Sublime is an American band from Long Beach, California that plays a mix of ska , punk , and reggae. Formed in , [ 1 ] the band's original lineup 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 , resulting in the band's breakup. Sublime released three studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums, three EPs, and one box set.
Although their first two albumsโ 40oz. Peaking at No. As of , the band has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, [ 3 ] including about ten million in the U. In , the surviving members attempted to reform the band with Rome Ramirez , a young guitarist and avowed Sublime fan from California. Sublime with Rome is set to disband by the end of Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh were childhood friends.
Having grown up in the same Long Beach neighborhood, Eric's father, Billy Wilson taught Gaugh how to read music and play the drums. Gaugh and Wilson, together with future Sublime manager Michael Happoldt , formed a three-piece punk band called The Juice Bros during their high school years. About this time, Bradley Nowell, who had recently dropped out of the University of California, Santa Cruz , joined the band. Nowell helped introduce Gaugh and Wilson who at the time listened exclusively to punk rock to reggae and ska.
Music venues were skeptical of the band's eclectic musical fusion and many refused to book the band. In response, the band created their own music label, Skunk Records , and told venues that they were "Skunk Records recording artists", which helped the band seem more accomplished and subsequently book more shows.
The trio recorded a few songs and put forth a number of short demos. In February , Nowell adopted an abused dalmatian puppy from a shelter and named him "Louie" after his grandfather. Lou Dog was often allowed to wander around the stage during the band's concert performances. A private party was held in February at Toe Jam for one of the owners. Special thanks can be found for Toe Jam and the owners on the back of the later produced album, 40oz. In late , music student Michael "Miguel" Happoldt approached the band, offering to let them record in the studio at the school where Happoldt was studying.
