GRAMMY MUSEUM® PRESENTS SUBLIME: STRAIGHT FROM LONG BEACH – EXHIBIT CELEBRATES THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAND’S GROUNDBREAKING SELF-TITLED ALBUM – MARCH 27 – SEPT. 7, 2026
By Judy Shields
Photos by Jesse Shields, unless otherwise noted
Grammy Museum at LA Live, Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 03/25/2026 – What an awesome night it was to be walking around the Sublime exhibit and see Jakob Nowell and Eric Wilson doing the same, taking it all in at their Sublime: Straight From Long Beach exhibit last night. My photograph, who just happens to be my son and big fan of Sublime was truly having an awesome time getting to talk one on one with Eric Wilson in the movie room was great to witness. We love to cover event that the Grammy Museum hold, because it’s a great museum to find things out about all types of music, the people that write it, sing it, produce it, bring it all to us.
The Grammy Museum® presents Sublime: Straight From Long Beach, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s groundbreaking self-titled album.
Opening March 27, 2026, the exhibit offers fans an intimate look at Sublime’s legacy, complemented by a special public program on July 30, 2026.
If you are a fan of the band Sublime, this is the exhibit for you and if you have never heard of them, your need to, so make it a point to stop by the Grammy Museum at LA Live to see this exhibit and all the others currently there. Click here to see more about the Sublime’s exhibit at the Grammy Museum.
Founded in 1988 by Bradley Nowell (vocals, guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson (bass), Sublime is a reggae-punk/ alternative rock trio from Long Beach, California. Their first self-produced album, 40oz. To Freedom (1992) and experimental follow-up, Robbin’ the Hood (1994), set the stage for the breakout success of their self-titled third album. However, on May 25, 1996, Nowell tragically passed away, and the eponymous album was released on July 30, 1996. Sublime was a massive hit, selling more than 9 million copies without any live shows, topping the alternative radio charts and becoming a genre-defining influential classic.
“It’s incredible that we have sold so many albums and have not toured or wrote new music in 30 years — a true testament to our fans for keeping this dream alive,” Bud Gaugh said. “Seeing the Grammy Museum celebrate this chapter of our story with an exhibit is really meaningful to us. Thank you to the fans for all of the support, you are all crazy and we are crazy in love with you!”
Kelsey Goelz, Grammy Museum Curator, added, “Sublime’s music captured a unique moment in time, blending punk, reggae, ska, and alternative rock into a sound that was unmistakably their own. This exhibit highlights the band’s cultural impact and the vibrant Long Beach scene that nurtured the band. We’re excited to give fans an intimate look at the legacy of Sublime and the enduring influence of their music.”
Nearly 30 years after Nowell’s passing, his son Jakob Nowell has joined original members Gaugh and Wilson onstage with an undeniable musical synergy that prompted overwhelming support from fans and kickstarted a new chapter of the Sublime legacy. 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet for Sublime as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking 1996 self-titled album with two special nights at Morrison, Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (April 17-18), marking the kickoff of a year-long celebration honoring the classic 1996 album. Sublime will also launch their very own touring music festival, Sublime Me Gusta, debuting May 9 at the scenic Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, Texas. The band’s highly anticipated new album is also set to be released in 2026.
Exhibit highlights:
- Handwritten lyrics to Sublime hits such as “Wrong Way” and “Garden Grove”
- Early flyers, promotional materials, and media
- The white bucket hat Bradley Nowell wore in the music video for “Badfish”
- Instruments and equipment used by the original Sublime lineup
- Rare live photos by Maggie St. Thomas
Here are photos taken from the press preview night:
Here are a few video interviews of Jakob Nowell. I had the opportunity to interview Jakob as well as having him sign my other son Billy’s SUBLIME album. I love what Jakob did. Enjoy!
For tickets and more information about the exhibit, please visit here.
Here are photos courtesy of the Recording Academy™️/photo by Rebecca Sapp, Getty Images© 2026. Enjoy:
ABOUT SUBLIME
Sublime, the Long Beach, CA reggae-punk/alternative rock trio, was founded in 1988 by Eric Wilson, Bud Gaugh and Bradley Nowell. They released their first self-produced album, 40oz. to Freedom, in 1992 via Skunk Records. Heavy radio exposure on Southern California’s KROQ (two years after its initial release) landed the band a deal with Gasoline Alley Records, an imprint of MCA. 1994’s Robbin’ the Hood revealed an experimental ethic more in keeping with the cut-and-paste dub than the well-tuned rage of the Cali punk revival. The album performed well at college radio and set the stage for the breakout success of their self-titled third album.
On May 25, 1996, however, Bradley Nowell tragically passed away and the band collapsed, but Universal went ahead with the release of their eponymous album in July of 1996. Their self-titled album went 5x Platinum, fueled by enduring hits like “What I Got,” “Santeria,” and “Wrong Way,” and helped propel the band to more than 18 million RIAA-certified album sales.
A new era began in late 2023 when Bradley’s son, Jakob Nowell, joined original members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson onstage, leading to a full reunion and acclaimed performances at Coachella 2024. 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet for Sublime as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking 1996 self-titled album with two special nights at Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (April 17-18), marking the kickoff of a year-long celebration honoring the classic 1996 album.
Sublime will also launch their very own touring music festival, Sublime Me Gusta, debuting May 9 at the scenic Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, TX. This new event marks the beginning of a national festival series built around the timeless sound, spirit, and cultural impact of Sublime.
The band’s highly anticipated new album is set to be released in 2026. Sublime recently made history with the breakout single “Ensenada,” which spent 8 consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s “Alternative Airplay” chart, setting the record for the longest run at #1 on alternative radio in 2025. The forthcoming album marks an exciting new chapter for Sublime while honoring the legacy that has inspired fans for more than three decades. For more, please visit www.sublimelbc.com.
ABOUT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM
The Grammy Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and exploring music from yesterday and today to inspire the music of tomorrow through exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives, and public programming. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum values and celebrates the dynamic connection in people’s diverse backgrounds and music’s many genres, telling stories that inspire us, and creative expression that leads change in our industry.
For more information, visit www.grammymuseum.org, “like” the Grammy Museum on Facebook, and follow @GRAMMYMuseum on Instagram and TikTok.
