This page is a brief history of Sublime's progress over the years, presented in a timeline format. If what you are looking for is not here, please check out the substylee* Permanent Record, or check our Links page for more detailed and specific information on Sublime.
Bradley James Nowell is born to parents James & Nancy Nowell in Long Beach, California.
Eric & Bud play in their first garage band together. The band, which is still in some form of existence today was named "The Juice Bros."
Bud starts Resistence, a Lakewood punk band. He also meets Jack Maness at the two begin to jam together.
Bradley plays in a couple of straight-ahead reggae bands during his teen years. These two bands, Hogans Hereos & Sloppy Seconds serve only as a footnote in Sublime's history.
Eric introduces Bud to Bradley and Sublime is born.
The band's first recording, Fighting Blindly is also recorded during this year. Although many sources say the band was created in 1988, this recording marks the start of Sublime as a recording group.
Sublime's first public show sets off what has come to be known as "The Pennisula Riot" in Long Beach, CA. From then on they are the band to see in Long Beach.
Sublime meets Miguel Happoldt, a recording engineering major at CSUDH. Miguel knew Sublime has the most popular group on campus (CSULB) that year.
Skunk Records is born. Originally created by Miguel to release his band's (The Ziggens) demos, Skunk Records soon became home to Sublime as well, who said that they helped to create the record company so that they could call themselves "Skunk recording artists Sublime."
Sublime spends a couple of months in the recording studio producing songs for their second demo tape, Jah Won't Pay The Bills. During this time one of Sublime's staple songs, Badfish is recorded.
When about to embark on their first tour, Sublime is forced to put their shows on hold when Bud enters into rehab to kick his drug habit. Eventually the shows go on, with Marshall Goodman & Kelly Vargas taking on the percussion duties.
Jah Won't Pay the Bills is released, containing many tracks that would later end up on their next release.
Without any major distribution, 40 oz. to Freedom initially sells over 30,000 copies straight out of the trunks of the band member's cars. The album would soon be featured on the Billboard charts, and would get Sublime major-label attention, although they wouldn't sign a contract until three years later.
Sublime finishes six tracks and plans to release a new disc. However, feeling that six tracks on a CD is a rip-off, the band goes back into recording sessions that take place in abandoned and condemned homes in and around Long Beach, preparing more tracks, including a few acoustic tracks, dubs, and covers. Eventually they would end up with the 22-track long Robbin' the Hood.
Sublime's controversial single Date Rape is put onto the playlist at influential Los Angeles alt-rock radio station KROQ. Soon it becomes the most requested song at the station, and other stations around the country began to follow suit.
On the power of Date Rape's inclusion on the KROQ playlist, and their loyal SoCal following, Sublime signs a 5 label contract with MCA Records.
Sublime embarks on their highest profile tour, earning a top spot on the Warped Tour. During the course of the tour, Bud broke two ribs while riding a half-pipe, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, and Louie bit a few audience members backstage, all of which contributed to Sublime being prohibited from playing two dates on the tour.
Jakob James Nowell is born to parents Bradley Nowell and Troy den Dekker.
After smoking weed and drinking during an on-air interview at KROQ, Sublime's Date Rape is pulled from the playlist.
At the tail-end of 1995, Sublime heads to Austin, TX to begin recording what would become Sublime's self-titled major-label debut.
Bradley kicks heroin while back home in Long Beach. He is clean for over three months.
05|18|96
Bradley marries Troy in a Hawaiian-themed ceremony in Las Vegas.
05|25|96
Only a week after his marriage, Bradley dies from a fatal heroin overdose in a San Francisco hotel room. He was twenty seven years old. The hit that killed him was his first since he kicked the habit over three months before.
Almost two months after Bradley's fatal overdose, Sublime's self-titled album (whose title was changed from "Killin' It") is released, and recieves gleaming reviews from both critics and fans alike. The album would go on to sell over 3.5 million copies.
Sublime is named rock release of the year by Time Magazine. Sublime is named band of the year by Rolling Stone magazine.
11|25|97
Sensing that interest in Sublime is waning, MCA decides to release Second Hand Smoke only a little more than the year after Sublime. The collection of demos and b-sides never really takes off.
06|23|98
MCA releases the live album, Stand By Your Van.
11|17|98
MCA releases Bradley Nowell & Friends, a collection of acoustic tracks, both studio and live, that Bradley played during his early years. This album marks the fourth in Sublime's five album deal with MCA.
The Long Beach Dub Allstars release their first album, Right Back on Dreamworks Records.
The Long Beach Dub Allstars follow in Sublime's footsteps, setting out in a headline spot on the 2000 Warped Tour.
In late 2000 the Long Beach Dub Allstars enter into the studio to record their second studio album. The disc is scheduled for release sometime during the summer of 2001.