had heavy influences from a mix of reggae and dub, ska, punk,
progressive rock, acoustic rock, and
hip-hop. The band consisted of three
members, Bradley Nowell on vocals and guitar, Bud Gaugh on drums,
and Eric
Wilson on bass guitar. The band achieved mainstream success with the release of
their self-titled
album but Bradley died shortly after. Bradley died from a
heroin overdose, and the band broke up shortly
after. The band is still seen as
highly influential today and is still played on American radio stations,
especially
in their home town of Long Beach California also known as the LBC.
From 1988 to the mid 1990’s the
band toured throughout southern California and
gathered a cult like following of skaters, and surfers. The
band sold their initial recordings at
live shows—eventually including their first full-length album 40 Oz. to
Freedom. “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
Smoke Two Joints”. 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. On May 25, 1996, just two months
before Sublime, their self-titled
third album and major label debut was to be
released, frontman Brad Nowell, a recently married
new father, fresh out of a
record company sponsored rehab, died of a heroin overdose after a show
in
Petaluma, California. In Bradley’s absence after his death, the band’s first
single “What I Got” was
played all over the country and got phenomenal ratings.
The album went five times platinum due to
that song. Sublime
were known for their casual attitude and heavy use of marijuana and alcohol
with Brad and band mates often arriving late for gigs, sometimes drunk. Their carefree
attitude is
what I along with most people find so magical about the band. The
music is so easy going and laid
back. They are all so musically talented. It is
a shame that Bradley died before his time. He would
have been able to grace the
world with some incredible musical creations.
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