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MERGE4 Partners With Sublime
MERGE4 is proud to announce the release of two graphic socks celebrating the reggae-punk hybrid of Sublime – and their iconic Dalmatian Lou Dog.
Sublime were an alchemy of influences: reggae, dub, tattooed-punks, Rastafari, skaters, Chicanos, hip-hoppers and others defining an entire era. Straight outta Long Beach the musicians who made up Sublime began as rag-tag punks playing backyard parties and selling cassettes out of the trunks of their cars to creating an entirely new revolutionary blend of music.
According to Rolling Stone: “The singular sound of Sublime, finds stoner rock, punk, and hip-hop funk blended with doses of every pungent flavor of reggae. The result was a beautiful, warts-and-all brand of poetry – a powerful new blend of street sounds and party music. With Bradley Nowell, Sublime had an astounding singer and lyricist who created his own edgy but expressive underground vernacular. And in Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, Sublime was fortunate to have an agile, rock-solid rhythm section that could cover the entire musical waterfront.”
A graphic sock celebrating and commemorating Sublime is right in line with the philosophy of MERGE4 who are in the business of producing, warm, colorful, sturdy socks decorated with graphics from legends in the world of surfing, skateboarding, music and art. Sublime has become a legend by creating a soundtrack to a lifestyle that lives on – 30 years later – and stronger than ever.
The Sublime Sun has become an iconic symbol of the SoCal lifestyle. The symbol will be portrayed on a colorful green sock. This classic crew, combed cotton, terry loped foot, self-adjusting welt cuff, reinforced heel and toe, elastic arch support, awesome y-heel sock is athletic ribbed for your pleasure to help reminisce “It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy” and is meant to evoke those Long Beach summer daze seen thru faded eyes and a purple haze and freedom was only 40 oz. away.
“The world knows Bradley Nowell as the often-shirtless front-man whose dalmatian Lou Dog was never far from his side, a musical genius who could blend Jamaican rhythms with American hardcore as effortlessly as he could smile, and a golden-throated lead singer” says OC Weekly.
Lou Dog (1996 – 2011) is a legend among Sublime fans. Named for Bradley Nowell’s grandfather Louie Nowell, this Dalmatian was known as King Louie or Lou Dog and was the band’s mascot – wandering the stage during live performances, and in numerous lyrics. The Sublime Lou Dog sock comes in blue and white.
“I am so stoked to be working with such an iconic band as Sublime,” said Merge4 founder Cindi Ferreira-Busenhart. “What I especially like is that Sublime created their own blend of music which was inclusive – merging genres together. The Sublime collab is a perfect fit for MERGE4 as we developed a sock with a new fit and feel with graphics that don’t blow out, that is also inclusive – getting people to MERGE4 what they believe in – from awesome music to amazing athletes and photography, all while giving back to good causes.”
Available at www.merge4.com and https://bit.ly/2CSkSkf
About MERGE4:
Merge4 is a sock company based out of Santa Cruz, California that is a Certified B Corporation using business as a force for doing good. Beyond magnificent in appearance, style and comfort, MERGE4 socks are constructed like no other. Your soles are GRIPPED by our deviously interesting ‘CULT-WEAVE’. MERGE4’s ‘CULT-WEAVE’ cushions what is sometimes called the ‘arch’ area. YES, you heard correctly; MERGE4 “GRIPS YOUR SOLE”.
About Sublime:
Sublime, the Long Beach, CA, reggae-punk/alternative rock trio, was founded in 1988 by Eric Wilson, Bud Gaugh and Bradley Nowell. Their first self-produced album, 40oz. to Freedom, was released in1992 via the band’s label Skunk Records. The success of that album and heavy radio exposure by Southern California’s KROQ (two years after its initial release) secured Sublime signing to MCA Records in time for the band’s 1994 sophomore album, Robbin’ the Hood, which revealed an experimental ethic more in keeping with cut-and-paste dub than the well-tuned rage of the Cali punk revival. The album performed well at college radio and set the stage for the breakout success of their self-titled third album. On May 25, 1996, however, lead vocalist and guitarist Nowell tragically passed away and the band collapsed, but the eponymous SUBLIME was still slated for a July1996 release. On the strength of the chart-topping alternative radio hit “What I Got,” the album was certified gold by the end of 1996. “Santeria” and “Wrong Way” followed and enjoyed heavy airplay, and their self-titled album eventually sold more than seven million copies, making it one of the most popular reggae-punk albums in history. Such success spread to the band’s earlier albums too, leading 40 oz.to Freedom to double-platinum sales and Robbin’ the Hood to gold certification. Sublime has gone on to sell 17 million records in the US, and their genre-defining music and cultural influence is stronger today than ever before.