Badfish
Encyclopedia
Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime is a tribute band
dedicated to playing the music of Sublime
and not to be confused with the original "Badfish" from Southern California.
The group is named after a song appearing on the album 40oz. to Freedom
. Formed in 2001 at the University of Rhode Island
, the group's members, who were computer science
majors, began playing local Rhode Island
clubs and quickly began selling out shows. They continued touring the East Coast and Midwest of the U.S., becoming popular on college campuses among Sublime fans who never were able to see the band due to Bradley Nowell
's 1996 death. Since then the group has done multiple national tours per year. In 2008, the band was nominated for Best Tribute Act in the Boston Music Awards.
The group played 152 shows across the United States in 2006, selling just under 100,000 tickets and grossing $1.4 million in sales. Members of the group also play in a non-tribute act called Scotty Don't, which sometimes acts as the opener at "Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime" shows. The band played at the Hoodwink festival in New Jersey in 2009, and Shwagstock in Salem, Missouri in 2010.
Tribute band
A tribute act is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act - sometimes one which has disbanded, ceased touring or is deceased. Probably the largest class of tributes acts are Elvis impersonators, individual performers who mimic the songs and style...
dedicated to playing the music of Sublime
Sublime (band)
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell , Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh . Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's...
and not to be confused with the original "Badfish" from Southern California.
The group is named after a song appearing on the album 40oz. to Freedom
40oz. to Freedom
40oz. to Freedom is the 1992 debut album by the Southern California ska-punk band Sublime released by Skunk Records and again by MCA. 40oz. to Freedom received mixed critical reviews upon its first release, but has earned an improved public perception since...
. Formed in 2001 at the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
, the group's members, who were computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
majors, began playing local Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
clubs and quickly began selling out shows. They continued touring the East Coast and Midwest of the U.S., becoming popular on college campuses among Sublime fans who never were able to see the band due to Bradley Nowell
Bradley Nowell
Bradley James Nowell was an American musician who served as lead singer and guitarist of the Californian band Sublime. He died at the age of 28 from a heroin overdose shortly before the release of Sublime's self-titled major label debut.Raised in Long Beach, California, Nowell developed an...
's 1996 death. Since then the group has done multiple national tours per year. In 2008, the band was nominated for Best Tribute Act in the Boston Music Awards.
The group played 152 shows across the United States in 2006, selling just under 100,000 tickets and grossing $1.4 million in sales. Members of the group also play in a non-tribute act called Scotty Don't, which sometimes acts as the opener at "Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime" shows. The band played at the Hoodwink festival in New Jersey in 2009, and Shwagstock in Salem, Missouri in 2010.
Members
- Joel Hanks - bass
- Scott Begin - drums
- Pat Downes - vocals, guitar (2007–present)
- Dave Ladin - vocals, guitar (2001–2006)
- Ben Schomp - horns, keys and guitar (-2009)
- Dorian Duffy - Keys, Guitar, Samples (2010-)
Further reading
- Badfish Pays its Respects to Sublime. The News & Record (Greensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
), June 4, 2004. (subscription required) - Cover Band Does Sublime Shows. Arizona Daily StarArizona Daily StarThe Arizona Daily Star is the major morning daily newspaper that serves Tucson and surrounding districts of southern Arizona in the United States. The paper was purchased by Pulitzer in 1971; Lee Enterprises bought Pulitzer in 2005....
, May 24, 2007. (subscription required) - The Week's Worst: Badfish. Philadelphia WeeklyPhiladelphia WeeklyPhiladelphia Weekly , is an award-winning alternative newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published every Wednesday.The paper was founded in 1971 as a sister publication to the South Philadelphia Press. In 1995, the paper became Philadelphia Weekly...
, December 17, 2008.