Sublime is back with a new single “Ensenada” on July 18 and are working on their first new album in 30 years, alongside collaborators including Jon Joseph (BØRNS), Travis Barker, Jon Feldmann and more. The band members share their journey, from starting out to rising to fame, discuss why they’ve chosen to release their new project independently and reflect on Jakob Nowell — son of the late lead singer Bradley Nowell — joining the band and his efforts to preserve his father’s legacy. They also talk about Lana Del Rey’s cover of “Doin’ Time,” performing at Warped Tour and more!
Are you excited for Sublime’s new album? Let us know in the comments!
Kristin Robinson: We’re here with one of America’s all time great bands, Sublime, and we’re going to kick it off the only way the Billboard knows how — with a Billboard moment. You guys, what is your favorite Billboard moment, whether it’s a chart thing and past interview you’ve done with us, anything like that?
Sublime: From what I remember is the Billboard Award Show that we played with Slayer and some other bands, and then we got an award. It was a lot of years ago, so I don’t remember that much about it, but it was a lot. It was a whole heap of fun.
You guys started this off as a high-school band, and I’m wondering what was your—
A high-school dropout band.
High-school dropout band. There you go. What was your intention with the band from the beginning? Was it a hobby that you and your friends were just doing for fun, or did you have the aspiration to be an internationally successful band?
No, we just wanted to play some cool music, and, you know, all the kids were getting girls’ phone numbers.
Did it work?
It did. Doesn’t get any more authentic than that.
I love that.
I love hearing the old classic stories of where it started, because it’s like a lot of people look for that kind of authenticity in music. And I’ve heard it all like, you know, back in the day in Long Beach. You know what I mean? It’s cool.
Yeah. And how do you feel like their story of growing up in Long Beach kind of matched with your own growing up in Long Beach?
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