Spinner

Sublime Reunion Caps Off California's SmokeOut Festival

Artists including Slipnkot, Bad Brains, Method Man, Redman and Afrika Bambaataa gathered for Cypress Hill's SmokeOut Festival in San Bernardino, California this weekend for a resurrection of the annual event pioneered by the Southern California hip-hop group in 1998.

The most anticipated music moment of the two-day gathering, which resumed this year after a six-year hiatus, was likely the Sublime "celebration," the first large-scale performance of Sublime's Bud Gough and Eric Wilson with new vocalist Rome Ramirez. The show followed the trio's Reno, Nevada club performance eight months ago.

Rumors about a Bamboozle appearance and No Doubt tour support remained rumors, but in August the new configuration announced they'd be appearing at SmokeOut.

After a couple of days of legal battling between the band and late singer Bradley Nowell's estate, the trio was able to resurrect the music live. While there are certainly naysayers who argue that Sublime isn't Sublime without Nowell, they didn't appear to be among the 15,000 fans who flocked to Saturday's performance.

Emerging to a huge ovation, the group sent the crowd into overdrive with an early version of the hit "Date Rape." Songs like the laid-back "What I Got" fit nicely into the late afternoon slot.

The performance offered a sharp contrast to the ferocity of headliner Slipknot, the atmospheric metal of the Deftones on the main stage, the raucous punk of Bad Brains, and the cheerleading of Method Man and Redman on the second stage.

SmokeOut is as much about a cause as it is about atmosphere. The festival featured panels on cannabis, an expo devoted to the benefits of hemp and its legalization, free ice cream, and an appearance from Cheech and Chong, who were on hand to host and perform, and had as big an entourage as any musician.

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E-$

I agree. Bradley WAS sublime, but i think it is chill they are playing the songs of the band. check out this open letter from their old management about this issue: http://bit.ly/LetterToSublimeFans

October 28 2009 at 4:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dylan

Why is everybody flipping out. Come on, its been 13 years. Don't get me wrong, i love and miss Brad, but why should such an amazing band have to die with him. Plus, it gives all of us that are too young and missed out on the original line up to go see them live when they have the chance to.

October 28 2009 at 1:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
shir

>>>>>damn

October 27 2009 at 6:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ray florent

seems like a little bit of closed minded pig headedness.

October 27 2009 at 6:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ray florent's comment
Kev

shut up ray, you are one of those annoying assholes who things he knows everything. now go get your HIV test

October 31 2009 at 10:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ruca

rrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Learn your vocabulary, Spinner! A "reunion" implies reuniting the original members. This abomination is a remix or a redo, but it is NOT a reunion! Without Brad, this is NOT Sublime. It is extremely sad and f*ck*d up that the guys are using the name Sublime. I am very disheartened that they couldn't do what they did with LBDA: play all of Sublime's songs, they certainly have a right to those, but use a different f*ck*ng name! Respect your fallen brother, Bud & Eric! I am so disappointed.

October 27 2009 at 2:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dickie

Of course the other bandmates should move on.1 there here and Bradley checked out on his own.I'am sure they love playing there music and we love to listen to it.End of story RIP Bradley.SUBLIME Continue with conviction

October 27 2009 at 1:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
shir

Way to go Bradley for loving your heroin habit more than your wife, child, fans & music. Good job at leaving your fans in a lurch, making your wife a widow and leaving your baby boy fatherless. GOOD job!! Great role model. I never forgave you for any of that.

October 27 2009 at 1:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to shir's comment
Ruca

it was an OVERDOSE not a suicide. why don't you let god and brad's family pass judgement, keep yours to yourself, you righteous prick. as if you're so f***ing perfect

October 27 2009 at 2:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ray florent

shir
at 10-27-2009Way to go Bradley for loving your heroin habit more than your wife, child, fans & music. Good job at leaving your fans in a lurch, making your wife a widow and leaving your baby boy fatherless. GOOD job!! Great role model. I never forgave you for any of that


do you know anything about addiction? brad didnt choose to love heroin over his wife family and anything else. he was addicted and when it gets to that point its hardly a choice to pick it over the rest its a neccessit that he couldnt control. if you knew anything about him you woulda known he loved his family his dog and alot of other stuff and just couldnt kick it

October 27 2009 at 6:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kevin

They said the same about Boston. They'd never be the same without Brad Delp.

October 27 2009 at 1:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Darkjester

I'm surprised the Nowell family put up such a stink that the band had to settle to do this. If I remember right, the 'band' AFTER Brad died, continued to play and release an album and outtakes; specifically so Brads young child would have college money.

October 26 2009 at 11:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jasorngcntypnk

rome is good but he is a kid and does not compare to brad
brad did trade mark the name sublime and put in writing no one is to use the name sublime with out brad as a member of the band. that is why long beach dub allstars called themselves that and not sublime. subime was the greatest thing back when i was in high school and when brad died every one one jumped on the sublime bandwagon. this kid is to young to be singing for sublime. and a lot of sublime's songs were a cry for help from brad. so no kid could sing these songs right with out having drug problems of his own

October 26 2009 at 10:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply