Pre '88

February 22nd, 1968: Bradley James Nowell is born to parents James and Nancy Nowell in Long Beach, California.

1970-1975: Bradley’s musical talents begin with his parents. His father is a folk guitarist, and his mother is a singer who has been described as having a "perfect pitch."

1975-1979: Bradley begins to learn to play the guitar from his father.

197?: Two future Sublime members, Eric Wilson (bass) and Floyd "Bud" Gaugh (drums) meet when they accidentally run into each other while riding their Big-Wheels in Long Beach.

197?: Bradley’s parents, James and Nancy get divorced. Bradley lives with his mother until 1981.

1980: During a vacation to Jamaica with his father, Bradley discovers reggae music. A local guitarist teaches Bradley how to play a reggae rhythm on his guitar. The experience changes Bradley forever.

1981: Eric and Bud play in their first band together, when both are 13- years-old. The name of the band, Turbulance.

1984: Bradley plays in a band called Hogan's Heroes.

1985: Bradley, Eric Wilson, Tom Spruengli, the late Ruth Goodman, and the late Ted Lee in a band called "Sloppy Seconds" in High School. Also, Bradley occasionally sits in with the band, Agent Orange.

1985: Bradley attends C.S.U.L.B. where he first starts playing music seriously.

1986: Sublime’s first recording, two years before the official creation of Sublime is a 4-track demo titled Fighting Blindly. It later shows up on Sublime’s bootleg record Sinsemilla ’86 - ’96.

1987: Still one year before the official creation of Sublime, more demos are made. Some of these songs, such as Romeo, Ebin, New Realization, and Roots Of Creation have shown up on various Sublime releases as B-sides and demos. Others will never see the light of day.