High times: Sublime to reunite for Smokeout

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Sublime, the chart-topping punk-reggae group that split up more than 13 years ago when its lead singer overdosed, is gearing up to play its first official gig with a new vocalist at a festival celebrating cannabis.

The trio, famed for such radio hits as "Date Rape" and "What I Got," will perform at the Smokeout festival, to be held October 23-24 at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, Calif., 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

Slipknot, Deftones, Cypress Hill, Geto Boys, Goodie Mob, Pennywise, Redman & Method Man, Kottonmouth Kings and Bad Brains, among others, will perform across three stages at the event.

Sublime's original lead singer, Bradley Nowell, died of a heroin overdose in 1996 just as the band was achieving its biggest mainstream success. Surviving members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson went on to form the Long Beach Dub All-Stars, but earlier this year played a gig with Northern California-based singer Rome that Gaugh later called a Sublime reunion.

Smokeout, hosted this year by comedic duo Cheech and Chong, was launched by Cypress Hill in 1998. In addition to music, this year's event will feature cannabis-themed events, including a 420 movie night, a "munchie garden," workshops, guest speakers and the Smokeout Cannabis Cup and Medical Marijuana Expo. Tickets start going on sale on Thursday.

(Editing by DGoodman at Reuters)