Information
- • Hometown: - Birmingham, England
- • Nationality: - Englsh
- • Years Active: - 1978–present
- • Genre(s): - Reggae • Pop • Dub
- • Label(s): - Graduate • DEP • EMI • A&M
- • Associated Acts: - N/A
- • Website: - ub40.global
Biography
UB40 are an English reggae and pop band, formed in December 1978 in Birmingham, England. The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. They have been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times, and in 1984 were nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group. UB40 have sold over 70 million records worldwide. The ethnic make-up of the band's original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Welsh, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish, and Yemeni parentage.
Their hit singles include their debut "Food for Thought" and two Billboard Hot 100 number ones with "Red Red Wine" and "Can't Help Falling in Love". Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart, as did the band's version of "I Got You Babe". Their two most successful albums, Labour of Love (1983) and Promises and Lies (1993), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. UB40 and the English ska band Madness hold the record for most weeks spent by a group in the UK singles chart during the 1980s, with 214 weeks each.
The band's line-up was stable for nearly 29 years, from March 1979 until January 2008, when frontman Ali Campbell left the band, followed shortly thereafter by keyboardist Mickey Virtue. Another member, Astro, remained with the band until November 2013, when he departed the original band to team up with Campbell and Virtue in a new version of UB40. In 2014, legal advice was sought by the original band (now consisting of remaining co-founding members drummer Jimmy Brown, guitarist Robin Campbell, bassist Earl Falconer, percussionist Norman Hassan, and saxophonist Brian Travers, along with new vocalist Duncan Campbell) who took action against the group containing Campbell, Virtue, and Astro over usage of the band name, due to it being used by both parties. On 5 July 2021, it was announced that Matt Doyle (formerly of the reggae band Kioko) would become the band's new vocalist, following Duncan Campbell's retirement due to ill health. Travers died from cancer on 22 August 2021, and Astro died on 6 November 2021 following a short illness.
• For more information goto their Wikipedia page Click Here
Band Members
- • Jimmy Brown – drums (1978 – present)
- • Robin Campbell – guitar, vocals (1978 – present)
- • Earl Falconer – bass guitar, vocals (1978 – present)
- • Norman Hassan – percussion, trombone, vocals (1978 – present)
- • Matt Doyle – lead vocals, guitar (2021 – present)
Videos
"Food for Thought" is the debut single by British reggae band UB40. It was released as a double A-side in early 1980.
Food For Thought
"One in Ten" is a song by UB40, released in 1981 as the second single from their second album Present Arms. It reached number 7.
One In Ten
"Red Red Wine" UB40 recorded a cover version in 1983 that went to #1 in the UK and was moderately successful in the United States.
Red Red Wine
"Please Don't Make Me Cry" The single peaked at number 10 on the singles chart in the UK, becoming their second Top 10 hit.
Please Don't Make Me Cry
"Many Rivers to Cross" is the third single by the reggae group UB40 from the album Labour of Love. This single peaked at the number 16.
Many Rivers To Cross
"If It Happens Again" is a song and single written and performed by British group, UB40. It was featured on their album Geffery Morgan.
If It Happens Again
"I Got You Babe" Twenty years later, in July 1985, British band UB40 with American singer Chrissie Hynde released a cover version.
I Got You Babe
"Sing Our Own Song" is a song by British group UB40. It was the ninth and final track on their album Rat in the Kitchen.
Sing Our Own Song
"Homely Girl" A cover version by UB40, from their ninth studio album, Labour of Love II, was released as a single on November 6, 1989.