Who is Sublime

Sublime was a reggae dub/punk band from Long Beach, California. A more detailed look at the band's stylistic influences reveals a mix of reggae and dub, punk, acoustic rock and hip-hop. The band consisted of three members: Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums), and Eric Wilson (bass guitar). The band achieved mainstream success with their self-titled third album, but Brad died of a heroin overdose shortly before and the band broke up soon after. The band is still considered influential today, and their music sees heavy airplay on American radio stations.

From 1988 through the mid 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, including the title track "40 Oz. to Freedom" and "Date Rape", as well as a selection of covers, including their version of "Smoke Two Joints", indicating Sublime's varied influences—Grateful Dead, KRS-One, Descendents, Bad Religion, Toots and The Maytals, and Bob Marley. 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. (read more)