Sublime is an American reggae punk band from Long Beach, California. Formed in 1988, the original lineup consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass), and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell’s Dalmatian, served as the band’s mascot. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996, which led to the group’s initial breakup. In 1997, several of the band’s songs, including "What I Got", "Santeria", "Wrong Way", "Doin’ Time", and "April 29, 1992 (Miami)", received radio airplay in the United States. The band released three studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums, three EPs, and one box set. Their first two albums, "40oz. to Freedom" (1992) and "Robbin’ the Hood" (1994), achieved moderate popularity in the United States. However, the band’s commercial breakthrough came with their self-titled third album, released in 1996 shortly after Nowell’s death. The album reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and included the single "What I Got", which reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. By 2009, Sublime had sold over 17 million albums worldwide, including approximately ten million in the United States. Michael Happoldt and Marshall Goodman contributed to multiple recordings. In 2009, the surviving members attempted to reform the band with guitarist Rome Ramirez, a young musician and fan from California. After a performance at Cypress Hill’s Smokeout Festival, a court ruling prevented the use of the name Sublime without permission from Nowell’s estate, which controlled the trademark. As a result, the group continued under the name Sublime with Rome, which released three albums. Bud Gaugh left the project shortly after the release of their 2011 debut album, "Yours Truly". In 2023, Gaugh rejoined Wilson and Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob Nowell to reform Sublime. Following this, Wilson announced his departure from Sublime with Rome, which subsequently disbanded at the end of 2024. Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh were childhood friends who grew up in the same Long Beach neighbourhood. Wilson’s father taught Gaugh music theory and drumming. Together with future Sublime manager Michael Happoldt, they formed a punk band called The Juice Bros during high school. Bradley Nowell, who had dropped out of the University of California, Santa Cruz, later joined the group and introduced the members to reggae and ska influences. The band’s first live performance took place on July 4, 1988, in Belmont Shore, Long Beach. Due to initial reluctance from venues to book their eclectic style, the band founded Skunk Records to release their own music and promote themselves as recording artists. They played extensively in Southern California alongside bands such as Smokestacks, No Doubt, and Skeletones, and recorded early demo material. In 1990, Nowell adopted a Dalmatian puppy named Louie, later known as Lou Dog, who frequently appeared on stage during performances. Around the same period, music student Michael Happoldt offered the band access to a recording studio, where they recorded overnight sessions that resulted in the cassette "Jah Won’t Pay the Bills" (1991), which helped establish their early following. In 1992, Sublime released "40oz. to Freedom", which helped define their blend of ska, punk, reggae, surf rock, and hip hop. Initially sold at live shows, the album gained wider attention after radio station KROQ played the song "Date Rape". By 1996, it had sold over 200,000 copies. The band briefly signed to True Sound but remained primarily associated with Skunk Records. In 1994, Sublime released "Robbin’ the Hood" under MCA’s Gasoline Alley imprint. The album featured experimental and lo-fi recordings and was not a commercial success. The band toured extensively and gained increasing popularity through radio play of earlier material. They also participated in the 1995 Vans Warped Tour but were asked to leave due to disruptive behaviour and incidents involving Lou Dog. The band continued touring while working on new material. In early 1996, Sublime recorded their major-label debut, their third studio album, but Nowell died on May 25, 1996, in San Francisco shortly after the band’s final performance in Petaluma on May 24, 1996. He was 28 years old. The album was released two months later and became a major commercial success, with "What I Got" reaching number one on the Modern Rock chart. The album was certified multi-platinum in the United States and produced additional singles including "Santeria", "Doin’ Time", "Wrong Way", and "April 29, 1992 (Miami)". Management stated that the band would not continue under the Sublime name following Nowell’s death. Following the breakup, several posthumous releases were issued, including "Second-Hand Smoke" (1997), "Stand by Your Van" (1998), and "Sublime Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends" (1998). A greatest hits compilation followed in 1999, and a box set titled "Everything Under the Sun" was released in 2006. Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh later formed the Long Beach Dub Allstars with several associated musicians. Gaugh also played in Eyes Adrift alongside Krist Novoselic and Curt Kirkwood, releasing a self-titled album in 2002. Various tribute projects and reissues followed in later years. In 2012, Wilson and Gaugh performed under the name Sublime with Rome at the D-Tox Rockfest in Quebec. In 2013, a live album titled "3 Ring Circus – Live at The Palace" was released, featuring recordings from a 1995 performance. In 2021, a 25th anniversary cassette edition of the self-titled album was released, alongside remix projects involving dub producers Scientist and Mad Professor, titled "Sublime Meets Scientist & Mad Professor Inna L.B.C.". In 2023, the live album "$5 at the Door: Live at Tressel Tavern, 1994" was released. In late 2023, Wilson and Gaugh reunited with Jakob Nowell for a performance in Los Angeles. In 2024, Sublime was announced as part of the Coachella Festival lineup with Jakob Nowell as a full-time member. The band released the single "Feel Like That" featuring Stick Figure. Sublime with Rome subsequently disbanded at the end of 2024. In 2025, the band began working on a new studio album with Travis Barker and John Feldmann. The single "Ensenada" was released as the first preview of the album. In 2026, the upcoming album "Until the Sun Explodes" was announced for release in June, and the band was also confirmed for the Louder Than Life festival lineup. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublime_(band) Studio albums 40oz. to Freedom (1992) Robbin' the Hood (1994) Sublime (1996) Until the Sun Explodes (2026) . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.