UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue

Named after a British unemployment benefit form, pop-reggae band UB40 was formed in a welfare line in 1978, and their multiracial lineup reflected the working-class community their members came from. The band consolidated its street credibility with political topics appealing to dissatisfied youth and got a boost from fans of the waning 2-Tone ska revival movement. Brothers Robin (lead guitar) and Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals) formed the centerpiece of the group, which also included bassist Earl Falconer, keyboardist Mickey Virtue, saxophonist Brian Travers, drummer Jim Brown, percussionist Norman Hassan and toaster Terence “Astro” Wilson. The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight, even though few of the members knew how to play them.
But by the end of the year, the group was invited to tour with the Pretenders. Their “Food for Thought” single reached the U.K. Top Ten in 1980, beginning a long streak of chart appearances. Signing Off and Present Arms were big sellers in Britain and addressed the political issues of the day in songs like “One in Ten”, a Top Ten hit blasting Margaret Thatcher for the country’s unemployment rate. Released in 1983, Labour of Love, an album of reggae cover songs, gave the group its first chart album in America and first number one U.K. hit with Neil Diamond’s “Red Red Wine.”
Songs: “Red Red Wine”, “Falling In Love With You”, “Kingston Town”, “I Got You Babe” and “The Way You Do The Things You Do”.
VIP Meet & Greet Package – $175.00 + GST
Package includes:
http://www.ub40.org