Iconic Band Sublime Unleashes 'Until the Sun Explodes,' Kicking Off Explosive Fourth Era

Jakob Nowell, the son of the revered late Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell, has stepped into a pivotal role, leading the iconic band since 2023. He describes this current incarnation as “the fourth era of Sublime,” an evolution that sees the release of their new album, “Until the Sun Explodes,” on June 12. From his home in Long Beach, California, Nowell shared his perspective on the band’s rich history and its new direction.

According to Jakob Nowell, Sublime’s legacy unfolds through distinct eras. The first, “Sublime classic,” spanned from 1988 to 1996, featuring his father, drummer Bud Gaugh, and bassist Eric Wilson. This trio produced three seminal albums, including the five-times platinum self-titled effort released two months after Bradley Nowell’s tragic death from a heroin overdose at the age of 28. This era solidified the band’s place in music history with enduring hits like “What I Got,” “Santeria,” and “Wrong Way.” The second era began in 1997 with the formation of the Long Beach Dub Allstars by Gaugh and Wilson. This was followed by Sublime With Rome, which existed from 2009 to 2024, fronted by Rome Ramirez and featuring Wilson for most of its duration, with Gaugh participating in its initial two years. Jakob Nowell, now 30, who was just 11 months old when his father passed, views the current lineup as “V4 of Sublime,” aiming for a “renaissance” that embodies a “fun, messy, chaotic punk band” that appeals to both long-time fans and new listeners.

Jakob’s journey to the helm of Sublime was not straightforward. Despite a natural inclination towards music and self-teaching the guitar, he candidly admits to grappling with “imposter syndrome.” His personal struggles included drug use and alcoholism during his teenage years, achieving sobriety at 17 with the aid of Todd Zalkins, a childhood friend of his father’s. Committed to helping others, Nowell, along with family members, established the non-profit Nowell Family Foundation to offer addiction recovery support to musicians. Before embracing his father’s legacy, he pursued a degree in creative writing from Long Beach State College and dedicated himself to his own musical projects, including LAW and Jakobs Castle. The latter released its debut album, “Enter: The Castle,” in 2024, with another planned for the following year. Bud Gaugh respected Jakob’s independent path, acknowledging that he was “staying true to himself and he was doing his own thing,” avoiding the “nepo route.” Jakob himself felt that joining the Sublime universe “didn’t seem like the right thing” initially, questioning his capability until he had spent a decade honing his craft in his own ventures.

A pivotal moment occurred in December 2023 when Jakob agreed to perform with Gaugh and Wilson at a benefit concert in Los Angeles for Bad Brains’ Paul “H.R.” Hudson. The timing was profoundly significant; Jakob was 28, the same age as his father when he died, and he had recently visited the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, California, his father’s last venue. Gaugh vividly recalls feeling “chills” during rehearsals, noting that Jakob’s voice sounded “identical to Brad’s,” which served as confirmation that they were pursuing the right path. Following this emotionally charged performance, Jakob felt capable and agreed to Gaugh and Wilson’s proposal to reunite under the Sublime name, navigating initial “paranoia and dread and uncertainty,” but now feeling confident after two years as the project’s frontman.

The reunited Sublime quickly gained momentum, playing select shows and festivals, including Coachella in 2024. Their collaboration with roots reggae group Stick Figure on the single “Feel Like That” marked the first new release under the Sublime name in 27 years, climbing to No. 7 on the Alternative Airplay chart. For “Until the Sun Explodes,” initially there was talk of working with Travis Barker and John Feldmann, but the band opted for a more intimate approach, recording the 21-track set with Jakobs Castle producer Jon Joseph at Harbor Martyr Studios in San Pedro. The album features an expanded lineup with guitarists Trey Pangborn and Zane “Zayno” Vandevort, DJ Product (Doug Boyce), and Joseph contributing instrumentation. Noteworthy guest appearances include Jakob’s late grandfather Jim Nowell, H.R., Garrett “G. Love” Dutton, Fletcher Dragge from Pennywise, and bands Fidlar and Skeggs. Jakob’s vision for the album aimed to capture Sublime’s core essence as a “California punk rock band that experimented with many different genres,” revering classic reggae, dub, and 90s hip-hop, resulting in a “messy and frenetic” sound akin to their early work like “40oz. to Freedom.” The album has already received a warm reception, with the title track and “Ensenada” both reaching No. 1 on Alternative Airplay.

The future for Sublime is packed with activity. The band has a series of shows lined up, starting June 13 at San Diego’s Petco Park, followed by their own Sublime Festival on June 27 in Portland, Oregon. They are also slated for Vans Warped Tour stops in Montreal and Orlando, Florida, and will appear at the Louder Than Life festival in September and the Aftershock Festival in October. November will see them host the Sublime Reef Madness Cruise. Gaugh expressed optimism for 2025, with plans for Australia/New Zealand, a Pacific Rim tour, a European vacation, and more tours across the U.S. He anticipates the album will “blow the doors off people.” However, Jakob Nowell views “Until the Sun Explodes” as potentially the “last” Sublime album under his direction. He sees it as an “epilogue, the victory lap, a celebration of Sublime’s history and a love letter to my father and all of his friends.” While he intends to play “a few Sublime shows every year” to keep the legacy alive, his primary focus will shift back to Jakobs Castle and his label, SVNBVRNT Records, which he co-operates with Vandevort, dedicated to nurturing emerging Southern California artists. He hopes his time with Sublime will draw attention to these new talents, fostering a true “renaissance” within the local scene, though he acknowledges his feelings could evolve if the album achieves significant success.