UB40 are a reggae and pop band from Birmingham, UK, formed in 1978. They have sold in excess of 70 million records.
Over the course of a career that’s now lasted for well over thirty years, UB40 have made a name for themselves as one of the most successful reggae acts in history. They’ve been successful the world over, but are probably best loved in their native United Kingdom, where they’ve had no fewer than fifty singles make the singles chart. In the U.S., meanwhile, they’ve had two huge number one successes, including “Red Red Wine” - probably their signature song - and their take on Elvis Presley’s classic “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.
It’s difficult to speak too clearly about the current lineup of the group, not least because it’s subject to legal proceedings; there’s now both a UB40 and a ‘UB40 Reunited’, with the latter band boasting original singer Ali Campbell, long-time trumpeter Astro and keyboardist Mickey Virtue. At the heart of the conflict is a spat between Campbell and his brother Duncan, who remains in the original UB40 - who, confusingly, are also still a going concern. Either way, it shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow an impressive legacy, the most important part of which is likely the example that UB40 set, with their diverse ethnic background, for other multi-cultural musical outfits in the UK.
Courtney Barnett
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