UB40 is a popular
reggae and
pop band formed in
1978 in
Birmingham,
England.
The band is multiracial and named after the former U.K. Social Security form for claiming unemployment benefit.
Its members include:
- Jim Brown (drums)
- Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals)
- Robin Campbell (lead guitar, vocals)
- Earl Falconer (Bass guitar, vocals)
- Norman Hassan (percussion)
- Brian Travers (saxophone)
- Mickey Virtue (keyboards)
- Terence Wilson (percussion, trumpet)
The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight, and have had a number of hits, most notably, "Red Red Wine" (a
cover version of a
Neil Diamond song).
UB40's music has often tackled social issues such as racism and unemployment.
Discography by UB40
- Signing Off (1980); debut
- Present Arms (1981)
- Present Arms in Dub (1981)
- UB44 (1982)
- UB40 Live (1983)
- Labour of Love (1983)
- Geffery Morgan (1984)
- Baggariddim (1985)
- Rat in the Kitchen (1986)
- UB40 CCCP: Live in Moscow (1987); Live in Moscow, Russia 1986
- The Best of UB40 - Volume One (1987)
- UB40 (1988)
- Labour of Love II (1989)
- Promises and Lies (1993)
- The Best of UB40 - Volume Two (1995)
- Guns in the Ghetto (1997)
- UB40 Present the Dancehall Album (1998)
- Labour of Love III (1998)
- The Very Best of UB40 (2000)
- Cover Up (2001)
