UB40 - Biography.rtf

UB40 - Biography

Members of UB40

Alistair "Ali" Campbell , lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Robin Campbell , lead guitar, vocals

Terence "Astro" Wilson , toasting, rhyming, percusion, trumpet

Michael Virtue , keyboards

Brian Travers , saxophones, lyricon, WX7

Earl Falconer , bass guitar, vocals

James "Jimmy" Brown , drums, syncussion

Norman Lamont Hassan , percussion, trombone, vocals

Part 1: 1970 to 1984

UB40 is a reggae band. The eight members were born and brought up in
central Birmingham, where reggae was the music that dominated their
social life. The Band was formed in the summer of 1978, and has
settled into the present line-up.
The first six months of their career were spent in a cellar, where
they began to learn how to play their instruments by copying their
favourite artists such as Gregory Isaac's and Bim Sherman. They
Played in public for the first time on February 9th 1979.
For the rest of that year, the UB's played pub dates, club dates,
benefits, first locally and then around the country. They recorded a
demo tape, which Robin Valk broadcast on his BRMB show, and which
impressed John Peel enough for him to arrange a Radio One session,
first broadcast in January 1980


In the meantime, Chrissie Hynde saw them play in London, and asked
them to support the pretenders on their first national tour, and the
UB's signed their first record deal, with graduate, a small
independent company in Dudley. Their first single was released in
February 1980, during the tour, and went to No.4 in the national
chart - the first single ever to reach the top ten without major
record company backing.
There were two more hit singles on Graduate, and the debut album
'Signing Off', but then UB40 formed its own record company, DEP
International. In that way, the Band were able to maintain complete
control of their own output, and planned eventually to release
records by other artists. Dep's history includes the first Dub album
ever to enter the national pop chart ('Present Arms In Dub'), and
the first commercial application of a British method of mass
producing holograms (the first cover of 'UB44'). In August 1983, the
UB's achieved their first No.1 single in Britain. 'Red Red Wine' was
released ahead of the album 'Labour of Love', which went straight to
No.1 upon its release in September 1983.
'Labour Of Love' was well-named, having been a pet project of the
Band's since their formation. They believe that the reggae hits of
their youth would be a pop hits if presented to a wider audience.
Their conviction was completely justified, not only by the success
of the album, but also by the four hit singles that were released
from it.
An exiting spin-off from the 'Labour Of Love' album is a short film
of the same name, which features most of the music from the album,
as well as startling dramatic performances by several members of the
Band. It was produced and co-written by saxophonist Brian Travers,
who has now taken charge of UB40's videos.
The UB's met the challenge following up 'Labour Of Love' with the
release in October 1984 of 'Geffery Morgan...'. Produced at the
Abattoir - the Band's own studio in Birmingham - it consisted
entirely of original UB40 material. The first single 'If it Happens
Again', was released in September 1984, and went to No.9.





Part 2: 1984 to 1990


During the first half of 1985 the UB's toured America and Canada
extensively, and in August 1985 they celebrated their second British
No.1 hit, 'I Got You Babe', recorded with Chrissie Hyned as guest
artist. They followed this success with the release of
'Baggariddim'. A tour of America followed and in 1985 the Band
released 'Don't Break My Heart' which did not quite equal the
success of 'I Got You Babe' but still managed a very creditable No.3
potion in the British charts.
Early 1986 saw UB40 working hard in the studio, the result being
their 9th album 'Rat In Mi Kitchen' released on July 28th. The
single 'Sing Our Own Song' was released prior to this on 30th June.
This single reached No.5 in the British charts. It was now time for
a new challenge for UB40 and what better than to be the first
British band to tour Russia. This they achieved in October 1986,
playing dates in Leningrad and Moscow. Winter 1986 and it was time
to tour the U.K once again. Venues included dates in Birmingham,
Newcastle and London and also gigs in Scotland and Ireland.
Most of 1987, UB40 spent in the recording studio, they released
'Watchdogs' and also a new videocassette 'UB40 CCCP The Video Mix'.
100% music video of their historic trip to Russia.
In the summer of 1987, mainly at weekends the band performed at
festivals throughout Europe. They also recorded and released on
September 28th 1987 'Maybe Tomorrow' which reached number 14 in the
British charts.
1988 - and UB40 started the New Year in Brazil. They played at
festivals in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Pauls. Following Brazil UB40
spent early 1988 in their recording studio, culminating in the
release of the album 'UB40' on the 11 July. 'Breakfast In Bed' was
the first single to be taken off the album and was released on the
2nd June. This was UB40's second single with their good friend
Chrissie Hynde who also performed with them at the Nelson Madela
concert on 11th June at Wembley Stadium.
In July 1988, UB40 began one of their most ambitious tours yet. They
toured extensively taking in such countries as Australia, New
Zealand, Japan, Brazil and Argentina. Also countries they had never
performed in, Abu Dhabi, Dubia, Israel and Hungary among others. The
tour finished almost 12 months later, on June 10 1989.
Autumn 1989, and it was Back to the studio to continue working on
the album that had started earlier in the year. The much requested
'Labour Of Love II' which was released on the 27th November 1989.
Prior to this release was the first single taken from the album
'Homley Girl', originally sung by the 'Chi-Lites' back in the
seventies. Which reached No.6 in the UK charts.
The release of the album prompted the beginning of the 'Labour Of
Love II' tour, a series of sell out concerts in Ireland, Scotland
and England. UB40 were supported by another successful band 'And Why
Not'. UB40 then took the tour to Australia, New Zealand, Japan,
U.S.A, finishing July 1990 in the Seychelles. 1991 saw UB40 touring
Europe, with just one date in England at Finsbury Park London on
June 22nd. A video of the concert entitled 'UB40 A Family Affair' is
now available.
 

Part 3: 1991 to 1997


After spending 2 years in the recording studio, the long awaited
Promises & Lies' Album was released in the spring of 1993,
containing eleven new songs from the band. The first single from the
album '(I can't help) Falling In Love With You' was the bands third
No.1. It proved to be the second top selling single of 1993. The
single also reached No.1 in 17 other countries around the world.
After entering the UK charts at No.1 Promises & Lies'stayed there
for 7 weeks. The longest time for any album to have stayed at the
top in 1993.
While in America the second single 'Higher ground' was released
09/08/93. It entered the UK charts at No.8 and stayed there for 3
weeks.
UB40's tour of America ended September 1993. The band were then to
start the European leg of the tour, which again proved to be a great
success with sell out shows all over Europe in countries such as
Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland and France.
In December 1993 the bands third single 'Bring Me Your Cup' was
released from the album, it was another top twenty hit for the band.
After a short Christmas break UB40 returned to Britain to be
welcomed home by a complete sell out tour including 4 dates at the
NEC in their hometown of Birmingham.
UB40 then took the tour back to America and Also on to Japan,
Australia and New Zealand.
UB40 released their single, C'est La Vie' on 21st March 1994, also
from the album Promises & Lies' which has sold 5 million copies
world wide. The track was written by the band following a meeting
with a woman from Haiti after an American show. She turned up
crying, explaining that she had seen someone sell their baby for
$20.00. The song is the result of the band's promise to write about
it.
October 1995 saw the release of 'The Best Of UB40 - Volume 2'. The
release date was 30/10/95 and was in the chart for 11 weeks. "Until
My Dying Day" taken from the album was released as a single in
October 1995. It was in the British charts for 6 weeks and reached
No.14.
UB40's "Superstition" is being used on the closing credits to Eddy
Murphy / Angela Bassetts's new film "Vampire in Brooklyn".
The band have just finished the new album, Guns In The Ghetto, which
was released on the 30th June 1997.

Thanks to UB40-DEP, the official UB40 website