Sublime has had a massive influence on the reggae and punk rock music genres for the past 30 years, accumulating a multi-generational fanbase. They stayed loyal to band’s side back when singer/song writer, Bradley Nowell was performing, all the way to the present, with his son, Jakob Nowell, taking his place.
Sublime, a punk/reggae band, was originally formed in 1988 in Long Beach, Calif., and originally consisted of three members: Eric Wilson (on the bass), Bud Gaugh (on the drums) and Bradley Nowell (as the singer and guitarist). By 1991, Sublime was gaining popularity and performing for large crowds. They released their first album in 1992, called “40 oz To Freedom.” It ended up selling over 60,000 copies, and eventually their hit song, “Date Rape,” was playing on the radio. By 1995, Sublime became one of the most popular ska bands in the United States.
In 1996, Sublime was working on their final, self-titled studio album. During this time, members of the band were drug abusers, especially Bradley Nowell. Unfortunately, he died from a heroin overdose in 1996. Even after Bradley Nowell’s tragic death, the band continued to gain traction. They released several pre-recorded albums after his death and the band decided to keep working on the album, “Sublime,” which was released July 30, 1996.
Before Bradley Nowell died, he had a son, Jakob Nowell. Little did he know, he would become the new frontman of Sublime and continue on his father’s legacy.
In 2023, Jakob Nowell joined Sublime, stepping into his father’s place as lead singer. Their first viral concert with Jakob was at Coachella in 2024, which encouraged the band to start performing live again. The performance brought the fans together and gave them a chance to form an opinion on Jakob as the new member.
When he stepped up to this position, fans were amazed by how similar he sounded to his father and they appreciated how he was keeping Sublime alive. Lily Bunnell, a freshman at Huntington Beach High School (HBHS), said, “I think it’s a good way to honor his dad and the fans, while also considering his voice being similar to his dad.”
Jakob has always been passionate about music. Sublime has been a huge part of his life since he was a little kid, so he feels pride for his dad and all that he accomplished. Now, Jakob is honored to take over Bradley’s role and is continuing on his legacy.
Emma Concepcion, a sophomore at HBHS, said, “Since Jakob stepped in as Sublime’s lead singer, he’s…revived the band’s legacy in his father’s music. Sublime has reverted back to its original sound, driving that authenticity factor back, the sound that you only hear in Sublime’s classic [music].”
On July 18, 2025, Sublime released their first original single since Jakob joined the band: “Ensenada.” The song blew up shortly after it dropped, being featured on the KROQ radio station in Los Angeles, and made fans excited for what’s to come. Jakob wanted to write a lighthearted song that people could dance to. Their goal for this song was to make it sound similar to their music from the 90s to pay tribute to the original band and his father.
Chris Ward, a Sublime fan since the 90s, said, “The vibes are right, the writing is like early unpolished Sublime, but I like it way more than when they had other singers. Jakob sounds a lot like Bradley and has the same demeanor which no one else has been able to do.”
Sublime is working on their fourth studio album, “Until The Sun Explodes,” which will be released on June 12. Four out of the 21 songs have come out beforehand, which include their hit single “Ensenada,” “Until The Sun Explodes,” which dropped March 25, “Can’t Miss You,” which came out May 14 and “Gangstalker,” released on May 29. This album is meant to be an epilogue and a way for Sublime to say goodbye to Bradley. It’s also supposed to have a similar energy as their past albums.
Sublime has changed a lot over the years. They have lost members and gained new ones, but they still remain popular and loved by their fans.
