Sublime
10 vinyl records found
Sublime merged ska, punk, reggae, and hip hop into a distinctive Long Beach sound that defined 90s alternative radio. Formed by childhood friends Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh with vocalist Bradley Nowell, the band's self-titled 1996 album became a multi-platinum breakthrough before tragedy cut their original run short.
About Sublime
The band started as The Juice Bros during high school, with Wilson's father teaching Gaugh drums and music theory. When Nowell joined after dropping out of UC Santa Cruz, he brought reggae and ska influences that transformed their direction. Their first live show happened July 4, 1988, in Belmont Shore, Long Beach. Facing resistance from venues, they founded Skunk Records to self-release material and build an audience through Southern California shows alongside No Doubt and other local acts. A 1991 cassette called Jah Won't Pay the Bills helped establish their early following.
Sublime's 1992 debut 40oz. to Freedom defined their eclectic blend, gaining traction after KROQ played Date Rape and eventually selling over 200,000 copies. Their 1994 follow-up Robbin' the Hood on Gasoline Alley took a lo-fi, experimental approach that didn't connect commercially, though the band's profile grew through relentless touring and radio play of earlier material. In early 1996, Nowell recorded what would become the self-titled third album, but died May 25, 1996, at age 28. Released two months later, the album reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the number-one Modern Rock hit What I Got, plus Santeria, Doin' Time, Wrong Way, and April 29, 1992 (Miami). The band initially disbanded following Nowell's death, though posthumous releases appeared through the late 90s and 2000s, including Greatest Hits in 1999 and the box set Everything Under the Sun in 2006.
Wilson and Gaugh reformed in 2009 with guitarist Rome Ramirez, but trademark issues forced them to operate as Sublime with Rome. That project released three albums before Gaugh departed in 2011 and Wilson left at the end of 2024. Gaugh reunited with Wilson and Bradley Nowell's son Jakob Nowell in 2023 to revive Sublime itself. The Groove Hunter currently tracks 6 editions across the catalog, including Sublime, 40oz. to Freedom, Greatest Hits, Until The Sun Explodes, Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends, and Icon in Exclusive Limited Edition Oceania Blue Marble Colored Vinyl.
