Ali Campbell has been on a mission since he was a teenager coming of age in Birmingham, England. It’s always been about promoting reggae. The UB40 vocalist has been immersed in the mellow but provocative genre courtesy of his friends.
“I fell in love with the music at an early age thanks to those I hung around with,” Campbell said. “My friends when I was growing up were West Indian and Jamaican. It was their music and they shared it with me and I’ve always been about sharing reggae with the world.”
It’s been an amazing run for Campbell, 58, who formed UB40, named after the document issued to those applying for unemployment benefits, 40 years ago.
UB40, which will perform Saturday at the Trocadero, has sold more than 70 million albums and had more than 50 singles chart in UK. “Red Red Wine,” “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love” and “Breakfast in Bed” are some of their worldwide hits.
“I never could have imagined having all of this success,” Campbell said. “To have so much success with what is actually protest music is extraordinary. Everything has been great.”

It hasn’t been a totally smooth ride for him. He left the band in 2008, followed by keyboardist Mickey Virtue. Toaster Astro stayed until 2013. Campbell, Virtue and Astro formed a new version of UB40 in 2014.
However, Campbell’s brothers Duncan, and Robin Campbell, who have not spoken with Ali for years, also use the band’s name. It’s not the first time there’s been a legal issue with brothers fighting over a band’s name.
“It’s funny how that is about brothers in this business,” Campbell said. “It’s one of those things. I had to leave the band. It wasn’t about the music. I had some issues that couldn’t be resolved but in the end it worked out. I’m on great terms with who I’m playing with and I get to play the songs that so many people love. It’s unfortunate how I got here but I’m not going to complain. I’m just moving on.”
UB40’s schedule is loade, but that’s no big deal for Campbell. “We’re a live band and we’ve always been a live band,” he said. “That’s a good thing given the state of the industry. It’s all about playing out today. We put everything into it.”
Campbell and his bandmates are also focused on Red Red Wine. They are not the first act to market their own wine. Maynard James Keenan of Tool has his own vineyard. The Who put out a bottle of champagne to coincide with its 50th anniversary tour.
“Why not do all that you can when you’re in a band,” Campbell said. “The possibilities are limitless. I’m enjoying all of it at this point after being in this band for so many years.”
News
ABC Suspends Whoopi Goldberg Indefinitely After Disgusting Comments About Charlie Kirk, “We’ve Had Enough Of Whoopi”
It finally happened. After years of teetering on the edge of controversy, Whoopi Goldberg has been given the dreaded “indefinite suspension” stamp by ABC executives. The straw that broke the camel’s back? Not a poorly timed Holocaust analogy, not an…
Dolly Parton postpones Vegas shows: Here’s what she told fans about her health
Dolly Parton announced Sunday that she is postponing her upcoming Las Vegas residency due to health concerns. The country icon shared the news in a statement on Instagram. Related Articles ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’: Dolly Parton’s life story will come to Broadway in…
Bad Bunny will be performing at the Super Bowl LX halftime show on February 8, 2026
Bad Bunny to Headline 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show The halftime show, presented by Apple Music and executive produced by Roc Nation and Jesse Collins, will air live Feb. 8 from the Bay Area. Bad Bunny en el escenario durante la…
Jimmy Kimmel Launches GoFundMe After Losing Another $20 Million in Sponsorships Over Charlie Kirk Comments
If you thought Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension was rock bottom, think again. The late-night host has now reportedly launched a GoFundMe page after losing another $20 million in sponsorships over his controversial comments about the late Charlie Kirk. That’s right: the…
Guy Ritchie’s next Action Thriller film — IN THE GREY. Starring Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza González and Rosamund Pike. Set to hit theaters in fall 2025, it’s shaping up to be the most anticipated horror film of the year.
In a thrilling departure from his signature action and gangster flicks, director Guy Ritchie is set to unleash In the Grey, a horror film poised to dominate the genre in fall 2025. Starring an all-star cast led by Henry Cavill, Jake…
Superman ending, James Gunn sets up the new DCU and Peacemaker season 2
Henry Cavill steps into the iconic role of James Bond in 007 Bond 2025, bringing suave charisma, brutal power, and refined intensity. This explosive new chapter delivers world-class espionage, heart-pounding action, and a mission that could change everything. Superman, the…
End of content
No more pages to load