ESTATE OF SUBLIME LEAD SINGER BRADLEY NOWELL
ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING THE USE OF NAME SUBLIME
BY EX-MEMBERS BUD GAUGH AND ERIC WILSON
LOS ANGELES (October 23, 2009) - The Estate of Bradley Nowell,
Sublime’s late singer, guitarist and primary songwriter, issued a statement
today regarding the use of the band's name by Sublime bassist Eric Wilson and
Sublime drummer Floyd “Bud” Gaugh.
Sublime members Floyd “Bud” Gaugh and Eric Wilson, along with new
vocalist Rome Ramirez, who performed with Gaugh and Wilson earlier this year,
are scheduled to perform under the name “Sublime” on Saturday, October 24th
at Cypress Hill’s 2009 Smokeout Festival.
Sublime, with its original members, has not played together since their
final performance with Nowell on May 24, 1996. The advertising and promotion of
the new group as "Sublime" has been done without the consent of the
Estate of the late Bradley Nowell (consisting of widow Troy Nowell, father Jim
“Papa” Nowell, and son Jakob Nowell).
The Estate intends to take appropriate legal action to protect Brad’s
intentions, as well as the legacy and integrity of his body of work.
Nowell’s family released the following statement today:
“It
was recently announced that Sublime bassist Eric Wilson and Sublime drummer
Floyd ‘Bud’ Gaugh are ‘reuniting’ and teaming with singer and guitarist
Rome Ramirez in a band they intend to call ‘Sublime.’ Prior to his
untimely passing, both Bud and Eric acknowledged that Brad Nowell was the sole owner of the name Sublime. It
was Brad's expressed intention that no one use the name Sublime
in any group that did not include him, and Brad even registered the
trademark ‘Sublime’ under his own name.
As Brad's heirs, and with the
support of his entire family, we only want to respect his wishes and therefore
have not consented to Bud and Eric calling their new project ‘Sublime.’ We have
always supported Bud and Eric's musical endeavors and their desire to continue
to play Sublime's music. We wholeheartedly supported Bud, Eric and the many
talented members of the Sublime posse that formed the Long Beach Dub All-Stars,
soon after Brad's death, to honor him through their original recordings, live
performances and Sublime music until they disbanded in 2001. But, out of
respect for Brad's wishes, we have always refused to endorse any group
performing as ‘Sublime,’ and now with great reluctance feel compelled to take
the appropriate legal action to protect Brad's legacy.
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.
Peace
and Love to all, ....
Troy,
Jakob & Jim ‘Papa’ Nowell.”