Sublime Suffer Legal Setback

Punk icons BUD GAUGH and ERIC WILSON have suffered a setback in their efforts to revive SUBLIME after a judge granted a preliminary injunction to prevent them using the band name.

The rockers reunited for a show in California last month (Oct09) but sparked controversy by playing under their original moniker.

They are facing a legal challenge from the estate of late frontman Bradley Nowell, who died in 1996, over the singer's wish for the band to never continue without him.

In a hearing in California on Tuesday (03Nov09) a judge granted a preliminary injunction - forbidding Gaugh and Wilson and new lead singer Rome Ramirez from performing or recording under the name Sublime without permission from the Nowell estate.

The injunction will be upheld until the breach-of-contract/trademark infringement lawsuit goes to trial, or the parties reach a settlement, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Jeremiah Reynolds, who represents the Nowell estate, says, "The point we tried to make is that we encourage these gentlemen to go out and play. We think they’re great musicians. We just don’t think it’s appropriate to call a group that doesn’t have Bradley and has a new lead singer Sublime. It’s consistent with Brad’s intentions that we seek to protect the name. The court agreed that Bud and Eric and the new lead singer didn’t have the right to go out and call themselves Sublime."

Gaugh and Wilson last month (Oct09) vowed to fight for the right to perform as Sublime to spread the band's "message of hope and love."

--IANS-WENN