Sublime

(b. Febuary 22,1968 – d. May 25,1996, SF)

Mostly due to KROQ’s radio exposure, Sublime signed to MCA for 1994’s Robbin’ the Hood, which revealed an experimental ethic more in keeping with cut-and-paste dub than the well-tuned rage of the Cali punk revival. The album performed well at college radio, and set the stage for the breakout success of their self-titled third album. On May 25, 1996, however, Brad Nowell was found in a San Francisco hotel room, dead of a heroin overdose. The band collapsed, but Sublime was still slated for a July release. On the strength of the alternative radio hit “What I Got,” the album was certified gold by the end of 1996.