Tags
28 years old, American, birth of son, Bradley Nowell, Celebrity, drug overdose, heroin addiction, musician, Rock, sober, Sublime
Bradley Nowell (February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996)
Bradley James Nowell was born and raised in Long Beach, California. Nowell developed an interest in music at a young age. His father took him on a trip to Jamaica during his childhood years, which exposed him to reggae and dancehall music; he then gained a strong interest in rock music once he learned how to play guitar. Nowell played in various bands until forming Sublime with bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh, whom he had met while attending California State University at Long Beach. Throughout the band’s career, Nowell struggled with a worsening addiction to heroin. He eventually became sober after his son Jakob was born in June 1995. He married the mother of his son, Troy Dendekker, on May 18, 1996. Seven days later on May 25, Sublime was to begin a 5-day tour of Northern California, then a European tour and an East Cast tour. Having stayed the night at a San Francisco motel, Gaugh awoke to find Nowell lying on the floor next to his bed with a yellow film around his mouth. Nowell had overdosed on heroin. He was only 28 years old. Sublime released their self-titled third album two months after Nowell’s death.