For most of us, music is life, and it is more than an end to a means. For even more of us, life is sublime; literally and figuratively speaking. After all, what would life be like in SoCal without the music from some of our most celebrated sonic heroes.
Living in SoCal, who hasn’t heard music from LBC’s favorite sons, Sublime. Fans have loved their music from day one. Songs like “Wrong Way,” “Badfish,” “Jailhouse,” “Santeria,” “Caress Me Down,” “Burritos,” “Doin’ Time,” “Saw Red,” “Pawn Shop,” “Smoke Two Joints,” “April 29, 1992” and the song that started it all…”Date Rape.”
These songs have become part of the soundtrack of our lives.
Sadly, as meteoric as their infamy became, the crash was just as sudden and even more shocking. Just like other legends that left us way to soon, we got the news on May 25, 1996 about the passing of the band’s iconic lead singer.
Bradley Nowell was only 28-years old when he died of a heroin overdose.
WHAT WE GOT!
“Early in the morning, risin’ to the street, light me up that cigarette and I’ll strap shoes on my feet…. got to find a reason, reason things went wrong… got to find a reason why my money’s all gone.“
Bradley Nowell
At the time of his death, Nowell seemed to have made it to the mountaintop of music. The band was on the rise with great songs ready to explode. Despite all the accomplishments we have, demons sometimes get the best of us at some point in time, and Nowell was no different.
For those who knew Bradley, they’ll tell you he was a genuinely enlightened soul with a wicked sense of humor. The tragedy that took him from us is something we’re all still struggling with, even after all these years. The opioid epidemic is just as bad as ever, and it continues to impact everyone worldwide.
That’s the thing about people, we find meaning and redemption in human connection. For Bradley, his legacy is his music, but his Foundation will be our connection with him.
So what to do?
The loss was devastating for his family, friends and fans. The love and devotion expressed by fans was surreal. His father, Jim “Papa” Nowell, said, “from this pain, came a burning desire to help others who battle with opioid addiction to overcome the disease before it takes their lives.”+
To honor Nowell’s legacy, The Nowell Family Foundation was created and now, there’s The House That Bradley Built.
It’s an ambitious project; a six-bed opioid recovery center for economically disadvantaged and struggling musicians, offering free services while musicians recover.
About the project, “Papa” said, “The vision for Bradley’s House is to create a place of hope and healing for people in the music industry. A place where creativity can be an outlet for transformation. A place where passion can be a motivation for change. A place where music can be a source of strength.”
To help make the home a reality, the Foundation has teamed up with LAW Records to release “The House That Bradley Built” compilation on September 4th, 2020. The compilation features never-before-released acoustic covers from Sublime’s catalog, performed by 20+ bands.
The compilation is a work of love. Musicians donated their time and music to take a stand against opioid addiction in order to help support those battling addiction. Profits from the compilation will go to The Nowell Family Foundation to build Bradley’s House.
About the album, “Papa” said, “Bradley’s music lives on in the hearts and minds of his fans and fellow musicians. Through the combined effort of everyone who has been touched by his music, Bradley’s House will happen. People will be transformed. Lives will be saved. And it will truly be the house that Bradley built. Thank you all for helping to keep my son’s music alive.”
The compilation will feature artists that were influenced by Sublime’s sonic vision. Some of the artists featured on the compilation include Pepper, Common Kings, G. Love, HIRIE, The Expanders, The Skints, and Trevor Young [“SOJA”]. Punk rock icons Descendents contributed a ukulele rendition of their song “Hope” while Jim Lindberg of Pennywise donated a cover of “Boss D.J.” (Robbin’ the Hood). Other highlights will include Jason J. and SoCal favorite HIRIE covering “Saw Red.”
It all starts with two singles, both out this Friday, July 24th. The lead single “Work That We Do” (Robbin’ the Hood) is performed by Pepper. The second single is “Little District” (Sublime Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends) by Long Beach Dub Allstars.
These artists are a testament to us all that we need to support life. Because change doesn’t happen alone.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FOUNDATION
You can pre-order the vinyl this Friday July 24th
Pick up the Singles
(Work That We Do by Pepper)
(Little District by Long Beach Dub Allstars)
Album Track Listing
1. Common Kings | “Garden Grove”
2. Descendents | “Hope”
3. Long Beach Dub Allstars | “Little District”
4. Half Pint | “Lovin’”
5. Love | “April 29th, 1992”
6. Pepper | “Work That We Do”
7. Johnny Cosmic | “40 Oz. to Freedom”
8. Trevor Young of SOJA | “Santeria”
9. HIRIE | “Saw Red” (feat. Jason J.)
10. Mad Caddies | “New Song”
11. The Skints | “Get Ready”
12. Cydeways | “Let’s Go Get Stoned”
13. The Movement | “Get Out”
14. Leilani Wolfgramm | “New Realization”
15. Ballyhoo! | “S.T.P.”
16. A.R. | “Badfish”
17. Vana Liya | “The Ballad of Johnny Butt”
18. The Expanders | “Scarlet Begonias”
19. Jim Lindberg of Pennywise | “Boss D.J.”
20. RAS 1 | “Right Back”
21. Tunnel Vision | “Pool Shark”
22. Nice Mike | “Don’t Push”
23. Bert Susanka of The Ziggens | “Big Salty Tears”
