Jakob Nowell

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Jakob Nowell
Birth nameJakob James Markus Nowell
Born (1995-06-25) June 25, 1995 (age 28)
St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, California
Genres
Instrument(s)
Years active2013–present
Labels

Jakob James Markus Nowell [1] (born June 25, 1995) [2] is an American musician based in southern California. He was a founding member of the band LAW, and was their vocalist until his departure in 2021. Nowell went on to form the band Jakob's Castle. In 2023, Nowell was brought on as the frontman of Sublime, a role previously held by his father Bradley Nowell.

Contents

Career

Nowell was the vocalist of ska-punk band LAW, a trio that was established in Long Beach in 2013. Their first show was supported by Miguel Happoldt. [3] LAW's debut EP was released on Skunk Records. [4] LAW released their only full-length album, There and Back Again, in 2018. It was a departure from their original ska and reggae based influence. [5] Nowell had a falling out with the other members of LAW in 2021, and they subsequently broke up. [2]

After LAW, Nowell went on to form Jakob's Castle with producer Jon Joseph. [6] In 2023, the project made their label debut with Epitaph Records. [7] Their debut album Enter: The Castle is to be released in April 2024. [8] It features songs co-written by Tim Armstrong. [6]

In December 2023, it was announced that Rome Ramirez was departing Sublime with Rome. It was later revealed that Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh agreed to revive Sublime, with Jakob Nowell performing on guitar and vocals. Their first show as a trio was that month. [9] They are expected to perform at Coachella in 2024. [10]

Personal life

Nowell was born on June 25, 1995 at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, California. [2] He is the son of Bradley Nowell, the founding guitarist and vocalist of Sublime, and Troy denDekker. Jakob was 11 months old when his father died of a heroin overdose in 1996. [1] Nowell became interested in music at a young age, and taught himself how to sing and play guitar on his own. [11]

Nowell began drinking at the age of twelve and started to battle with alcoholism. [5] Drug use was normalized in his household. [2] Nowell explained that his drug and alcohol exploration stemmed from a "subconscious desire to kind of understand what my dad's experiences were". [12]

Nowell became sober in 2017. His sobriety was documented in the 2017 film The Long Way Back: The Story of Todd Z-Man Zalkins. The documentary explores the story of Todd Zalkins, a drug interventionist, former opioid addict, and childhood friend of Nowell's father. In the film, Zalkins succeeds in his quest to get Nowell clean. [13] Nowell, along with his grandfather and aunt, helped start the Nowell Family Foundation, a non-profit that provides addiction recovery services and support for musicians. [14]

In 2021, he married Ashlyn Zeda. [15] They divorced after only a few months of marriage. [2]

Related Research Articles

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Floyd I. "Bud" Gaugh IV is an American drummer who played in the bands Sublime (1988–1996), Long Beach Dub Allstars (1997–2002), Eyes Adrift (2002–2003), Volcano (2004), and Sublime with Rome (2009–2011), as well as Phil & the Blanx, Del Mar, and Jelly of the Month Club.

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This is the discography of Sublime, an American ska punk band formed in Long Beach, California that consisted of Bradley Nowell, Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson. Over the band's eight-year career, they released three studio albums, as well as a live album, five compilation albums, three EPs, one box set, five official singles and four tribute albums. In total, the band sold 14.9 million albums in the United States. The band disbanded after singer Bradley Nowell's death in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sublime (band)</span> American rock band

Sublime is an American rock band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's original lineup consisted of Bradley Nowell, Eric Wilson (bass), and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell's dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996, resulting in the band's breakup. In 1997, songs such as "What I Got", "Santeria", "Wrong Way", "Doin' Time", and "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" were released to U.S. radio.

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Slightly Stoopid is an American rock band based in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California, who describe their music as "a fusion of folk, rock, reggae and blues with hip-hop, funk, metal and punk." As a band, they have released thirteen albums, with their ninth studio album entitled Everyday Life, Everyday People on July 13, 2018. The band was originally signed by Bradley Nowell from the band Sublime to his label Skunk Records while still in high school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rome Ramirez</span> Musical artist

Roman Rene Ramirez is an American singer and guitarist best known for playing with Eric Wilson from Sublime in the band Sublime with Rome.

<i>Badfish</i> (song) 1993 single by Sublime

"Badfish" is a song by American ska-punk band Sublime, released as part of their 1992 debut album, 40oz. to Freedom. The single was released in 1993, and again in 1997. The song was written by Bradley Nowell and originally recorded in 1989, reportedly influenced by The Ziggens song "All the fun that we missed" and Nowell's love of reggae. First released on the band's 1991 demo tape, Jah Won't Pay the Bills, "Badfish" appeared again on most of the band's compilation albums. An extended play (EP) was released in 1995 named after the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sublime with Rome</span> American reggae rock band

Sublime with Rome is a musical collaboration between Eric Wilson, formerly of the American ska punk band Sublime, drummer Joe Tomino, and singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez. The group's name is not only a reference to the singer's first name, but to the fact that they chiefly perform songs by the original Sublime, which was fronted by Bradley Nowell until his death in 1996.

References

  1. 1 2 Crowe, Jerry (23 July 1996). "Heroin's Toll Is Nothing Sublime". Los Angeles Times.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Richardson, Brandon (19 November 2023). "With his own sound, Jakob Nowell hopes to live up to the Sublime legacy of his father". the Hi-lo. The Long Beach Post. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  3. ↑ Jackson, Nate (3 July 2013). "Brad Nowell's Son Just Turned 18. He Talks About Playing His Very First Gig". OC Weekly. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. ↑ Milligan, Kaitlin (30 October 2018). "Late Sublime Frontman's Son Jakob Nowell Brings His Band LAW to Long Beach". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 Reesman, Bryan (20 December 2018). "LAW's Jakob Nowell Discusses New Music, Overcoming Addiction and Father Bradley's Legacy". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  6. 1 2 Oxwelling, Mike (15 August 2023). "The Nowell Family Might Just Re-define SoCal Music Once Again". The Pier Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Faulkner, Clara (16 October 2023). "Exclusive: The "beach meets internet" fusion of Jakobs Castle". The Berkeley Beacon. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  8. ↑ River, Julie (18 January 2024). "News: Jakobs Castle Announce New Album 'Enter: The Castle' and Release New Single". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  9. ↑ Brooks, Dave (19 December 2023). "Rome Ramirez to Exit Sublime While Original Members Explore Venture With Bradley Nowell's Son". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Mier, Tomás (17 January 2024). "Sublime to Reunite With Bradley Nowell's Son for Coachella 2024". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Hixon, Michael (14 August 2018). "Jakob Nowell, son of deceased Sublime frontman, moves from ska punk to hard rock". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Sublime Doc Details Addiction Battles After Bradley Nowell's Death". Rolling Stone. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  13. ↑ Brazil, Ben (2 November 2017). "Laguna filmmaker documents the fall and rise of life as a drug addict". Daily Pilot. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "Family of Sublime Frontman Opened Bradley's House in December". The Pier Magazine. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  15. ↑ @sublime (17 November 2021). "Congrats to @jakobnowell and @ashlyn.zeda Welcome to the Sublime Fam!! ❤️💍🌹" – via Instagram.
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