Long Beach Dub Allstars
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2002 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2012 |
| Headquarters | Long Beach, California , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Long Beach Dub Allstars is an American band blending dub, ska, and reggae rock elements, originally established in 1997. The group disbanded in 2002 but reunited ten years later.
Formation and Early Years (1997–2001)
Following the tragic passing of Sublime’s frontman Bradley Nowell in 1996, childhood friends Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh—who had achieved worldwide success with Sublime, selling over 17 million albums—formed Long Beach Dub Allstars (LBDAS). The initial lineup included RAS-1 from the Long Beach reggae ensemble Jah Children, along with regular Sublime collaborators Michael "Miguel" Happoldt, Todd Forman, and Marshall Goodman, creating a collective of ten members.
Wilson expressed that "the greatness of Sublime and Bradley’s legacy can never be replaced." The band released their debut album Right Back in 1999, followed by Wonders of the World in 2001. These albums featured notable collaborations, such as "Sunny Hours," which included will.i.am from The Black Eyed Peas and was used as the theme song for the television series Joey.
Disbandment and Subsequent Projects (2002–2012)
Speculation about the group’s dissolution surfaced in 2002 after some members violated a commitment to abstain from hard drugs. This led to Bud Gaugh departing to join Eyes Adrift alongside Krist Novoselic of Nirvana and Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets. Gaugh also collaborated with Kirkwood and Michael Happoldt in the band Volcano. Meanwhile, Eric Wilson, Trey Pangborn, and RAS-1 launched Long Beach Shortbus, initially with former Slightly Stoopid drummer Kelly Vargas, who was later replaced by Damion Ramirez. In parallel, Marshall Goodman, Jack Maness, and Opie Ortiz formed Dubcat with members of Hepcat. While Long Beach Shortbus experienced moderate success, Dubcat has yet to release a full album. Later on, Wilson and Gaugh reunited in Sublime with Rome, a new formation of Sublime featuring Rome Ramirez as the lead vocalist succeeding Bradley Nowell. Gaugh left shortly after their inaugural tour to prioritize family commitments but occasionally performed with Badfish.
Reunion Era (2012–present)
The band marked their return on September 1, 2012, performing their first concert in over a decade at Queen Mary Events Park in Long Beach, California, where they opened for The Wailers alongside Tribal Seeds. Later that month, they supported Fishbone at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana, California. In January 2013, they appeared at Brixton Southbay in Redondo Beach, California. The reunion lineup featured Marshall Goodman "Ras MG" on drums, Michael "Miguel" Happoldt handling lead guitar and vocals, Opie Ortiz on vocals, Jack Maness contributing vocals, guitar and keyboards, Tim Wu on saxophone, flute and vocals, and Edwin Kampwith playing bass.
In 2017, the group toured throughout California with additional performances scheduled in Nevada and Florida. Early 2018 plans included shows in San Francisco and Sacramento as well as an appearance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on April 19.
On May 29, 2020, Long Beach Dub Allstars unveiled their third studio album—a self-titled release—through Suburban Noize Records. This collection comprises ten tracks including the single "Tell Me," accompanied by an official music video.
Their fourth studio album, Echo Mountain High, was released on June 30, 2023 via Regime Music Group. The album contains thirteen songs with its lead single "Let Yourself Shine" premiering on social media platforms and YouTube on April 21. Other singles featuring videos include "Somewhere" and "Preacha," which showcases Long Beach native musician Philileano.
Present members
- Opie Ortiz (lead vocals, album artwork)
- Michael "Miguel" Happoldt (guitar, previously collaborated with Sublime)
- Tim Wu (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, vocals) – also part of the reggae-rap fusion band Chapter 11
- Roger Rivas (keyboard, organ)
- Ed Kampwirth (bass guitar)
- Gil Sharone (drums)
- Ian Foreman (drums)
Past members
- RAS-1 (lead vocals, guitar)
- Eric Wilson (bass guitar; formerly with Sublime with Rome, currently performing with Sublime and Spray Allen)
- Bud Gaugh (drums; previously with Sublime with Rome, now with Sublime)
- Marshall Goodman "Ras MG" (drums, percussion, turntables; ex-member of Sublime)
- Jack Maness (keyboard, vocals)
- Todd Forman (alto saxophone, percussion)
- Isaiah Ikey Owens (keyboard; formerly of The Mars Volta) – passed away in 2014
- Devin Morrison (guitar)
- Brad Croes (saxophone)
Note: The ensemble originally consisted of ten members; Forman and Owens departed during the production of Right Back. Miguel exited soon after the recording sessions; although he is credited and featured on the album, he is not listed as a current member.
Studio albums
- Right Back (1999) – reached No. 67 on the Billboard 200
- Wonders of the World (2001) – peaked at No. 59 on the Billboard 200
- Long Beach Dub Allstars (2020)
- Echo Mountain High (2023)
Singles
- "Trailer Ras" / "Kick Down" (1999)
- "Sunny Hours" (2001) – attained No. 28 on Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks
- "Holding On" / "Steady Customer" (2017)
- "Somewhere" (2023)
- Contributed to Free the West Memphis 3 with "The Harder They Come" featuring Joe Strummer and Tippa Irie.