Collar & John Bush
