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Bradley Nowell's Estate Threatens Legal Action Over Use of Sublime Name

SublimeThis weekend, former Sublime members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson will team with new singer Rome Ramirez at Cypress Hill's Smokeout in San Bernardino, Calif., and perform their first show as Sublime since November 24, 1996, following the passing of lead singer Bradley Nowell.

But Nowell's family is none too pleased.

On Friday, Nowell's estate threatened legal action against the group, saying in a statement that Nowell owned the rights to the Sublime name, and asked Gaugh and Wilson to cease the use of it. "Prior to his untimely passing, both Bud and Eric acknowledged that Brad Nowell was the sole owner of the name Sublime," the statement read. "It was Brad's expressed intention that no one use the name Sublime in any group that did not include him."


Gaugh and Wilson say this isn't the first they've heard from the estate, and they were previously granted legal permission to perform as Sublime. "Brad's heirs apparently do not share this vision and do not want the band Sublime to continue and tried -- unsuccessfully -- to file a temporary restraining order to prevent the band from carrying on," a statement from Gaugh read. "Despite those objections, we are pleased that the United States District Court has allowed us to perform as Sublime for all of our fans."

"It's unfortunate that the Estate would take a position against us," the statement continues. "Eric, Brad and I started this band when we were kids. We were the ones that spent years paying dues playing hole-in-the-wall clubs. We were the ones lugging around our gear in a broken down van. We were the ones that spent years writing, recording and rehearsing. WE. Not anyone else. Sublime is a band -- our band. We were devastated when we lost Brad and there's not a day that goes by that Eric and I don't think about him and miss him. Sublime's music has always been about love and we hope the Estate joins us and the fans that support us in celebrating Brad's life and our music."

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3 Comments

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M. Vihstadt

We've already made them rich by buying their albums for the last 14 years. Troy even said it was about time to get them back together---youtube--5/25/09. All the money in the world will never bring back Louie and Brad----but the music and the love WILL.

Living with Sublime's the only way to stay sane
Let the lovin come back to me

July 11 2010 at 10:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mary Peter

Thanks for sharing such a most use full information. This was I am looking for, thanks again for the link
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Great Law Group

June 05 2010 at 4:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PheelingSublime

Sublime is not Sublime without bradley....He wrote the songs, he made the band..I hate when people try and make money off of dead people...YEah bus and eric played bass and drums ,but anyone can..Bradley nowell is Sublime...Rip ,Bradley..Bud and erci let go of Sublime and do you own thing...

October 26 2009 at 5:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply