Long-running Southern California band Sublime has inked a partnership with Atlantic Records, with the band’s first new full-length album with frontman Jakob Nowell, son of the band’s late original singer-guitarist Bradley Nowell, slated to arrive later this year. Nowell (pictured above, center) joins the founding rhythm section of drummer Bud Gaugh (left) and bassist Eric Wilson.
The band is also celebrating the 30th anniversary of its smash 1996 self-titled album with two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado (April 17-18), launching what the announcement describes as a year-long celebration honoring the album. That celebration will continue with the band’s own touring music festival, Sublime Me Gusta, debuting May 9 at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, Tx.
The Atlantic deal follows a series of independent releases, including the hit singles “Feel Like That” (with Stick Figure) and “Ensenada,” via Sublime Recordings and Jakob Nowell’s new venture SVNBVRNT in partnership with Regime Music Group.
According to the announcement, the new deal sees the band retaining ownership of its master recordings while expanding its reach through Atlantic. The three bandmembers enthused about the partnership in a series of statements included in the announcement:
“Atlantic told us that if we signed with them they would pay for my experimental cosmetic surgery to have the body of a goat and the head of a goat. They seem like real straight shooters, and their office has bowls of Halloween candy dated March of last year, but it still tasted fine to me. We’re gonna change California music history or die trying.” — Jakob Nowell, Sublime (dictated but not read)
“You have no idea how many records I had growing up as a kid watching them spin around and around with the Atlantic Records label on them. Everything from AC/DC to Zeppelin, and so many others! I am beyond excited to announce this partnership with Atlantic Records and Sublime!! So Get Ready! Here comes some new stuff for your ears to hears!” — Bud Gaugh, Sublime
“So great to partner with Atlantic Records finally! I’m excited about our new album; it truly is an organic Sublime album…can’t wait for people to hear it.” — Eric Wilson, Sublime
Sublime was founded in 1988 in Long Beach, Calif. by Gaugh, Wilson and Nowell’s father Bradley. The band released its first album in 1992, “40oz. to Freedom,” and was poised for major success four years later with their self-titled third outing and major label debut. However, Nowell died of a heroin overdose on May 25, 1996, when he was just 28. The album was released two months later, and powered by singles like “What I Got,” “Santeria,” and “Wrong Way,” has racked up 18 million sales, according to the RIAA.
In 2009, Gaugh and Wilson united with singer Rome Ramirez and released three albums as Sublime With Rome, but both original members ended up leaving the band, the former in 2011 and the latter in 2024, after the two joined forces with Jakob Nowell as a reunited Sublime and performed at that’s year’s Coachella festival. A brief period ensued in which both bands were on the road at the same time, but Sublime With Rome (featuring no members of the original group) played its farewell tour later in 2024.
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