Great wars! Rome (Softly) Strikes Back As The Band Continues With Bradley Nowell's Son

Even if it's late Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell actually had a crystal ball, unable to imagine the latest dramatic developments in his band's world. Twenty-eight years after Nowell's tragically untimely death, two completely separate versions of Sublime will be touring in 2024. And no one is happy about it, least of all Rome Ramirez, who will play several contractually committed shows titled Sublime With Rome — the last shows for that band — even as original bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh reunite for Coachella and other festivals as plain old Sublime, starring Bradley's 28-year-old son Jakob Nowell for the first time. “If it was up to me,” Ramirez says Rolling rockin his first interview about the drama, “it wasn't going to be the way it went down.”

Ramirez, who's been keeping the Sublime flame alive with Wilson since 2009, has a new single out today, a stunning cover of Lee Fields' ballad “Forever” that features some serious vintage-soul vocals. He's looking toward a solo future along these lines while also continuing Rome and Duddy, his project with Dustin “Duddy B” Bushnell of the Dirtyheads. According to Ramirez, the decision to end Sublime With Rome – which led to Sublime's return – was his own. “Eric has had some serious health issues and some life-changing events over the past year, all of which we've been constantly trying to help him through,” says Ramirez. “I'm really having the time of my life getting on these stages and singing these songs… On the other hand, having to watch someone struggle with their health and trying to maintain practices to improve themselves , this can be very difficult.”

“My health is actually better than it has been in years,” Wilson responds in a statement Rolling rock. “I'm still recovering from shoulder surgery and it's been a long road, but I'm healing faster than expected. Honestly, I wake up every day feeling better now than I have in years. Playing music with my best friend Bud and jamming with Jake inspired me again. And that inspiration led me to take my health more seriously and enjoy every day. For me, Sublime with Rome has had its time and I wish Rome the best.”

Ramirez says he found out about Wilson's reunion with Gaugh, who had been off the scene for a decade, on a Jakob-fronted version of Sublime “the same way you all did – over the Internet.” But the real surprise, he says, was that it was only last week, via a public Instagram post from Wilson, that he learned the bassist would not be joining Ramirez for the remaining shows booked this year as Sublime With Rome – meaning that skins will feature zero original Sublime members. “We had the assumption that he was working, you know, packing up,” Ramirez says, “and then we'd continue out for the rest of the year, and then we'd part ways on a really beautiful journey that we've been on for the last 15 years.”

Wilson replies, “As long as I don't play with SWR, that's been known for a while. Things behind the scenes can get a little spontaneous at times. For me, it's about the fans and the music, so for now I'll leave it at that.”

Then again, Ramirez wishes he didn't go down like that. “If I could wave a magic wand and turn them into a show in Rome, I would,” says the singer. “But the thing is, we have commitments that we've made to a lot of people, from our fans, to the promoters, to, well, even legacy. We have made commitments and we must keep them. This is the person I am. There's a lot of things going on behind the scenes right now, and a lot of things that people probably want me to say, but it's not me.”

He emphasizes his warm feelings for Wilson, who started playing with Ramirez when he was an unknown kid who didn't even own a guitar. “It's a very conflicting situation, because I have a lot of love and admiration for him. I don't think I would have gotten this far in music without Sublime and without this opportunity. And he was the person who stood up for me and introduced me to Bud and gave me my first electric guitar after I pawned everything.”

Jakob Nowell recently told the Rolling Stone Music now podcast that he respected Ramirez's talent, while revealing that the very existence of Sublime With Rome was emotionally difficult for him. “I grew up loving the band, but for Jakob, it's a much more personal thing,” Ramirez replies, referring to a civil phone conversation with Jakob two weeks ago. “This is his father and he has a different relationship with this music. He deserves those feelings about Sublime With Rome.”

In his ideal world, Ramirez's time with Sublime would have ended much more gracefully. “I would have loved to have done something so special and given the mic to Jakob and let Bud take the kit at the last show — just something awesome for the fans, because that's what they deserve. Sublime needs no drama. The wonderful is a beautiful thing.”

It's clear that there are no hard feelings on his part, as he adds: “But regardless, I think Jakob is the right man for the job. It's Bradley's son, for crying out loud! I have three beautiful children of my own. I can really relate to that feeling. At the end of the day, I'm just a Sublime fan like everyone else and I wish them nothing but success.”