This page will contain external links about UB40, as they become available.

UB40

UB40 is a popular dub reggae / reggae pop music band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. The band may be the world's most culturally diverse dub reggae band with English, Turkish, Welsh, African and Jamaican parentage musicians. The band is named from the paper form issued by the U.K. for claiming unemployment benefits (UB40 = Unemployment Benefits, Form 40).

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", "Ivory Madonna", "Signing Off" and "One in Ten", later covered by 808 State.

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

Other artists that UB40 have collaborated with include: Pato Banton, Bitty McLean, Chrissie Hynde and Afrika Bambaataa.

Its members include:

  • Jim Brown (drums)
  • Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals)
  • Robin Campbell (lead guitar, vocals)
  • Earl Falconer (Bass guitar, vocals)
  • Norman Hassan (percussion)
  • Brian Travers (saxophone)
  • Mickey Virtue (keyboards)
  • Terence Wilson (percussion, trumpet)
  • Astro (toasting vocals)
  • Pablo Falconer (producer)


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).

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.

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

Albums Discography by UB40

  • Signing Off (1980), UK #2
  • Present Arms (1981), UK #2
  • Present Arms in Dub (1981), UK #38
  • UB44 (1982), UK #4
  • UB40 Live (1983), UK #44
  • Labour of Love (1983), UK #1
  • Geffery Morgan (1984), UK #3
  • Baggariddim (1985), UK #14
  • Rat in the Kitchen (1986), UK #8
  • UB40 CCCP: Live in Moscow (1987); Live in Moscow, Russia 1986
  • The Best of UB40 - Volume One (1987), UK #3
  • UB40 (album)|UB40 (1988), UK #12
  • Labour of Love II (1989), UK #3
  • Promises and Lies (1993), UK #1
  • The Best of UB40 - Volume Two (1995), UK #12
  • Guns in the Ghetto (1997), UK #7
  • UB40 Present the Dancehall Album (1998)
  • Labour of Love III (1998), UK #8
  • The Very Best of UB40 (2000), UK #7
  • Cover Up (2001), UK #29
  • Homegrown (2003),UK #49

This page about UB40 includes information from a Wikipedia article.
Additional articles about UB40
News stories about UB40
External links for UB40
Videos for UB40
Wikis about UB40
Discussion Groups about UB40
Blogs about UB40
Images of UB40

UB40's music has often tackled social issues such as racism and unemployment.
. Their new injection of life into so many old Jamaican hits has resulted in many musicians and producers renewed popularity and income. On January 20, 2005 AOL Music [4] (http://music.channel.aol.com/artist/main.adp?tab=main&artistid=367254) announced it will premiere Eric's debut single from "Half | Life" towards the end of March, on Eric's official site, it states the LP's first single will be between "Half | Life" and a track titled "If I Only Knew", according to numerous websites the album will include songs called "Black Rose," "Wires," and "Underdog". 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. I pray that I am able to changes lives or at least help to make them better, and I know it will be a risk to release a song about HIV/AIDS like "Wires," but I'm willing to take that chance.. 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). Working on my album has been an amazing journey, a lot of it has been inspired by people, and more so life, recently, I wrote a song called "Wires," which is about HIV/AIDS, inspired by a few friends of mine who are going though situations that deal with HIV/AIDS. The singer also added, With my music, I don't want to compete with every other singer out there, but I want to make a difference in peoples lives, that matters to me, more so than selling millions of albums.


The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight. [3] (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/prweb/20041223/bs_prweb/prweb191159_3). Its members include:. Mid-Decemeber 2004 Eric found himself once again making headlines when he annouced on his official web site [2] (http://www.eric-west.com) that he finished work on a song titled "Wires," inspired by those whose lives have been touched by HIV and AIDS. Other artists that UB40 have collaborated with include: Pato Banton, Bitty McLean, Chrissie Hynde and Afrika Bambaataa. [1] (http://www.pop-music.com/print.php?sid=1194). Their early music style was unique, with a heavy influence of analogue synthesizers, psychedelic rock guitar, saxophone and Dub Reggae producer techniques which were later perfected by the late Pablo Falconer. As 2004 continued Eric's star continued to rise, as he became part of many Internet rumors and gossip columns, which included rumored fights with pop stars, Usher Raymond and Justin Timberlake, while according to sources in Eric's camp, the rumors are untrue, reports say West is good friends with the singers.

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", "Ivory Madonna", "Signing Off" and "One in Ten", later covered by 808 State. The track is slated to debut in clubs sometime in early 2005 close to Eric's CD release. for claiming unemployment benefits (UB40 = Unemployment Benefits, Form 40). West recently began working on a new song with producer and DJ, Galbis. The band is named from the paper form issued by the U.K. Eric was scheduled to tour the UK as opening act for European superstar Matt Goss famous for UK hits When Will I Be Famous, Try and I'm Coming With Ya, but the tour was canceled due to Goss' recent ill health. The band may be the world's most culturally diverse dub reggae band with English, Turkish, Welsh, African and Jamaican parentage musicians. Eric started work on his debut album Half Life due in early 2005.

UB40 is a popular dub reggae / reggae pop music band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. The T-shirt earned mentions in the NY Daily News, New York Post, Miami Herald and Los Angeles Times to name a few. Janet Jackson and her fan club sent the singer a thank you message for his support. Homegrown (2003),UK #49. Eric told Teen People USA, "It was my way of showing Janet support after being blacklisted by so many media outlets". Cover Up (2001), UK #29. Which was a bold statement in regard to Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime controversy. The Very Best of UB40 (2000), UK #7. On August 28th, Eric made media headlines worldwide when he wore a "I Support Janet Jackson" T-shirt to the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards.

Labour of Love III (1998), UK #8. He was featured as one of fashion's top new models and singers, and that was just early 2004. UB40 Present the Dancehall Album (1998). In 2004 Eric also appeared in his own fashion spread in Marie Clarie Japan. Guns in the Ghetto (1997), UK #7. Eric, Rich and Kimberly lead approximately 1,000 leukemia survivors, friends, and family members carrying illuminated balloons over the Brooklyn Bridge to commemorate lives touched by cancer. The Best of UB40 - Volume Two (1995), UK #12. On September 21st, 2000 Eric joined Rich Cronin of the platinum selling band LFO, in Brooklyn, New York to help lead the Light The Night Walk with 12 year-old leukemia survivor Kimberly Thach, the Society's National Youth Ambassador.

Promises and Lies (1993), UK #1. He received the award for the charity work he's done in his community over the years. Labour of Love II (1989), UK #3. Eric then received a top honor from the OCTN; he was awarded the Humanitarian Award : Youth Of The Millennium. UB40 (album)|UB40 (1988), UK #12. Kelly and Nelly. The Best of UB40 - Volume One (1987), UK #3. He made his acting debut in the new show In My Lifetime directed by Devin Hampton and Little X who has directed music videos for Sean Paul, Usher, Alicia Keys, R.

UB40 CCCP: Live in Moscow (1987); Live in Moscow, Russia 1986. Artist Against Racism is an organization that also includes superstars like Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, Sarah McLachlan, Mike Myers, Bush and Aerosmith. Rat in the Kitchen (1986), UK #8. He signed a deal with Artist Against Racism to appear in their TV commercials in America. Baggariddim (1985), UK #14. Eric once again disappeared until early 2004 but returned bigger than ever. Geffery Morgan (1984), UK #3. In 2002 Eric got together with Grammy winning producers David Foster (Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston) and Carole Bayer Sager (Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond) to write a song for Pop icon Cher for her forthcoming album.

Labour of Love (1983), UK #1. 1 spot, while hitting Top 5 in Chile, Bolivia and Mexico, rumors of an album being released floated around on the Internet, but were untrue at the time. UB40 Live (1983), UK #44. After nearly 3 years out of the spotlight Eric returned briefly in 2001 with Can You Help Me? his first single in over 5 years, produced by Stay-C Hogan and written by Eric West it became an international hit topping the B-Radio Latin American radio charts for 2 weeks, rivaling songs by Justin Timberlake and Madonna for the No. UB44 (1982), UK #4. Black Eyed Peas member Fergie (Stacy Ferguson) discovered Eric, and invited the then 15 year old to appear on stage with the Grammy nominee at a concert in New York City for Jane Magazine in 1996. Present Arms in Dub (1981), UK #38. In the summer of 1998 Eric took his voice to radio, at age 16 he was the youngest DJ in history on FM radio in New York City, when he became a CO-host of the Top 9 at 9 on WBLS with radio diva JC Jordan.

Present Arms (1981), UK #2. Eric started recording music at the age of 12 much like his uncle Grammy winner Smokey Robinson of Motown fame, in 1995 West released his debut single End Of The World in Asia, it achieved Top 10 status on the Tokyo Hot 100 singles chart, right before he turned 15 he had finished recording a full-length album that was never released. Signing Off (1980), UK #2. Scouted by New Faces in America, he has happily coupled his first passion as a singer / songwriter with a successful modeling career. Pablo Falconer (producer). Eric has appeared on CNN People In The News and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Astro (toasting vocals). In 1996, he made his acting debut in Movies Money Murder; in 2004, he became one of the most exciting new faces to hit the international model scene, while two more movies followed, Lords of Dogtown, and a movie with pop idol Lindsay Lohan and Nick Cannon currently in production.

Terence Wilson (percussion, trumpet). Eric West (born May 18, 1982 in New York, NY USA) is a pop singer and actor. Mickey Virtue (keyboards). [5] (http://www.myspace.com). Brian Travers (saxophone). From time to time Eric chats with his fans via the internet online community MySpace. Norman Hassan (percussion). In an interview with Germany's "Music Mix" Magazine, Eric West stated he would like to work with the likes of Eminem, Alicia Keys and Robbie Williams in the future.

Earl Falconer (Bass guitar, vocals). Born to an African American mother and a Puerto Rican father. Robin Campbell (lead guitar, vocals). She travels with him. [Marie Claire Japan]. Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals). He hired his sister to be his personal assistant. Jim Brown (drums). Eric has 2 siblings, an older brother and sister.

2005 Half | Life (Due spring 2005). 2001 "Can You Help Me" #1 Latin America. 1996 "End Of The World" #6 Japan.