AboutGMan Expertise I can answer any/all questions in regard to "sublime". I was down with the band and Skunk Records since 1991; the year they released their second cassette, "Jah Won't Pay the Bills" until the end in 1996. I have answers to all of your questions about their music, their releases, their unreleased music, their promos, merchandise, and the like. You ask it, I'll answer it.
Experience I have extensive knowledge of "sublime" from their origin(s)through the end of their career. I have been involved with "sublime" from the early years when Kelly Vargas was on Drums, I know everything that there is to know about their early career, their rise to fame in the early 90's, & on through until May 96' when Brad passed away. I specialize in the band's merchandise. I have been collecting everything that is "sublime" since the beginning and have extensive knowledge on the subject. They released an unparalleled amount of DYI promotional merchandise before being signed to MCA & I would be glad to help you find out what piece of their BIG puzzle you are holding on to and/or what you'd like to get your hand on!
Publications I am a regular on all of the sublime chat boards and was a constant on the now defunct sublime board, "The Curb" where many people considered me the "go to guy" for information on "sublime" and the rarities that they left behind for us all.
Question QUESTION: The song "What's really goin' wrong" opens up talking up talking about our last movie....what does this refer to?
This song is very out of place for Sublime recordings. Where was this recorded, when and who else was featured w/ backup vocals and percussion?
Thanks for any info!
ANSWER: Hey Mike,
OK dude,... well, that song was from 1995 & was recorded at Total Access in Redondo. The guys just showed up, jammed, laid down the track & bailed. No big deal... no contracts and shit. Just having a good time & helping a Bro out.
With the song, "What's Really Goin' Wrong", sublime were all for any type of promotion via their music as long as it came to something that they were interested in or liked. This was a surf flick which they loved.
They were big in the Skate and Snowboarding community since the beginning and this guy, Matt Willey (better known as "Chicken") from "LOST" enterprises approached them to do a song that HE wrote for the film he was making called "What's Really Goin' Wrong"
That movie was to be the sequel to "What's Really Going ON".
Matt, or "Chicken" had heard that Brad was opening the shows on the East Coast playing the song "What's Really Goin' ON" from his last surf flick. Chicken had sublime in mind to do the opener for the next movie but didn't "know" them yet. Coincidentally, Brad showed up on Matt's door one day & they all became friends. Chicken is a legend in the So. Cal. surf community & sublime were THE band in So. Cal. at that time, so the fit was perfect... Total coincidence or fate.. who knows, but the rest is history.
Here's what Chicken has to say about the recording session:
"Bud is the one doing the chicken sounds, and Eric is the one playing the synthesizer in the second solo. I'd really likes to remix that song. I had nothing to do with final mix and it's not my vision, there are vocal tracks that got unused and there original chorus had everyone, even the pizza delivery driver saying "ON"! I played guitar and sang at the same time with Bud in the next room playing drums, to get the base track that was fun shit. Brad sang his parts in two takes I think I had a few vocal and guitar passes, with Miguel yelling at me in the earphones. It's my voice in the beginning of the song and the British accent part. The idea was to make a build up like "We're Only Gonna Die For Our Arrogance", I really would have liked more guitar and a heavy bass riff. I remember [to answer your question] drinking lots of beer and vodka and having everyone tell me no to set my drinks down on the equipment. I also remember going to there little studio in Long Beach and hearing them working on "I Ain't No Prophet" and "crazy fool" , which I learned and still play and sing."
Basically, "What's Really Goin' Wrong" was essentially just a "jam" session with the guys showing up to lots of beer and the song already written.
You can see the song being used at the beginning of the film here:
Also,.. Around that time, sublime was really getting big & gaining tons of recognition. Not only for their music but also for their partying; most notably their pot use. They were all for promoting marijuana use and it's legalization. They were down with High Times and NORML and would lend their music or their name to further the cause. An example of this is the use of "Legalize It" on the "Hempilation" CD & "Legal Dub" for NORML.
Another example of sublime promoting themselves via their music as long as it came to something that they were interested in or liked is the recording of "Hong Kong Phooey" around the same time for the "Saturday Morning Cartoons" CD.
They would just do these things if they came up,.. AND IF the people were cool. It meant MONEY & that meant gas to get to shows, studio time to make more records, cash to make more merchandise, etc. They were not stupid. Quite the contrary, they were sly as foxes.
Speaking of which,... The "All You Need" single. They were asked permission to use the song in the video game "Fox Hunt" in 1993 & agreed... for the money; of course, but look what happened from that! They were one of the first bands to be featured in a video game. This was WAY before "GTA" days, so that just goes to show you how Brad was always thinking ahead & ahead of the curve.
I hope this helps.
"All Sublime All The Time"
Peace,
GMan
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for the speedy answer G man! On The EUTS box set there is Shame in Dem game w/ Brad accompanying HR or is it HR accompanying sublime? Also, when and where did this take place???
In addition i've heard "Our Faith" with Sublime and HR too, and i love it! Is this from the same show? Also do you know the entire set list that took place with HR so I can hope for these songs in the future????
Do you know if these gems are planned to be released post MCA??
Thanks for your tireless work my man- Much Love
-Mike
Answer Hey Mike,
Well,... "Shame In Dem Game" was recorded way back in 1992 at a place called "Bogarts" in Long Beach. At that gig, HR of "Human Rights" & "Bad Brains" fame was playing and so was sublime. HR joined (or "accompanied") them for that song which they played as a tribute to his "old" band at the time, "Bad Brains".
The song itself is off of HR's album "Charge" from 1990 & Brad supposedly got the album when it came out & added that tune to their live set list accordingly.
And, "Our Faith" is a song off of the album "Our Faith" from 1992. I believe that the recording of this song that you hear is from a show at the "Cuckoos Nest" in Costa Mesa, Ca., which if I remember right was at the "Black Flys" party on Sept 30th, 1994. I'm not 100% sure about that one though.
I don't know the set lists for either of these shows, unfortunately.
As of right now, there are no plans to release these live shows; or any "live" sublime for that matter. The guys are still entangled in the MCA mess that prevents them from releasing all of the "live" stuff that Miguel promised way back when "Second Hand Smoke" was released. (See the end of the liner notes.)
