UB40

UB40 is a British reggae and pop band formed in Birmingham, England, in December 1978. The band's name comes from the title of a form issued to people claiming unemployment benefits, "Unemployment Benefit, Form 40". The founding members were a group of friends from the multicultural area of Balsall Heath, with a diverse ethnic makeup including musicians of English, Welsh, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish, and Yemeni parentage. The original lineup included brothers Ali and Robin Campbell, Earl Falconer, Mickey Virtue, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, and Norman Hassan. Astro (Terence Wilson) joined the band shortly after their formation.

Musical Style and Success

UB40's music is a blend of reggae, dub, and pop. They were influenced by the blues parties they attended as teenagers and their love for ska and reggae. The band has sold over 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the most commercially successful reggae acts of all time. They have had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart and achieved considerable international success. Their debut single, "King"/"Food for Thought", reached the Top 5 in the UK.

The band's albums 'Labour of Love' (1983) and 'Promises and Lies' (1993) both reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. They have achieved number-one singles in the UK with "Red Red Wine", a cover of Neil Diamond's song, and "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love", a cover of the Elvis Presley classic. Their duet with Chrissie Hynde, a cover of "I Got You Babe", also topped the UK charts.

Band Lineup Changes

The band's lineup remained consistent for nearly 29 years until frontman Ali Campbell left in 2008, followed by Mickey Virtue. Astro departed in 2013 and later joined Ali Campbell and Mickey Virtue in a new version of the band. Duncan Campbell, another brother, took over as lead singer for the original band but retired in 2021 due to ill health. Matt Doyle was announced as the new lead vocalist for UB40 in July 2021. Sadly, Brian Travers passed away in 2021, and Astro died later that same year.

Legacy

UB40 is credited with popularizing reggae music around the world. They have been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times and were nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group in 1984. The band has toured globally and was one of the first Western bands to play in the Soviet Union in 1986. Despite lineup changes and the existence of a splinter group, "UB40 featuring Ali Campbell," the original band continues to record and tour.