Sublime Members Blocked From Using Band Name

The surviving members of Sublime won't be allowed to perform under the band's original moniker according to a preliminary injunction issued Tuesday. Los Angeles Judge Howard Matz blocked Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh from using the name after a trademark lawsuit was brought by the estate of original frontman Bradley Nowell, who died of a drug overdose in 1996.

Wilson and Gaugh revived the ska-punk band with a new vocalist, Rome Ramirez, and made their first official comeback performance on Oct. 24 at the Cypress Hill SmokeOut Festival in southern California. Three days in advance of that gig, Nowell's estate and merchandising entity filed the trademark infringement suit.

"We are gratified the Court ruled in our favor and found that Bud, Eric and Rome could not use the name Sublime without first obtaining permission from Brad's heirs," Nowell's family said in a statement. "We believe this will help protect and preserve Brad's musical legacy."

"Prior to his untimely passing, both Bud and Eric acknowledged that Brad Nowell was the sole owner of the name Sublime," the Nowell family previously posted on the band's MySpace page. "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."

Clearly, Matz agreed with the family and issued the injunction citing the estate's likelihood of prevailing on its trademark claim. The judge asked the estate's attorneys to draw up a written injunction for him to sign.