2/28/2024 0 Comments Red red wine songThis lineup of the band lasted long enough to play their first show at the Hare & Hounds pub in Kings Heath in February 1979 and one other, before the band underwent its first lineup change in the form of Babayemi and Lynn leaving the band and Mickey Virtue joining in place of Lynn. A plaque commemorating UB40's first concert at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath, Birmingham Prior to this, Travers had work as an electrical apprentice for NG Bailey whilst Robin Campbell had been an apprentice toolmaker. Once Robin had joined the others in their jamming sessions, the eight musicians formed a band, deciding on the name 'UB40' after a friend suggested it was an appropriate name given the unemployed status of all of the band members. Robin Campbell, although initially reluctant to commit to forming a band with the others, was invited to join once again by his brother and bought a guitar with which to do so in December of that year. They were soon joined by several of their friends, firstly percussionists Yomi Babayemi and Norman Hassan, and then saxophonist Brian Travers and keyboardist Jimmy Lynn. The origins of what would become UB40 began when in mid-1978 guitarist Ali Campbell, together with the rhythm section of drummer Jimmy Brown and bassist Earl Falconer, began rehearsing charting reggae songs in addition to some of their own original compositions. The designation UB40 stood for Unemployment Benefit, Form 40. The name "UB40" was selected in reference to an attendance card issued to people claiming unemployment benefits from the UK government Department of Employment. The band members began as friends who knew each other from various schools across Birmingham, England. UB40 vocalist Ali Campbell interview with the BBC in 2018. So the music of the streets was Indian music, which I love-Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle and all that-and reggae. The first generation of Windrush kids were all my friends, and I grew up with Indian and Jamaican friends. I lived in Balsall Heath in South Birmingham which was a predominantly immigrant area. History 1978–1983: Formation and rise to stardom 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Their two most successful albums, Labour of Love (1983) and Promises and Lies (1993), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart, as did the band's version of " I Got You Babe" and " Breakfast in Bed", recorded with Chrissie Hynde. 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". The ethnic make-up of the band's original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Welsh, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish, and Yemeni parentage. UB40 have sold more than 70 million records worldwide. 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. The band has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. UB40 are an English reggae and pop band, formed in December 1978 in Birmingham, England.
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