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.

1979: Two future Sublime members, 10-year-old Eric Wilson (bass) and 12-year-old Floyd I. "Bud" Gaugh (drums) meet in Lowell Elementary School 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.

1982: Bud moves away to Lakewood, and Eric starts the punk sister-band to Sublime, Juice Bros.

1982: Bud starts the Lakewood punk band, Resistance. Around the same time, Bud meets Jack Maness who later performs Rivers Of Babylon

1983-1984: Around this time, Eric and Brad meet in school. They perform together in their first band together called Hogan's Heroes.

1985: Bradley, Eric Wilson, Tom Spruengli, Eric Ward, the late Ruth Goodman, and the late Ted Lee perform in a band called "Sloppy Seconds" during Brad's senior year at High School. Also, Tom Spruengli occasionally sits in with the band, Agent Orange. Around this time, Eric Wilson meets Marshall Goodman in band class. They are both friends to the artist, Opie Ortiz. Bud moves back to Long Beach and begins drumming with Juice Bros.

1986: Bradley graduates and attends C.S.U.L.B. where he first starts playing music seriously.

Spring Break 1986: Brad comes home for spring break, and Eric Wilson introduces him to Bud Gaugh, and Sublime is born. 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.