UB40

Formed in Birmingham, England, in the late 1970s, UB40 initially brought together Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell, Astro, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Norman Hassan and Michael Virtue around a reggae rooted in the social context of the British working class, the band’s name deriving from the UK unemployment benefit form. UB40 made its mark on the local scene by playing in pubs and at activist concerts before releasing Signing Off in 1980, an album defined by dub‑inflected reggae and political lyrics, followed by Present Arms in 1981 in a similar vein. With Labour of Love in 1983, UB40 turned to a repertoire of covers of 1960s and 1970s reggae songs, a direction extended by further volumes in the series and by a more pop‑leaning, melodic aesthetic, notably on 1993’s Promises and Lies. UB40’s sound rests on a blend of reggae, pop and rock, prominent horn lines, mid‑tempo grooves and regular use of versions, while alternating between original compositions and reinterpretations of standards. Throughout the 2000s, line‑up changes altered the group’s balance, with Ali Campbell leaving in 2008, followed by Astro, while UB40 continued touring and recording in various configurations built around long‑standing members and new vocalists.