The reunited punk band Sublime is facing a lawsuit by their late frontman’s family if they perform at this weekends Smokeout Festival in California.  Read more on Sublime below.

The surviving  members of the band Sublime had announced their plans to stage a comeback at the Smokeout Festival, which would be their first show together after the death of their frontman Bradley Nowell in 1996.

But the day before their show, Nowell’s family threatened Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson and their replacement singer Rome Ramirez with a lawsuit if the band takes the stage under the name Sublime.

A statement from the family reads, “Prior to his untimely passing, both Bud and Eric acknowledged that Brad Nowell was the sole owner of the name Sublime. It was Brad’s expressed intention that no one use the name Sublime in any group that did not include him, and Brad even registered the trademark Sublime under his own name.  “As Brad’s heirs, and with the support of his entire family, we only want to respect his wishes and therefore have not consented to Bud and Eric calling their new project Sublime… Out of respect for Brad’s wishes, we have always refused to endorse any group performing as Sublime, and now with great reluctance feel compelled to take the appropriate legal action to protect Brad’s legacy. Our hope is that Brad’s ex-bandmates will respect his wishes and find a new name to perform under.”

But so far Sublime remains on the Smokeout bill along with bands Slipknot, Deftones, Cypress Hill, Geto Boys, Goodie Mob, Pennywise, Redman & Method Man and Bad Brains.

Sublime surviving members Gaugh and Wilson issued a statement in response to the estate Friday afternoon, stating that there have already been unsuccessful legal attempts made to stop the band from performing.

It reads, “While we all mourn the passing of our brother and bandmate Bradley Nowell some thirteen years ago, Sublime still has a strong message of hope and love to share — a  message that is especially important in these difficult times … Brad’s heirs apparently do not share this vision and do not want the band Sublime to continue and tried — unsuccessfully — to file a temporary restraining order to prevent the band from carrying on. Despite those objections, we are pleased that the United States District Court has allowed us to perform as Sublime for all of our fans.”

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