Why UB40 With Ali Campbell Don't Do Country

UK reggae collective UB40 has been rocked by internal discord - splitting into two bands. But its various members are more in-demand than ever on the international circuit.

UB40's iconic vocalist Ali Campbell — touring with old cohorts Terence "Astro" Wilson, MC/percussionist/trumpeter, and Mickey Virtue, keyboardist — performed a rousing set at 2016's Bluesfest. "I thought Bluesfest was absolutely fantastic," the easygoing Wilson recalls. "I'd love to be able to do it every single year — it was that good." The trio are returning to Australia over summer.

"We've just been doing big, massive stadium tours, while the others, if they're not playing at festivals, then they're playing at little working men clubs and 1000-capacity halls."

The son of Scottish folkie Ian Campbell, Ali developed UB40 (named after a dole application form) with his brother Robin and mates, Wilson included, in Birmingham circa 1978. The band presaged the likes of Rudimental with their multiracial line-up and distinctly British interpretation of reggae idioms. UB40 were "discovered" gigging in London by The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde — she pitched them a support slot. UB40 cut a mix of originals and reggae-fied covers. Their trans-Atlantic breakthrough came with Red Red Wine - a Neil Diamond remake - from 1983's Labour Of Love album. They enjoyed even greater success reinventing Elvis Presley's immortal (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You.

However, in 2008 Ali dramatically quit — apparently disquieted over UB40's business affairs. He launched his alt-UB40 with Virtue — Wilson switching camps later. Meanwhile, another Campbell brother, Duncan, became the "official" UB40's new frontman. The twin outfits are currently embroiled in a legal battle over UB40's handle — and a feud rivalling that of Oasis' Gallagher siblings.

In 2013, UB40 had issued a country project, Getting Over The Storm. This proved the last straw for Wilson, who "almost exclusively" vibes to reggae — "It's the only music that moves my muscle." He worried about the group's legacy. "There's no way I could stand on stage promoting a country album. It's not what I'm about. It never has been. The whole reason [for UB40] was to promote reggae music and dub. So, at the end of the day, I thought the only sensible thing for me to do is to leave. I don't want to be part of this nonsense."

Ali and co recently issued Unplugged — revisiting UB40 classics (and reggae-ing Prince's Purple Rain). Enthuses Wilson, "All the tracks have taken on a new life in this new form."

Ultimately, he believes that competition between the dual bands is good. "At the moment, as far as we're concerned, the world is big enough for both of us to coexist," Wilson says. "But, to me, it just seems like the fans are voting with their feet. They seem to be turning up at all of our concerts. We've been selling out everywhere we've been playing around the globe. In London we sold out the O2 Arena, Birmingham, in our hometown, the Barclaycard Arena... We've just been doing big, massive stadium tours, while the others, if they're not playing at festivals, then they're playing at little working men clubs and 1000-capacity halls. So I think the fans are seeing what the difference is."