[3] The name "UB40" was selected in reference to a form issued to people claiming unemployment benefits from the UK government's Department of Employment. Signing Off is now a Platinum album. [46] In 2014, Ali formed a rival version of UB40 with Astro and Mickey Virtue. [41], Terence Wilson (born 24 June 1957 in Birmingham), better known by his stage name Astro, is a British musician, rapper, and toaster, who was part of UB40 from 1979 until he left the group in November 2013. It became the group's sixth top-five hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number four for three weeks in April 1990. A plaque was placed at the Hare & Hounds Pub in Birmingham, England, the location where they played their first gig. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and No. [36] Their early musical style was unique, with a heavy influence of analogue synthesisers, psychedelic rock guitar, saxophone and dub producer techniques. The designation UB40 stood for Unemployment Benefit, Form 40. He also recorded a reggae album in Jamaica for his brother Ali's record label, but it was never released. It’s as simple as that". [6], The band members began as friends who knew each other from various schools across Birmingham, England. Geschichte. 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. [51], In January 2014, Astro, with other former UB40 members Ali Campbell and Mickey Virtue, announced plans to reform and record under the UB40 name. [16], It was reported by some Birmingham newspapers on 13 March 2008, that Maxi Priest would be the new lead singer of UB40 and had recorded a cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" with the band, based on information from an unnamed "source close to the band." [2] The ethnic make-up of the band's original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Welsh, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish and Yemeni parentage. Falconer also co-founded the UK bass label Circus Records alongside Flux Pavilion, Doctor P and DJ Swan-E. Falconer attended St. Benedict's junior school and Mosely Road School of Art. 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. It was at his father's folk club "Jug O' Punch" that Ali Campbell made his singing debut with Dave Swarbrick's daughter, Suss, singing "Why Does It have To Be Me?". Three years later UB40 performed at the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986. When asked why he did not join UB40 in 1978, he joked because they were "crap"[45] and that he "was too smart for them and he knew that they would get nowhere". View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1990 Vinyl release of Kingston Town on Discogs. 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. [11], Their most successful worldwide single release is their reggae/pop version of "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You", which was the main title to the 1993 Sharon Stone movie Sliver; it was a number one hit across Europe and in the US. [47] In August 2020, Duncan Campbell suffered a stroke.[48]. [52] The band released their new song, "Reggae Music" as a free download in January 2014. UB40 toured South Africa in July 2007 and headlined the Live Earth concert at the Cradle of Humankind, near Johannesburg. He was a professional spoon player. Let us know what you think of the Last.fm website. After starting off as percussionist in 1978, he learned the trombone in 1981, when the band decided to add a brass section. In 1987 Ray "Pablo" Falconer, producer of UB40 music, died in a car crash. 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 its being used by both parties.