Fitting squarely within the pantheon of revelatory '90s bands, Sublime are a testament to timeless music that has carried across generations. Hits like "Doin' Time" and "Santeria" are ubiquitous to summer soundtracks and continue to drift across scorching beaches from coast to coast.
Equal to Sublime's influence is the tragedy that defined the end of an era. On May 25, 1996, vocalist, guitarist, and frontman Bradley Nowell passed away from a heroin overdose. It was a tragic conclusion to a battle with addiction that shook the band and overarching music community. It also foreshadowed generational hurdles, as years later, Bradley's son Jakob faced addiction like his father before fortunately finding recovery.
Between the loss of her brother Bradley and recovery of her new nephew Jakob, Kellie Nowell was inspired to found the Nowell Family Foundation in 2017. Created as a non-profit to assist musicians experiencing substance use disorder, it steadily grew until they developed a residential treatment center called Bradley's House. The Nowell Family Foundation has become a beacon of hope in the music community and saved real lives.
In anticipation of her organization's presence at the SAVE A L!FE fundraiser with End Overdose this weekend, we spoke with Kellie about the evolution and future of the Nowell Family Foundation.
End Overdose: Can you tell us a bit about the Nowell Family Foundation and how it came to be?
Kellie Nowell: My family and I were inspired to start the Nowell Family Foundation after losing my brother, Bradley, from a heroin overdose in 1996. As the front man for Sublime, we witnessed firsthand some of the unique challenges faced by musicians in recovery. We started fundraising in 2017 with the goal of providing support for people in the music industry who struggle with substance use disorder. In December 2023, we opened Bradley’s House in his honor.
EO: Can you speak to the importance of providing a residential facility to people in pursuit of recovery?
KN: It’s no secret that change is a big part of the recovery process. For many people, getting out of their current environment allows them to focus on the work. A residential program with a positive atmosphere can be key to success.
EO: As the Executive Director of the foundation, how do you approach spreading your message and mission? What currently excites you most about your nonprofit?
KN: As a grassroots organization, we rely heavily on social media and word of mouth to spread our message. We serve the music community, which impacts everyone. Musicians are influencers, and it is our hope that they will carry the message of hope and healing to their audiences. Since opening Bradley’s House, we have had the privilege of working with so many people – from clients to volunteers. It’s exciting … and humbling.
EO: How does it feel to see Sublime thriving with your nephew now publicly clean and sober at the helm?
KN: Over the past year, it’s been awesome to see Jakob connecting with his father’s musical legacy. It’s even better that he’s doing it clean and sober. He’s a talented musician in his own right (check out Jakobs Castle!), and he’s in this position because he’s put in the work to get here. Like all Sublime fans, I’m really glad Bud and Eric wanted to reunite. It’s a great opportunity for them to reconnect with their audience in a very special way. I’m so proud of all of them.
EO: Looking forward to our fundraiser in October, what inspired you to get involved with SAVE A L!FE?
KN: Substance abuse is a massive problem, not something that has an easy fix. We all need to join together in this fight ... to break the stigma through education and awareness, to increase access to quality treatment programs, and to save lives through harm reduction. We’re stoked to play a small part in this at the SAVE A L!FE event next month.
EO: What does ending overdose mean to you?
KN: Ending overdose is taking back the power!
Buy tickets to the SAVE A L!FE fundraiser here
Visit the Nowell Family Foundation's official website here