Brad Nowell played his last show with his band Sublime on May 24, 1996 at the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, California.  Sublime had just kicked off a quick five day tour a month before the release of their self-titled major label album debut “Sublime“.  Here are some photos from his final show.

Brad who had just been married and had been clean for 5 months shot up before the show and played the show high.  The Pheonix Theatre is located at  201 Washington St, Petaluma, CA 94952.  Here is what the venue looks like…

After the show Brad partied into the night in San Francisco where they were to play the following night.  After checking into the Oceanview Motel, Brad trailed off with someone to score dope and wasn’t seen the rest of the night.

Oceanview Motel – 4340 Judah Street San Francisco, CA 94122

Brad arose early to the sound of crashing waves..he tried to rouse the bandmates to come an watch the surf but they were all hungover and told hiim no.  He called his wife and told her he loved her and played her thier song on guitar “Santa Monica” by Everclear.  He then took “Lou Dog” on a walk on the beach, came back to his room he was sharing with drummer Bud Gaugh and shot up for the last time.

Gaugh woke up to find Nowell lying half way across a bed, with his knees and feet on the floor.  At first, he assumed he had been too intoxicated to get into bed; however, further inspection allowed him to notice a green film around his mouth, and it became obvious that he had overdosed on heroin that he bought in Chico, California.  Gaugh tried CPR…the flushed all the drugs down the toilet and called 911 but it was to late. Bradley Nowell was pronounced dead on the scene at the age of 28 with “Lou Dog” at his side at the bottom of the bed.

R.I.P. Bradley Nowell (February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996)

Sublime’s Unofficial Mascot Brad Nowell’s Dalmation “Lou Dog”

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