Sublime Signs With Atlantic Records, New Album and Tour Coming This Year (EXCLUSIVE)

The iconic Southern California ska-punk group Sublime has entered a major new partnership with Atlantic Records, heralding the band's first full-length studio album in nearly thirty years. This reconstituted lineup features founding members Bud Gaugh on drums and Eric Wilson on bass, joined by lead vocalist and guitarist Jakob Nowell—the son of Sublime's original frontman, Bradley Nowell. The album is expected to arrive later this year.

This landmark deal coincides with the 30th-anniversary celebration of Sublime's self-titled 1996 album, a cultural landmark that has been certified 18 times platinum by the RIAA. The commemoration kicks off with a two-night stand at Colorado's legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre on April 17 and 18, which the band has billed as the start of a year-long tribute. Following this, they will launch their new Sublime Me Gusta touring festival, beginning May 9 at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, Texas.

Notably, the Atlantic agreement allows Sublime to retain ownership of its master recordings while utilizing the label's global distribution and promotional network. This structure follows a period of successful independence where recent singles like "Feel Like That" with Stick Figure and "Ensenada" were released through the band's Sublime Recordings and Jakob Nowell's SVNBVRNT venture. Industry experts point to such deals as a growing trend, where legacy acts with valuable catalogs negotiate for greater control. "For established artists, the leverage has shifted," notes music business analyst Clara Reed. "Labels are increasingly offering partnership models that provide scale without demanding ownership of the core assets, which is a significant evolution from the standard contracts of the past."

The band members expressed unified enthusiasm for the new chapter. Jakob Nowell emphasized the alignment of visions, stating, "Atlantic's team shares our goal of respecting our legacy while evolving our music. Their unparalleled history and resources are ideal for this next step." Drummer Bud Gaugh reflected on the label's heritage, saying, "From Aretha Franklin to Led Zeppelin, Atlantic's logo is on so many records that defined my musical upbringing. Joining that legacy is truly a dream." Bassist Eric Wilson added, "This partnership feels right. Our new material is the genuine Sublime sound, born from the original rhythm section and Jakob's fresh spirit."

This reunion marks a poignant full-circle moment for a band whose history is deeply intertwined with both triumph and tragedy. Formed in Long Beach in 1988 by Gaugh, Wilson, and Bradley Nowell, Sublime achieved monumental success with its 1996 album, propelled by timeless hits like "What I Got" and "Santeria." Tragically, Bradley Nowell died of a heroin overdose in May 1996 at age 28, just two months before the album's release. In the ensuing years, Gaugh and Wilson performed with vocalist Rome Ramirez in Sublime With Rome, which released three albums. After both original members departed that project—Wilson's exit came in 2024—they joined Jakob Nowell for a deeply emotional reunion performance at the Coachella festival. This led to a period of concurrent touring before Sublime With Rome, then featuring no founding members, concluded with a farewell tour in 2024, clearing the path for this definitive reunion under Atlantic's banner.