Contents
We take a look at the history and legacy of the Southern California ska-punk band, Sublime.
Checkout this video:
Sublime’s musical style
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band’s line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell’s dalmatian, was considered a band member. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996 after recording just two albums with the group.
Sublime released their self-titled third album in 1996. The album was released posthumously following the death of singer/guitarist Bradley Nowell the previous year as a result of a heroin overdose.
Sublime’s musical style blended various forms of alternative music including punk rock, reggae, ska and hip hop. They were noted for their eclectic array of samples and signature sound that fused elements of punk rock and reggae with dub and hip hop.
The band’s influences
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band’s line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums). Nowell’s addiction to heroin cut Sublime’s career short when he died in 1996 at the age of 28, but the band has since been regarded as one of the most seminal groups in alternative rock history.
Their third and final studio album, released on July 30, 1996, just two months before Nowell’s death, peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200. The album features the band’s most successful single “What I Got”, which remains their only song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The band’s lyrical content
Sublime’s lyrical content covers a wide variety of topics including love, party-life, social issues, and occasionally drugs. The band’s music is often described as a hybrid of reggae, punk rock, ska and hip-hop. While Sublime did not achieve mainstream success until 1996, their self-titled third album became one of the most popular albums of the 1990s, selling over five million copies in the United States.
The band’s live performances
Sublime was an American reggae punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band’s line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums). Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996.
The band’s live performances were renowned for their energy and improvisation. Wilson and Gaugh played on various instruments throughout the set including drums and bongos, while Nowell would often play the guitar with his feet or perform handstands. These shows became legendary among fans and were often referred to as “sublime moments”.
The band’s legacy
When Sublime formed in 1988, the California trio combined the disparate genres of punk, reggae, and ska to create their own unique musical style. The band’s sound was perfectly encapsulated on their self-titled third album, which was released in 1996. After the untimely death of lead singer Bradley Nowell in 1997, Sublime’s legacy has lived on through subsequent reunion tours and tributes from other artists.
Sublime’s place in the punk/ska scene
Sublime’s musical style arose from the Southern California punk rock and ska scenes of the late 1980s. They implemented elements of these genres into their own sound, which mingled elements of punk rock, reggae, dub, ska, and hip hop. This combination led to the band’s breakthrough album 40oz. to Freedom (1992) which was certified 5x platinum in the United States. The band continued to record and tour until Bradley Nowell’s death in 1996.
The band’s connection to reggae and dub
Sublime was a ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band’s line-up included Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums). Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996, and the band broke up soon afterwards.
The band’s connection to reggae and dub music is evident in their sound. They often incorporate elements of these genres into their songs, giving them a unique sound that has made them popular with fans of both punk and reggae.
The band’s use of samples
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band’s line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass guitar), and Bud Gaugh (drums). Nowell’s girlfriend, Troy Dendekker, occasionally sang backing vocals during live performances. Lou Dog, Nowell’s dalmatian, was the mascot of the band.
One aspect that made Sublime popular was their use of samples. Wilson and Gaugh were both avid record collectors, and it was not uncommon for them to incorporate elements of other songs into their own recordings. For example, the intro to the song ” Waiting for My Ruca” features a sample of Herbie Hancock’s “Hang Up Your Hang Ups.” The band would often incorporate reggae songs into their live shows as well, sometimes playing entire cover versions.
The band’s political views
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band’s line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell’s dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996.
The band achieved mainstream success with their self-titled third album, released in 1996. The album peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard 200 and led to the band’s single “Santeria” becoming a top 40 hit. The album boasts the singles “What I Got”, “Wrong Way”, “Santeria”, and “Doin’ Time”. Although Sublime did not have any top 40 hits after 1996 except for 1997’s posthumous single “Doin’ Time”, which peaked at number 40 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Airplay chart in early 1998, Sublime maintained a large cult following throughout the United States.
Sublime had many different musical influences including punk rock, ska, dub, reggae, and hip hop. The band members were also influenced by Rastafarianism and they were often seen with dreadlocks.
The band’s impact on popular culture
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band’s line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell’s dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose at age 28 in 1996.
In 1997, posthumous album Sublime was released; it featured songs from various stages of the band’s history and demos recorded by Nowell prior to his death. Five years later, Gaugh and Wilson together with new member Rome Ramirez released the album Badfish… Continued, which includes nine previously unreleased Sublime tracks as well as a selection of covers. In 2009, the band’s self-titled 1991 major label debut album Sublime was voted number 8 by super-fans in Rolling Stone magazine’s poll The Top 100 Greatest Albums of All Time.
