Carrying the torch: Sublime’s unexpected revival

The Southern California ska-punk trio Sublime just accomplished something that has never happened before — and no one seemed to notice.

The band, which lost frontman Bradley Nowell to a heroin overdose in 1996, reunited. But it isn’t some random dude filling in for Nowell, as had already been done when singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez joined original members, drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson, in 2009 to tour and record under the moniker Sublime with Rome. It’s none other than Jakob Nowell, Bradley’s son, who was just an infant when his father passed away.

This is a rock history first, folks. Never has the son (or daughter) of a frontperson stepped into the shoes of his father (or mother) to front their band. It just hasn’t happened. And not only has Jakob Nowell done that, but Sublime topped the Billboard Alternative chart with a new song called “Ensenada,” the band’s first radio hit in almost 30 years.

The last Sublime song to top the charts was “What I Got” in ’96. It stayed there for three weeks. “Ensenada” recently sat at the top of the alternative chart for six weeks, technically making it Sublime’s biggest hit ever. That alone would be headline-worthy, but the story goes beyond chart success.

Why Jakob Nowell fronting Sublime is actually historic

There are other notable instances when a son has filled in for a father after the father’s death. For instance, Jason Bonham sat in on the drums with Led Zeppelin on several occasions, and, yeah, John Bonham was a great drummer, so that’s impressive. After Glenn Frey’s death, his son Deacon Frey began performing with the Eagles when they tour and effectively fills in for his father, playing guitar and singing Glenn Frey’s Eagles songs. That’s cool too.

But Sublime is not a nostalgia act — it’s an active, thriving group that records new material and tours. Not only does Jakob sound uncannily like his father, but the vibe is exactly the same. A writer for Stereogum said “Ensenada” sounds “like classic Sublime” and called it a “liberating sleazeball summer anthem.” With Jakob as the primary songwriter of the tune, I’m sure pops would have been plenty proud of that.

What this means for Sublime’s legacy

Sublime rose to massive popularity in the ‘90s with tracks like “Santeria,” “Doin’ Time,” “Caress Me Down,” the controversial “Wrong Way” and the aforementioned “What I Got.” A part of that popularity was the “live fast, die young” ethos that Nowell seemed to embrace. In fact, some of the band’s fans, while acknowledging the vocal similarities, are struggling with the authenticity of the newly re-formed group, claiming that Bradley’s lyrics sprang from his deep wounds.  

But with the younger Nowell now fronting the group, it’s likely that the band will see an influx of new fans, like those in their teens and twenties. The overwhelming online reaction — especially among younger listeners — suggests that this version of Sublime may resonate with an entirely new generation.

What’s next for Jakob and Sublime

Jakob Nowell has another band, Jakob’s Castle, which recently played a show in Garden Grove, CA, in honor of Scott Weiland on the 10th anniversary of his death. The band shared a bill with Noah Weiland, son of the late Stone Temple Pilots’ singer. For Jakob, it might be more satisfying to create his own legacy rather than revive and advance his father’s.

Yet, it’s been reported that a new Sublime album is in the works, or that the trio may release another single to determine if they want to commit to a full album. Jakob has stated that he’s been writing and combing through unreleased demos and archival tapes to distill what it is that makes a song “Sublime.” He also says that revisiting the archival material has been “very healing.” Longtime Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, a Sublime superfan, is involved in the project as a collaborator/producer.

Although there’s no confirmed release date for a new Sublime album, sessions have begun. And based on the overwhelming success of “Ensenada”, it’s looking pretty good that the first proper Sublime album since 1996 will drop sometime in 2026 — thirty years after the death of original frontman Bradley Nowell and the band’s multi-platinum breakthrough.

Sublime will perform at the Innings Festival in Tempe on February 22, 2026.