UB40 - Influences

UB40 were prejudiced by the other, they join as teenagers in the multiracial Balsall Heath area of Birmingham. Their love of ska and reggae inspired such original tracks as "King", "Madam Medusa", "Food for Thought", "Signing Off" and "One in Ten".
Their early musical style was exclusive, with a heavy influence of analogue synthesisers, psychedelic rock guitar, saxophone and dub producer techniques which were later perfected by the late Pablo Falconer.
Ali and Robin Campbell have a musical heritage, being sons of Ian Campbell, a folk musician.
Many of UB40's recordings were enthused by 1960s ska and early lovers rock.

UB40 - Band Members

The ethnic makeup of the band is diverse, with musicians of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage. From the band's 1978 inception through early 2008, UB40's line-up was constant:


Astro live in Wellington, New Zealand in 2004
• James (Jimmy) Brown - born 20 November 1957, Birmingham - drums
• Ali Campbell - born Alistair Campbell, 15 February 1959, Birmingham - guitar, lead vocals (left 2008)
• Robin Campbell - born 25 December 1954, Birmingham - lead guitar, vocals
• Earl Falconer - born 23 January 1957, Birmingham - bass guitar, vocals
• Norman Hassan (Arabic: نورمان حسن‎) - born 26 January 1958, Birmingham - percussion, trombone, vocals
• Brian Travers - born 7 February 1959, Birmingham - saxophone
• Mickey Virtue - born Michael Virtue, 19 January 1957, Birmingham - keyboards (left 2008)
• Astro - born Terence Wilson, 24 June 1957, Birmingham - toasting vocals, percussion, trumpet
In 2008 Ali Campbell left the band, followed shortly thereafter by Mickey Virtue. Two new members joined the group:
• Duncan Campbell - vocals
• Tony Mullings - keyboards
Guest members include(d):
• Patrick Tenyue (trumpet) (1983–94)
• Henry Tenyue (trombone) (1983–94)
• Martin Meredith (saxophone) (1997— )
• Laurence Parry (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone) (1995— )
• Maxi Priest - vocals (2008- )