10 Worst Rock Band Member Replacements

10. Rome Ramirez Replaces Bradley Nowell - Sublime

Ska punk group Sublime looked set to have a very good 1996. They had built up a strong fanbase thanks to their unique combination of pop punk, hip-hop, and reggae, and were set to release their third album.

Unfortunately, in May of that year, lead singer Bradley Nowell died as a result of a heroin overdose. He was 28.

Nowell's passing ripped through the music world like wildfire, devastating everyone who had gotten behind this young talent. Sublime's third album did come out, to rave reviews and their strongest chart position ever, but after that, they went their separate ways.

Until they didn't.

In 2009, guitarist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh teamed up with singer Rome Ramirez to form a new version of Sublime. That was, until Nowell's estate shut them down, and they started going by the name "Sublime with Rome" instead.

Not sure how they got away with that one, but there you go.

Ramirez stuck out like a sore thumb, especially on songs that had previous been performed by the late Nowell. The whole thing felt a bit tasteless and tacky, but hey, they got a top ten album in 2011, so there.