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Started By
Message
A Hypo for Sublime fans: what if Bradley Nowell didn't die?
Posted on 9/19/12 at 11:56 am
Posted on 9/19/12 at 11:56 am
Assume someone intervenes a week before Bradley Nowell overdoses on Heroin, gets him checked into rehab, he kicks the habit, and remains kicking it with his Sublime bandmates.
What happens with Sublime? Do they end up becoming a great band, or do they fade out a la No Doubt?
One the one hand, their sound was more or less that ska sound that weirdly became popular for a few years before eventually fizzling out.
But on the other hand, what if Bradley Nowell was just better than that? In other words, it wasn't a random fad that made people start liking the song "What I got"; it's the fact the song "What I Got" is simply a fantastic, timeless song. And coupling the fact that he wrote good songs with the fact that dude had some pretty legitimate pipes, I'm not sure that Sublime would have remained wedded to a particular sound.
So what does it say about Sublime today in the music history books if Brad Nowell never kicks the bucket? Are they one of the best bands of my generation? Or are they a No Doubt, or a slightly richer man's Sugar Ray?
My thoughts: Bradley Nowell was legit. If he lives on, Sublime flourishes. They put out another great album, and then they put out two additional albums that are good but not great. They do an ambitious world tour after the last album, and then they break up -- temporarily at first, citing exhaustion and the need to do their won thing for a while. But it ends up being a permanent break up. Years later, Nowell forms a new band with Jack White and B.o.B.
But I'm just shitballin'
Your turn.
What happens with Sublime? Do they end up becoming a great band, or do they fade out a la No Doubt?
One the one hand, their sound was more or less that ska sound that weirdly became popular for a few years before eventually fizzling out.
But on the other hand, what if Bradley Nowell was just better than that? In other words, it wasn't a random fad that made people start liking the song "What I got"; it's the fact the song "What I Got" is simply a fantastic, timeless song. And coupling the fact that he wrote good songs with the fact that dude had some pretty legitimate pipes, I'm not sure that Sublime would have remained wedded to a particular sound.
So what does it say about Sublime today in the music history books if Brad Nowell never kicks the bucket? Are they one of the best bands of my generation? Or are they a No Doubt, or a slightly richer man's Sugar Ray?
My thoughts: Bradley Nowell was legit. If he lives on, Sublime flourishes. They put out another great album, and then they put out two additional albums that are good but not great. They do an ambitious world tour after the last album, and then they break up -- temporarily at first, citing exhaustion and the need to do their won thing for a while. But it ends up being a permanent break up. Years later, Nowell forms a new band with Jack White and B.o.B.
But I'm just shitballin'
Your turn.
10
Posted on 9/19/12 at 12:09 pm to bobbyray21
I think they turn into one of the biggest bands in the world for a time before eventually fading away. They would have had some small future success on the radio a la Pearl Jam and would've maintained a faithful fanbase throughout their years.
A better question would be what would have been Blind Melon's story if Shannon Hoon doesn't die....
and
yous a nasty motherfricka
A better question would be what would have been Blind Melon's story if Shannon Hoon doesn't die....
and
quote:
But I'm just shitballin'
yous a nasty motherfricka
Posted on 9/19/12 at 1:10 pm to bobbyray21
If anything, their reputation goes down. Part of their rep is the built in culture of dead guys. I think they'd be viewed a lot like 311.
Posted on 9/19/12 at 1:35 pm to Baloo
quote:
I think they'd be viewed a lot like 311.
There music was evolving in to a radio play band. They would mainstream for the $$$$$ Just my 0.02
Posted on 9/19/12 at 1:39 pm to bobbyray21
This is a band I never cared for and still don't. I agree that What I Got is a timeless song, it'll live on for a very long time. In general I find the group nothing special, and much of their success is due to Bradley Nowell's death. Other than some of their hit songs, I can't really listen to them.
I do think they may have achieved success for a while, maybe a 311 type of fame. However, Nowell's death has created some major fan boys for this group even more so than I think would've happened with him not dying.
This is just my opinion.
I do think they may have achieved success for a while, maybe a 311 type of fame. However, Nowell's death has created some major fan boys for this group even more so than I think would've happened with him not dying.
This is just my opinion.
Posted on 9/19/12 at 1:40 pm to CocoLoco
quote:
This is a band I never cared for and still don't. I agree that What I Got is a timeless song, it'll live on for a very long time. In general I find the group nothing special, and much of their success is due to Bradley Nowell's death. Other than some of their hit songs, I can't really listen to them
You dissapoint me CocoLoco.... I thought you were better than this 
Posted on 9/19/12 at 1:49 pm to bobbyray21
He would've just od'd another year or so down the road. He was a junky who tried several times to quit using, none of which ever took.
Posted on 9/19/12 at 2:29 pm to CottonWasKing
Well now I feel bad.
Our taste in music is close enough to where you can let one slide though, right?
Our taste in music is close enough to where you can let one slide though, right?
Posted on 9/19/12 at 2:40 pm to ChoupiqueSacalait
quote:
He would've just od'd another year or so down the road. He was a junky who tried several times to quit using, none of which ever took.
/thread
Posted on 9/19/12 at 2:57 pm to bobbyray21
they would have, with greater speed, approached their pre-destined conclusion of being a decent high school band that everyone forgets save for nu metal/classic90srock radio, with the likes of 311
edit: instead it took them longer to reach that point after everyone took several years off to sanctify nowell
edit: instead it took them longer to reach that point after everyone took several years off to sanctify nowell
This post was edited on 9/19/12 at 2:58 pm
Posted on 9/19/12 at 3:20 pm to CocoLoco
I think I can forgive you for this one however of you say one cross word toward blind melon may god help your soul
Posted on 9/19/12 at 3:35 pm to bobbyray21
How many "If he didn't die" threads do you plan to start? Because I have some suggestions for future discussions:
Buddy Holly
Ritchie Valens
not The Big Bopper (I don't want to talk about it)
Brian Jones
Keith Richards (he did die, right? Why else would he look like that)
Jimi Hendrix (doesn't get talked about enough here)
Stevie Ray Vaughan (Maybe even a Jimi -vs- SRV: Who ya got? competition)
Janis Joplin (technically this would be "If she didn't die", but the idea is essentially the same)
Buddy Holly
Ritchie Valens
not The Big Bopper (I don't want to talk about it)
Brian Jones
Keith Richards (he did die, right? Why else would he look like that)
Jimi Hendrix (doesn't get talked about enough here)
Stevie Ray Vaughan (Maybe even a Jimi -vs- SRV: Who ya got? competition)
Janis Joplin (technically this would be "If she didn't die", but the idea is essentially the same)
Posted on 9/19/12 at 3:36 pm to bobbyray21
Sublime with Rome is pretty damn good I think.
Posted on 9/19/12 at 3:53 pm to Leauxgan
quote:
they would have, with greater speed, approached their pre-destined conclusion of being a decent high school band that everyone forgets save for nu metal/classic90srock radio, with the likes of 311
edit: instead it took them longer to reach that point after everyone took several years off to sanctify nowell
You're officially a schmuck.
Posted on 9/19/12 at 5:25 pm to Jester
quote:
You're officially a schmuck.
You're officially in my good book
Posted on 9/19/12 at 5:56 pm to bobbyray21
I don't know if they would've really had their edge as a arena/headliner band on a big stage....their mystique came from the fact that Nowell was a pretty shady dude/addict who was one of the best if not THE best frontmen of all the ska/punk bands at the time. Would've loved to see how it would've played out, but I don't think they ever reproduce their previous energy.
This reminds me...frick THAT PIECE OF shite SUBLIME WITH ROME ABORTION...First CD I ever literally threw away.
This reminds me...frick THAT PIECE OF shite SUBLIME WITH ROME ABORTION...First CD I ever literally threw away.
This post was edited on 9/19/12 at 6:02 pm
Posted on 9/19/12 at 8:31 pm to CocoLoco
quote:
This is a band I never cared for and still don't. I agree that What I Got is a timeless song, it'll live on for a very long time. In general I find the group nothing special, and much of their success is due to Bradley Nowell's death. Other than some of their hit songs, I can't really listen to them.
I do think they may have achieved success for a while, maybe a 311 type of fame. However, Nowell's death has created some major fan boys for this group even more so than I think would've happened with him not dying.
This is just my opinion.
quote:
they would have, with greater speed, approached their pre-destined conclusion of being a decent high school band that everyone forgets save for nu metal/classic90srock radio, with the likes of 311 edit: instead it took them longer to reach that point after everyone took several years off to sanctify nowell
Agree with both statements. They are in the 311 range, a band that should be left once you graduate high school.
Posted on 9/19/12 at 8:49 pm to beezylsu
I'm not sure when y'all finished high school, but 311 up to Soundsystem and all of Sublime I still rock semi-often.
Bradley had a white boy punk bluesy feel to him and was pretty slick on the guitar. There is way better stuff than what's on self-titled and it's different to make a record that gets played on the radio vs making a record to be played on the radio.
Sublime would have gone on to make other singles because he died at what the time was the pinnacle of their success..who knows what other chimey summer tunes they could have cranked out.
Bradley had a white boy punk bluesy feel to him and was pretty slick on the guitar. There is way better stuff than what's on self-titled and it's different to make a record that gets played on the radio vs making a record to be played on the radio.
Sublime would have gone on to make other singles because he died at what the time was the pinnacle of their success..who knows what other chimey summer tunes they could have cranked out.
Posted on 9/19/12 at 8:54 pm to cachemoney
quote:
Bradley had a white boy punk bluesy feel to him and was pretty slick on the guitar. There is way better stuff than what's on self-titled and it's different to make a record that gets played on the radio vs making a record to be played on the radio.
This. Bradley would've made good music regardless, I don't think he would've necessarily stayed completely true to the ska sound either. Sure it would've always been "home" for him but I think he was the type of artist that would have HAD to be branch out a little to be happy.
I could be wrong but I think I read somewhere the Brad also had perfect pitch. Which is he had the ability to hear any sound and naturally match its pitch and key vocally. Even if thats not true the dude was blessed with an ungodly set of pipes.
Posted on 9/19/12 at 8:55 pm to bobbyray21
quote:
Sugar Ray?
LINK
My friend says he is getting married to this song
"Put your arms around me baby"
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