UB40

UB40 is a popular dub / reggae pop music band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. The band may be the world's most culturally diverse dub reggae band with musicians of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage. The band is named from the paper form issued by the U.K. for claiming unemployment benefits (UB40 = Unemployment Benefits, Form 40); during the Thatcher years, British slang referred to unemployed people as UB40s.

Related Topics:
Dub - Reggae - 1978 - Birmingham - England - Scottish - Irish - Yemeni - Jamaican - Unemployment benefit

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UB40 were influenced by the many Blues Parties they attended as teenagers in multiracial Birmingham, their love of ska and reggae inspired such original tracks as "King", "Madam Medusa", "Food for thought", "Signing Off" and "One in Ten", later covered by 808 State.

Related Topics:
Blues - Parties - Ska - Reggae - 808 State

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Their early music style was unique, with a heavy influence of analogue synthesizers, psychedelic rock guitar, saxophone and dub producer techniques which were later perfected by the late Pablo Falconer.

Related Topics:
Analogue - Synthesizer - Psychedelic - Rock - Guitar - Saxophone - Dub - Pablo Falconer

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Other artists that UB40 have collaborated with include: Pato Banton, Madness, Bitty McLean, Chrissie Hynde, Robert Palmer, Japanese artist Mikidozan, french artist Nuttea, Lady Saw and Afrika Bambaataa.

Related Topics:
Pato Banton - Madness - Bitty McLean - Chrissie Hynde - Robert Palmer - Mikidozan - Nuttea - Lady Saw - Afrika Bambaataa

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Its members include:

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• James (Jimmy) Brown (drums)
• Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals)
• Robin Campbell (lead guitar, vocals)
• Earl Falconer (bass guitar, vocals)
• Norman Lamont Hassan (percussion)
• Brian Travers (saxophone)
• Mickey Virtue (keyboards)
• Astro (Terence Wilson) (toasting vocals, percussion, trumpet)

And guest members include(d):

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• Patrick Tenyue (trumpet) (1983-1994)
• Henry Tenyue (trombone) (1983-1994)
• Martin Meredith (saxophone) (1997 onwards)
• Laurence Parry (trumpet, flugal, trombone) (1995 onwards)

The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight. They have had a number of hits, most commercially and to amusement of the band, "Red Red Wine", a cover version of a Neil Diamond song (in an arrangement similar to that of Tony Tribe's version).

Related Topics:
Red Red Wine - Cover version - Neil Diamond - Tony Tribe

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Many of UB40's later recordings were inspired by 1960's ska and early lovers rock songs that would have otherwise been forgotten in the public eye. Their new injection of life into so many old Jamaican hits has resulted in many musicians and producers renewed popularity and income.

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UB40's music has often tackled social issues such as racism and unemployment.

Related Topics:
Racism - Unemployment

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UB40: Discography ►