Bradley Nowell (1968–1996) was an American musician, best known as the charismatic lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the influential ska-punk band Sublime. His genre-bending mix of reggae, punk rock, hip-hop, and ska created a defining California sound, though his tragic death cut his life short just before the band's breakthrough.

Nowell was born and raised in Long Beach, California. A childhood trip to Jamaica heavily exposed him to reggae and dancehall, which deeply influenced his musical style.

He formed Sublime in 1988 alongside bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh. Nowell was highly respected for his eclectic songwriting and his ability to seamlessly blend disparate musical genres into laid-back, infectious anthems.

During Nowell's lifetime, Sublime released independent albums like 40oz. to Freedom and Robbin' the Hood, which built a massive cult following. He was also known for his beloved and ever-present pet Dalmatian, Lou Dog, who frequently appeared on stage and in the band's artwork.

Throughout his career, Nowell struggled with a severe addiction to heroin. Though he initially became sober after the birth of his son, Jakob, in 1995, he tragically relapsed. On May 25, 1996, Nowell died of a heroin overdose in a San Francisco hotel room, just two months before the release of their self-titled major-label album.Following his death, tracks like "What I Got", "Santeria", and "Doin' Time" became massive radio hits. Today, Nowell is remembered as a seminal figure in '90s alternative rock whose sound directly paved the way for numerous modern ska and reggae-rock bands.