Following the death of lead singer Brad Nowell’s death in 1996 from a heroin overdose, Sublime’s two remaining members – drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson – continued to make music with various groups including the ill-fated Long Beach Dub Allstars that disbanded in 2002.

In 2009, at a bar in Reno, Nev., Gaugh and Wilson debuted a new Sublime lineup with young singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez taking over Nowell’s duties. The band subsequently toured last summer under the banner Sublime with Rome and has now begun the process of recording a record.

With a tentative release date of June and four songs in the can with producer Sylvia Massy (TOOL, The Black Crowes, Prince) – “Panic,” “Take it or Leave It,” “She’s a Murderer” and the tentatively titled “Dub Track #1” – Gaugh gave Relix the inside scoop on the much anticipated new album.

What other bands have you looked to for guidance that were able to continue after a fundamental lineup change?

AC/DC – that was just proof in the pudding that this could be done as long as we handled it properly. Also The Dead in going back out and just dropping the Grateful part – changing the name to acknowledge that there has been a change in the lineup and that it’s a new yet similar entity.

What was the crowd reaction like to the Sublime with Rome shows this past summer?

It’s been amazing and they’ve been fully supportive. The crowd response is awesome. Sometimes the crowd is even louder singing the lyrics than the PA system. They sing every word to every song throughout the show. It’s nothing but love and support.

Did you and Eric ever think you’d go back to the trio format?

Eric and I figured that we would go out and do Sublime music again – we just didn’t have the idea of what it would be called. There never was any doubt that we would do a three piece band again and play this kind of music. When we sat down with Rome and jammed, it was like we had been old friends for a long time. Seeing the smile on Eric’s face was the anchor for me in knowing that this was gonna do the music justice.

At what point did you decide to go into the studio?

We decided in the beginning that we were going to go into the studio and write new music. This wasn’t gonna be a tribute band – it was gonna be a new band altogether.

Is there a Sublime formula for making music?

We have a vast number of influences and we try to combine those influences into our songs and generally either Rome or Eric will come up with a melody or rhythm. Then we jam it out and make different arrangement changes – throw in bridge here, a breakdown there and then run it through the Sublime filter. If it sounds a little too pop or radio, we throw in a little more punk or ska and liven it up. You just can’t forget to rock. [Laughs.]

Is the album all new material?

It’s pretty much all totally fresh. There are some jams that Eric and I have done through the years that we may revisit. But we’re trying to keep it all brand new and fresh.

How’d the first visit to the studio go?

We went to Slyvia Massy’s studio in Weed, Calif. and spent a week up there. We went into the studio with one song complete – “Panic” – and then half a song. It was halfway arranged and we walked out with four songs within the six days. We are looking at the whole month of February and maybe the first half of March to go back in the studio and finish the recording.

Are you considering different producers for different songs?

We’re still scouting around. There’s been some thoughts and ideas that maybe different guys like Mario C. [Caldato Jr.], Rick Rubin or Pharrell [Williams] – people like that – but nothing’s solidified yet.

Have any lyrical themes presenting themselves?

Just the old standard – the soundtrack of life, basically. Love, friendship, good times and the darker side of life, too. The troubles that we happen to put ourselves in with authority, relationships and friends. [Laughs.] The good the bad and the ugly. [Laughs.]

Have there been any “what would Brad do” moments in the studio?

Our instincts are driven by the “What would we do here, what would Brad do here?” kind of thing. Sublime was always [about] collective decisions. In the arrangements of the [new] music [we’re recording], we’re definitely channeling our friend.