Sublime Reunites Despite Legal Action From Late Frontman's Estate
Popular '90s punk band Sublime performed at California's Smokeout Festival over the weekend and late lead singer Bradley Nowell's estate was not happy about it.
It was the band's first show since Nowell died back in 1996 from a drug overdose and his family is upset that they aren't taking on a new name to perform under.
The band's remaining members include Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson along with Nowell's replacement, Rome Ramirez.
Bradley's family released the following statement:
"It was Brad's expressed intention that no one use the name Sublime in any group that did not include him, and Brad even registered the trademark Sublime under his own name. As Brad's heirs, and with the support of his entire family, we only want to respect his wishes and therefore have not consented to Bud and Eric calling their new project Sublime… and now with great reluctance feel compelled to take the appropriate legal action to protect Brad's legacy. Our hope is that Brad's ex-bandmates will respect his wishes and find a new name to perform under."
But Gaugh and Wilson don't agree and performed as Sublime anyway!
Gaugh explains:
"While we all mourn the passing of our brother and bandmate Bradley Nowell some thirteen years ago, Sublime still has a strong message of hope and love to share..It’s unfortunate that The Estate would take a position against us…Eric, Brad and I started this band when we were kids. We were the ones that spent years paying dues playing hole-in-the-wall clubs. We were the ones lugging around our gear in a broken down van. We were the ones that spent years writing, recording and rehearsing. WE. Not anyone else. Sublime is a band - our band."
We tend to agree with Gaugh, but does anyone even still listen to Sublime?
[Image via AP Images.]
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Completely Gratuitous
First of all Sublime is not punk go kill yourself Perez. And LOTS OF PEOPLE STILL LISTEN TO SUBLIME YOU PRICK. Nowell's Estate needs to shut the fuck up. Nowell ruined Sublime with his drug addiction. He cared more about drugs then his family and the band. It showed and it ended him. Eric and Bud were just as much a part of the band as Brad was. Brad was the soul of the band sure, but he wasn't everything. Do you know how many times Eric or Bud had to go down to the pawn shop and buy Brad's guitars back because he pawned them for heroin money? No. You don't.
Re: heatherrr –
you would get sliced if you talked that shit in Long Beach.
Re: spliffsta –
When AC/DC's lead singer died and they came back with a new singer no one gave them shit and they came back twice as good. Give the boys a chance. And you fucking moron, Dub All-Stars was not a Sublime like project just because they were both involved in it. So Dave Grohl can be in Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and Queens of the Stone Age……..
Re: TheRussianOne – LBDA wasn't a Sublime-like project?! Really?! Because I sure as shit heard them playing Sublime songs when I saw them play.
shut up perez. as far as i'm concerned sublime had a significant influence on reggae music, and i know SO many people who love sublime. so yeah, people DO still listen to sublime. how about not judging bands or people, OH WAIT. that's your job.
EVERYONE LISTENS TO SUBLIME!!!
Yea, Perez… Sublime is still the best. No matter what they do it will never be Sublime with Brad.
haha uuuuuh.. yeah go to any highschool in america and youll find people who listen to sublime
Sounds like the rest of the band needs some money because thats the only reason to still use the name Sublime. It is not the same band without Bradley and it's not an outrageous request for the remaining members to use a different name. Respect the dead and don't try and use him to make money.
helll yes people still listen to sublime!!!!
HECK YES I STILL LISTEN TO SUBLIME! That is a band that will NEVER go away, and I def. agree with the band members… so tragic.
Re: TheRussianOne – hahaha your stupidity amazes me. the fact that you would say that long Beach Dub Allstars was not a Sublime like project speaks volumes to your ignorance. so go on with your bad self, calling names while faceless on a computer. You're a tough guy.
Do people still listen to Sublime? Really? Are you kidding me right now? I'm listening to sublime right the fuck now. I was listening to Sublime while scrolling through this website.. Sublime is amazing. Im honestly baffled by yer stupidity.. Who the hell doesnt listen to sublime thats what I wanna know… I really hope you were being a smart ass or something by saying that, or else yer just the dumbest piece of shit to ever walk the planet. I dont know OF ONE person who doesnt listen too sublime.. and, the only reason you dont know this is because yer off in hollywoodland where everyone listens to the same shit. wears the same shit, eats the same shit… everyone is boring and exactly the same in hollywood, atleast the famous people.. I should know, I live here.
OMG perez. you should be ashamed for even assuming no one listens to sublime. especially here in eastern canada, where there are tons of people who partake in the occasional (or frequent) joint, you cant deny that sublime is epic. im a huge music lover and often speak of sublime and there have been very few and far between that i have met from around here that dont enjoy their music. sublime has been such an integral part of my life, that lyrics from their "Boss DJ/It's So Nice" song are being tattooed on my back next week. "Let the lovin take ahold of me, Because it will if you let it"
Although, kudos for mentioning them on your site and i'd love to read more of what Eric and Bud are up to. sooooo jealous i couldnt go to the smokefest.
I still listen to them and i think it's unfair if he did make that request, it's not their fault nor should they have to suffer because he's dead, they lost their career over his decision making skills which obviously were lacking and so is this one deciding they can't use the name.
sublime fucking rocks
Does anyone still listen to Sublime? Seriously? As if Sublime sucks or something. God, you are so dumb. You wouldn't know good music if it bite you in the ass!
Being a huge Sublime fan, I agree it was their band, blah, blah, blah. However, without Bradley there is no Sublime. None. Bradley's voice, lyrics and personality as their frontman was HUUUUUGE! You can't replace that. Pick a new name for your new band, because Sublime you are not anymore.
hell ya ppl do i love sublime we were just listening to them in class last week
I still get excited when I hear "Wrong Way"!!!
It's unfortunate that they even have to got through that type of shit. It has been like he said 13yrs, but I am sure it was like yesterday for the family.
I am pretty sure that I am gonna piss a lot of people of, but here it goes!
Brad was a drug addict and for all intensive purposes chose the HEROIN over his band mates. He know what he was doing would and could kill him one day and yet he chose to continue, even after numerous interventions and dry spells. No Brad isn't here, but that was and is solely on Brad. His family should be honored that his band mates even want to be associated with a band that had the potential to be that band whose music changed the scene. They should be grateful that the surviving band mates don't lash out at them for the son/brother/boyfriend for utterly and completely destroying their dream by choosing to continue using HEROIN
In a situation like this there are no winners or loser. Just healing and moving forward with life.
HELL YEAH I STILL LISTEN TO SUBLIME LIKE AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK- THE FAM SHOULD BACK OF AND LET THOSE GUYS CARRY ON- BRAD WAS A PHENOMENAL AND INTRIGAL PART OF SUBLIME- AND HE WILL NEVER BE REPLACED- BUT WHAT THEY AS A GROUP STOOD FOR SHOULD NOT BE DISMANTLED- I DON'T THINK THATS WHAT BRAD WOULD HAVE WANTED
Re: JimmyStewartLover –
They wouldn't need the money had "SOMEBODY" not been selfish and think about his family and friends.
Out of RESPECT for the family they waited 13yrs. They could have and should have reunited long time ago!
i LOVE sublime and i think brad would want the name and legacy to live on.
perez, what the fuck. sublime is still as amazing as they have ever been. yes, people listen to them and we are not boring, we are fucking fabulous.
Are you serious?! Sublime is probably more popular today than 13 years ago. I still see Sublime shirts all the time. If they were to go on tour, I could guarantee those shows would make lots of money!
Does anyone listen to Sublime?? HA! HELL YEAH!! Sounds as good now as it did then. Perez, (and your people, speaking foolishly on your behalf) just because you didn't listen to it (and you obviously wouldn't if you did) doesn't mean it's not good. Don't talk about what you don't understand.
No big shock here…selfish junkie Brad goes and destroys his life and with it, brings down his wife, child, and bandmates. Now the estate wants to "protect" his legacy? Puh-leez, dude should have thought about protecting his legacy before overdosing. Junkies are selfish and so are their enablers.
you are such a moron..everyone listens to sublime-nobody listens to the electronic techno nonsense you try to promote…get a grasp of reality
i seriously created an account just so i could comment on this.
anyone who is anything listens to sublime. they are HUGE.
that is all.
Uhhhhh, i listen to them everyday asshole. Sublime and blink 182 are my favorite bands. But anyway i don't know what to think. I'd love to see sublime back in action but it would never be the same without brad.
I LOVE sublime!
The Sublime performance at smokeout could not have been more amazing. Rome is a perfect new lead singer for Sublime and keeps up the bands good name. I am so glad they are bringing back the music which touched so many. They deserve to play the music which they helped create, they deserve to carry on Sublime and Brad's message. All artists deserve the right to their own creation!
Re: fiones – you clearly have no idea what reggae music is.
AMAZING MUSIC!
PS. THERES EVEN A COVER BAND THAT GOT BIG BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE EM! [badfish]
OF course sublime will never die! I LOVE SUBLIME…you should listen to them once in a while Perez
are you kidding ?!?! yes i still listen to sublime and know people that do. perez listen to their music so good (unless you have a closed off minD)
Sublime rocks, but they should change the name. It worked for Joy Division/New Order.
YEAH MY HUSBAND IS ONE OF THOSE PPL, i know i don't get it, but he will be happy with the news
Seriously? R u slow P? 40 oz. to Freedom was one of the best albums of my youth and yours.
Fuck yes, people still listen to Sublime. How dare you even say that. Sublime is my 2nd favorite band of all time (Beatles numero uno). So, if something doesn't have obnoxious techno beats or something remotely "gay" about it, it's not worthy of being listened to? Fuck you. Learn how to appropriately appreciate music.
But as for the issue at hand, I don't know who to side with. I kinda agree with both. Maybe Brad would've liked the new dude, but if that's what his people are saying he said and did, then I guess they can't call it Sublime.
"does anyone still listen to sublime?"
um..YEAH haha im a 90s kid and still listen to them. KROQ and other stations still play their music and I know a lot of ppl that still love this band
I think Brad must be turning in his grave. Sublime was an amazing band back in the day and I still listen to them on a regular basis. If Gaugh wants to bring back the band and continue to perform as Sublime, I say go for it.
F8Kin right we listen to Sublime, Perez you yuppie scum.
EVERYONE still listens to sublime
and i agree they gotta keep the name sublime
We tend to agree with Gaugh, but does anyone even still listen to Sublime?
–Seriously? Just because someone dies doesnt mean people stop listening to their music. Honestly what kind of statement was that. Music doesnt get old and Sublimes music carries MANY strong messages.
Re: fiones – Agreed!!
Fuck yes people still listen to sublime you retard ! There are other genres of music besides the electro-trash-pop horse shit you rave about.
I always wondered why they never released new songs, I had no idea the lead signer OD'ed. Anyway, I major heart Sublime and they will forever have a place in my iphone. Santeria 4 eva!!!!
i love sublime, and i always listen to their music
it was a tragic loss. I hope they can work out their
differences and i honestly dont know how they
can play without their lead singer he was a huge part of
sublime and i dont think they'll ever sound the same.
soo sad!!
Santaria by Sublime is the most requested song on 102.1 The Edge in Toronto which rivals KROQ in terms of size and reach. Does that count as popular?
Wow. How dickish of Nowell's estate. I think when he said he didnt want anyone else using the name, he probably wasnt thinking ahead, about pulling the ultimate dick move and ODing leaving the world without sublime. I miss brad terribly, but i miss sublime even more. Eric and Bud are definitely in the right. and, "…but does anyone even still listen to Sublime?"…. are you guys fucking retards, or just assholes?
i have a hard time associating the term "protecting brad's legacy" with the phrase "death from drug overdose".