Mickey Virtue – one of the near-original UB40 members – has left Ali Campbell’s rival band

One of the near-original members of UB40 has left former lead singer Ali Campbell’s version of the band ahead of their major UK tour.

Earlier this year, ‘UB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey’ launched a new album called A Real Labour of Love.

They announced a major UK tour for next spring, including a date at Arena Birmingham on Friday, March 29, 2019.

But the group’s @UB40 twitter feed has been rebranded as Ali Campbell & Astro – without any mention that keyboard player Mickey Virtue is no longer part of the group, on the eve of their tour to celebrate the original UB40’s 40th anniversary.

Their Facebook page @UB40 also still says ‘UB40 featuring Ali Astro and Mickey’.

Meanwhile, the original UB40 members led by Ali’s brother Robin Campbell have also continued touring and recording in the ten years since Ali ‘s departure – which he said was to pursue a solo career under his own name.

Currently in Switzerland, Robin Campbell’s UB40 will play Arena Birmingham on December 21 – ticket details here

Next year they will release a new album called For The Many, to broadly coincide with the 40th anniversary of the band’s first gig at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath on February 9, 1979.

When Ali left the band, guitarist Robin replaced him with another brother, Duncan Campbell, as lead singer.

Astro and Mickey Virtue attending the Pride of Birmingham awards at the University of Birmingham in March, 2018

Astro and Mickey Virtue attending the Pride of Birmingham awards at the University of Birmingham in March, 2018 (Image: Birmingham Mail)
They are on Twitter and Facebook as UB40 @UB40OFFICIAL

The two versions of the band have been locked in a long-running, bitter legal dispute for the right to use the UB40 name.


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Promises and Lies: The Story of UB40

But with Robin refusing to accept anything other than the fact that he is still with the original band, there is no end in sight.

“We all started the band together,” says Robin, determined to win the case.

His line-up includes sax player Brian Travers, bass player Earl Falconer, percussionist and trombone player Norman Hassan, and drummer Jimmy Brown who were all there at the very start in December, 1978.