Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
British reggae group, UB40. - FILE
IT'S HARD to believe UB40 have never performed in Jamaica, even at the height of their success 15 years ago when their albums sold in the millions.
In August, the British reggae band is scheduled to make its belated local debut at the revived Reggae Sunsplash festival in St. Ann.
Best known for international hit songs like I Got You Babe and Red Red Wine, UB40 will appear on the August 3-6 show.
Lead singer and founding member Ali Campbell says the band is looking forward to its Jamaican bow.
"We've intended to come to Jamaica and play several times because we've had about three invites to play there but it just didn't happen," Campbell said in a recent interview with The Gleaner.
He said a hectic schedule was the main reason for UB40 not playing Jamaica in the past, but admits there was another concern.
"I was backstage with Derrick Harriott and Tommy Cowan at the '95 Sting show where the kid was shot dead right next to me, and that left a pretty bad impression on me," he recalled. "I always said that if we came to Jamaica, we would have to have proper security."
Campbell says the band - which retains its eight original members - kicked off its 26th anniversary tour earlier this year, performing in Africa and Australasia.
Their Sunsplash date will jumpstart the second half of the jaunt which will also see them doing gigs in North America as headliners of the Sunplash tour.
EMERGED IN THE 1970S
UB40 emerged from the British Midlands city of Birmingham during the late 1970s, formed by Campbell and his older brother Robin. Both were influenced by cutting-edge reggae albums like African Herbsman at a time when the punk movement was simmering in Britain.
Distributed independently, their first three albums were strong sellers in Britain. Their fourth, 1983's Labour of Love, was a collection of popular and obscure reggae songs band members grew up listening to and proved to be their breakthrough set.
It included Red Red Wine, a little known song by pop superstar Neil Diamond. Five years later, the song was re-released and went straight to number one in the United States and several European countries.
ARTISTES BENEFITTED
To date, UB40 have recorded three Labour of Love albums which have all done well commercially. Their success has given the Jamaican acts whose songs they covered, a good payday.
Artistes like Trinidad-born Lord Creator (Kingston Town) and Johnny Osbourne (Come Back Darling) are among those who have benefited from UB40 recording their originals.
"They recorded those tunes back in the day when they didn't have a proper deal and they just did it for a flat fee," said Campbell. "We've always been aware of that and we've always made sure that they get what they're entitled to."
TOUGH CROWD
Like UB40, British reggae bands such as Steel Pulse started out when roots-reggae thrived and there was a ska revival in Britain. They built a loyal following on their home turf before venturing to Jamaica for a crack at what some say is the toughest crowd to please.
Ali Campbell says UB40 are undaunted.
"I'm looking forward to it. I do get nervous when I perform in front of anybody, but it only lasts until we've kicked into it and then I'm alright," he said.
UB40 TRIVIA
The band took its name from a British unemployment form.
Ali Campbell says the band did not know that Red Red Wine was a Neil Diamond original. They were more familiar with the reggae version by Dandy and Tony Tribe which was a minor hit in Britain in 1969.
Ali Campbell says he lived 'on and off' in St. Mary for 17 years.
UB40 recorded its 1997 album, Guns in The Ghetto in Oracabessa, St. Mary.
The Labour of Love albums include Jamaican classics like Cherry Oh Baby, Many Rivers to Cross, The Train is Coming and Wear You to The Ball.
