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Sublime (band)

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Sublime
Background information
OriginUnited States of America
Years active1988 – 1996
MembersBradley Nowell
Eric Wilson
Matt Mason

Sublime was a garage punk, ska band from Long Beach, California, playing a mix of reggae and dub, ska, punk, and hip hop. The band consisted of three members: Brad Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums), and Eric Wilson (bass guitar).

History

From 1988 through the early 1990s, Sublime toured heavily throughout southern California and garnered a substantial following of surfers and skater punks. The band sold their initial recordings at live shows—eventually including their first full-length album 40 Oz. to Freedom. Released on the band's own Skunk Records, 40 Oz. to Freedom featured several songs that would go on to become fan favorites, as well as a selection of covers indicating Sublime's varied influences—The Grateful Dead, KRS One, The Descendents, Bad Religion, Toots and the Maytals. Their second album, Robbin' the Hood, was recorded in 1994. It consisted of a few fully developed songs along with instrumentals, tape dubs and various rantings of the manic Raleigh Theodore Sakers. Sublime became a college radio favorite, and the song "Date Rape" made its way onto the playlist of Los Angeles radio station KROQ. This airplay caught the attention of MCA, which signed Sublime to record a proper follow-up to 40 Oz. to Freedom.

On May 25, 1996, just two months before Sublime, their self-titled third album and major label debut, was to be released, vocalist Brad Nowell died from a heroin overdose after a gig in San Francisco. However, the first single, "What I Got," enjoyed huge success and the album ultimately went five times platinum. A handful of posthumous releases followed. Surviving bandmates Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson continued to perform together with the Long Beach Dub Allstars until 2002. Gaugh then left to drum for Eyes Adrift and Wilson now plays bass with second-generation Allstars lineup Long Beach Shortbus.

Sublime were known for their heavy use of marijuana and alcohol. Brad Nowell was known for arriving late and/or showing up drunk. They often kicked themselves in the teeth when it came to becoming more mainstream. For example, at the influential Los Angeles radio station KROQ's festival ('weenie roast'), they printed hundreds of backstage passes for friends and family when KROQ were only given a few. This resulted in anarchy leading to fans rushing the stage and Brad's Dalmatian, Lou dog, biting a television presenter. Moreover, during an interview on KROQ the group smoked a joint, causing their hit song "Date Rape" to be pulled from the playlist as punishment. Despite all of this, Sublime's antics only made them more popular with their following.

Despite only releasing three studio albums, a plethora of Sublime bootlegs exists containing most of their live shows along with several solo acoustic performances by Brad Nowell. Furthermore, several original, un-released songs exist that never made it to a studio album, the most notable being I Ain't No Prophet.

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Hit singles

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