Long Beach Dub Allstars

ByLets Go Punk
Long Beach Dub Allstars formed after Sublime

The Long Beach Dub Allstars are an American dub, ska, and reggae rock band formed in 1997. They initially ran until 2002, then returned a decade later with a reunion era that has included new releases and touring.

Initial career

Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh met as kids in 1979 and later started a garage punk band together. In 1988, they formed Sublime with Bradley Nowell. After Nowell died from a heroin overdose in 1996, Wilson and Gaugh founded the Long Beach Dub Allstars with RAS-1 from the Long Beach reggae band Jah Children on guitar and vocals. They were joined by frequent Sublime contributors Michael “Miguel” Happoldt, Todd Forman, and “Field” Marshall Goodman.

Wilson made it clear the band was not intended to replace what came before, saying, “We will never replace the greatness that Sublime did or what Bradley has done.” The Long Beach Dub Allstars began as a 10-piece and recorded their debut album, Right Back. After the album was finished in 1999, three members departed. The band’s second album, Wonders of the World, was recorded and released in 2001. It included “Sunny Hours,” featuring will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, and that track was also used as the theme song for the Friends spin-off Joey.

Breakup and aftermath

In 2002, rumors of a breakup started circulating. The story presented at the time was that the band had taken a vow to avoid hard drugs, and that some members broke it, leading Bud Gaugh to quit. Gaugh then joined Eyes Adrift with Krist Novoselic of Nirvana and Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets. He later played with Kirkwood and Michael Happoldt in the band Volcano.

After the split, Eric Wilson, Trey Pangborn, and RAS-1 formed Long Beach Shortbus with former Slightly Stoopid and temporary Sublime drummer Kelly Vargas, who was later replaced by Damion Ramirez. Marshall Goodman, Jack Maness, and Opie Ortiz formed Dubcat with members of Hepcat. The account here notes that Shortbus found slightly more success than Dubcat, and that Dubcat had not released an album.

Wilson and Gaugh later reunited in Sublime with Rome, a version of Sublime that largely performed Sublime songs with Rome Ramirez singing in place of Bradley Nowell. Gaugh left shortly after the first tour, focused on family, and later played a few shows with Badfish.

Reunion and later activity

On September 1, 2012, Long Beach Dub Allstars played their first show in 11 years at the Queen Mary Events Park in Long Beach, California. They opened for The Wailers and played alongside Tribal Seeds. On September 30, 2012, they performed at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana, California, opening for Fishbone. Another show followed on January 25, 2013 at the Brixton Southbay in Redondo Beach, California, with the local band Special “C”.

The reunion lineup is listed as Marshall Goodman “Ras MG” on drums, Michael “Miguel” Happoldt on lead guitar and vocals, Opie Ortiz on vocals, Jack Maness on vocals, guitar, and keys, Tim Wu on sax, flute, and vocals, and Edwin Kampwith on bass.

In 2017, the band toured across California and played one-off shows in Nevada and Florida. They were also set to play shows in San Francisco and Sacramento in early 2018, plus a gig at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on April 19.

On May 29, 2020, Long Beach Dub Allstars released their self-titled third studio album through Suburban Noize Records. The album has 10 tracks and was led by the single “Tell Me,” which also received a music video. On June 30, 2023, they released their fourth studio album, Echo Mountain High, on Regime Music Group. It includes 13 tracks, and the first single, “Let Yourself Shine,” was released on April 21 via social media and YouTube. Other singles with music videos from this era include “Somewhere” and “Preacha,” with “Preacha” featuring Long Beach musician Philileano.

Lineup

Current members

  • Opie Ortiz, lead vocals and album artwork
  • Michael “Miguel” Happoldt, guitar
  • Tim Wu, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, and vocals
  • Roger Rivas, keyboard and organ
  • Ed Kampwirth, bass
  • Gil Sharone, drums
  • Ian Foreman, drums

Former members

  • RAS-1, lead vocals and guitar
  • Eric Wilson, bass
  • Bud Gaugh, drums
  • Marshall Goodman “Ras MG,” drums, percussion, and turntables
  • Jack Maness, keyboard and vocals
  • Todd Forman, alto saxophone and percussion
  • Isaiah Ikey Owens, keyboard (died 2014)
  • Devin Morrison, guitar
  • Brad Croes, saxophone

In the band’s early period, it began as a 10-piece. Todd Forman and Isaiah Ikey Owens left while Right Back was being recorded, and it is noted that it is unclear whether they appear on the album. It is also noted that Miguel left shortly after the album was recorded and, while he is shown on the album and credited, he is not cited as a member in that stretch.

Discography

Albums

  • Right Back (1999), No. 67 on the Billboard 200
  • Wonders of the World (2001), No. 59 on the Billboard 200
  • Long Beach Dub Allstars (2020)
  • Echo Mountain High (2023)

Singles

  • “Trailer Ras” / “Kick Down” (1999)
  • “Sunny Hours” (2001), No. 28 on Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks
  • “Holding On” / “Steady Customer” (2017)
  • “Somewhere” (2023)

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