#17: Sublime

Cause we're strong, they are rude, rude people.

"Damn I was surprised when I heard 'punk rock changed our lives'"-Bargain Music

Next up is Sublime, the punk/ska/reggae band that was tragically never able to see their full recognition

Wiki Says: Sublime was an American reggae fusion band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums and percussion), and Eric Wilson (bass guitar). Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996 and Sublime immediately split up.

To date, Sublime has released three studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums, three EPs and one box set. The band released its debut album 40 Oz. to Freedom in 1992. Although the album was quite popular in the United States, Sublime would not experience commercial success until 1996 with their self-titled third album, released shortly after Nowell's death, which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, and spawned the single "What I Got", which remains the band's only number one hit single (on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart) in their musical career. As of 2009, Sublime has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, including about 10 million in the U.S. alone. Along with Green Day, The Offspring, and Rancid, Sublime is credited with helping to revive mainstream popular interest in punk rock in the United States in the mid-1990s.

In 2009, the surviving members decided to reform the band with a new lead singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez. However, weeks after performing at Cypress Hill's Smokeout Festival, a Los Angeles judge banned the new lineup from using the Sublime name. In January 2010, the lawsuit was settled and the new lineup now performs together as Sublime with Rome.

Romo Says: The top 40 starts with ska punk band, Sublime. Sublime's most popular album was released shortly after their lead singer tragically died of a drug overdose. (Not his most person post)

Discovery: 40 oz. to Freedom (1992)

Robbin' the Hood (1994)

Sublime (1996)

Other Releases: Second Hand Smoke (1997)

Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends (1998)

Everything Under the Sun (2006)

Bands Featured on "Look at All the Love We Found" (2005): Avail, Bargain Music, Bedouin Soundclash, Brain Failure, Half Pint, Fishbone, G. Love, Jack Johnson, Los Lobos, Gift of Gab, Mike Watt, No Doubt, Ozomatli, Pennywise, The Ziggens

Bands Featured on "Forever Free" (2006): Ballyhoo!, The Forces of Evil, Guttermouth, If All Else Fails, Never Heard of It, No Use For a Name, The Skeletones, The Toast, Up Syndrome, Voodoo Glow Skulls, 1208

Favorite Songs: 10. What Happened

9. Saw Red -Featuring Gwen Stefani

8. What I Got

7. Doin Time -Uptown Dub

6. New Song

5. Santeria

4. Wrong Way

3. Same In the End

2. Date Rape (Favorite song all time #38)

1. Seed (Favorite song all time # 5)

Years Active: 1988-1996

Never seen live (But I have seen their tribute band, Badfish, three times)

If this was sophomore year of high school, Sublime would be without question #1 on this list. But the reason they're lower is simply they only have a handful of music (3 albums, but with compilations and everything I have 159 Sublime songs on my iTunes), and I never had the chance to see them live. Also I don't smoke pot, so I like sublime for their music, not because social norms tell me to. "Smoke Two Joints" is a bad song (and it's a cover). "Ebin" is a very good but little known song. Sublime did the best job of mixing punk, reggae, and ska. In fact, that is why "Seed" is such a highly regarded song by me (former #1 favorite) as it is a mix of all three of genres throughout. I first heard that song in "Tony Hawk's Underground" and I've loved them since.

Up Next: A band that describes my worth ethic