The story of UB40 is a remarkable journey of a group of young friends from Birmingham who defied their humble beginnings to emerge as the world’s most successful reggae band. With record sales exceeding 100 million and a cumulative 11 years in the UK album charts, UB40’s ascent is far from a mere fairytale. Despite leading a somewhat charmed existence, the band’s path has been strewn with challenges, originating from the days of meeting in local bars and clubs in Moseley, where some members struggled to make ends meet on meager unemployment benefits.
The options for those who left school early were stark: work in local factories like Robin Campbell or drift aimlessly while awaiting a change of fate. However, a turning point arrived in the summer of 1978 when the core members of UB40 commenced rehearsals in a modest local basement. Consisting of Robin’s younger brother Ali, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers, James Brown, and Norman Hassan, who had long-standing connections from Moseley School of Art and junior school, the band’s lineup remained intact for three decades. In 2021, UB40 introduced Matt Doyle as the new lead vocalist, succeeding Duncan Campbell, who had earlier replaced Ali Campbell in 2008.