Sublime to Reunite With Bradley Nowell’s Son Jakob
Sublime will be reuniting this year with Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob as the band’s frontman.
On Tuesday, Coachella announced its stacked lineup, including a reunion of Sublime’s original members. The band revealed soon after the announcement that Jakob will be joining the band’s original drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson.
“This has so many layers for me. On a spiritual level, my father passed away when he was 28, and I am 28 now. It’s an honor to carry on with our family’s name and legacy with Sublime,” Jakob said in a statement. “I’ve been a performing musician with my own projects since I was 18. It’s an absolute privilege to be able to play these Sublime songs with legendary musicians like Eric and Bud.”
“On a personal level, my Uncles Bud and Eric are meant to play these songs and the fans want to hear them. I’m excited, nervous, thankful and humbled all at the same time to step into this role and start this new chapter,” he added. “It feels like my big crazy family is finally back together and I couldn’t be more happy.”
The news comes just a month after Jakob performed with the two during a charity event. Wilson had been performing alongside Rome Ramirez in Sublime with Rome, where the group performed songs played by the original Sublime. Nowell fronted Sublime until his death in 1996.
Gaugh said that he never had a doubt that he’d make music with Wilson again, but that having Jakob join is “very reminiscent” of the early days. Gaugh lauded Jakob’s “raw talent” and expressed his excitement for the new era for Sublime.
“This is great because I haven’t had the opportunity to play with Bud Gaugh in over a decade,” Wilson added. “And to have Brad’s son playing our music is the closest thing possible to playing with my old buddy Brad.”
The band also signed a management deal with Regime Music Group’s Kevin Zinger and Vandals bassist Joe Escalante.
Back in 2009, Nowell’s estate threatened legal action against the former Sublime members and Ramirez. The dispute was settled in early 2010 with the Sublime with Rome name sticking. (Gaugh was briefly a member of the group as well.)
“Our hope is that Brad’s ex-bandmates will respect his wishes and find a new name to perform under, so as to enhance the ‘Sublime’ legacy without the confusion and disappointment that many fans have expressed upon seeing the announcement,” read a statement from Jakob and some members of the Nowell family at the time.
The news surrounding Sublime’s reunion comes as Coachella announced its stacked lineup Tuesday evening, featuring Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, and Tyler, the Creator as headliners, as well as the reunion of another ska band: No Doubt.
