The hot coals which underpinned UB40’s rise to fame and their extraordinary subsequent descent into an ongoing family civil war are to be raked over in a new film.

Founding member and original singer Ali Campbell accuses his former bandmates of “poncing off the name of UB40.”

Guitarist Robin Campbell dismisses the claims and promises fans: “We’ll keep going until we drop.”

Promises & Lies: The Story Of UB40 documents their extraordinary journey from dole queue hopefuls to reggae superstars and bankrupts.

And how two versions of the band featuring rival brothers are now warring over the right to use the name while they both still tour relentlessly.

Made for the BBC by London-based Special Treats Productions, the film features interviews that are, inevitably, conducted separately.

Brothers Robin, Ali, David and Duncan Campbell pictured in 1963 – 16 years before the UB40 story began with the first gig at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath on February 9, 1979
There’s Robin Campbell, Brian Travers and Jimmy Brown from the original band fighting to retain their UB40 identity.

Also interviewed are the collective’s former lead singer Ali Campbell – now teamed up with the band’s early days members Astro and Mickey Virtue.

It’s Ali’s use of the UB40 name that could still lead to a major court case if the parties don’t settle out of court first.

UB40 (Image: Michael Putland, Getty Images)

Who else is interviewed?

Duncan Campbell, the brother who replaced Ali when he left, and the previously unseen fourth and elder brother, David Campbell.

Earlier this year in an exclusive interview, the Mail revealed how David was an armed robber who had been in jail when the UB40 story started.

He later had a taste of the highlife himself in London after fathering children by a leading record company executive.

Now back in Birmingham here he lives a contented life alone in a small terrace and washes up for a more simple kind of living, David says: “(Everyone was) in the band because they knew Ali. Most of them were his school mates.

David Campbell at home, with a 1963 picture of the four brothers (Image: Graham Young / BirminghamLive)
“He was, undoubtedly, the founder.

“I couldn’t have joined them if I’d wanted to because I was in prison at the time.”

Of the chasm that has split the band and family members apart after decades of apparent success, David says of Duncan: “He is very, very unhappy to have lost his little brother (Ali).”

Robin says: “Ali walked off stage after a Uganda gig and I never saw him again.”

Meanwhile, sax payer Brian Travers accuses Ali – the best man at his wedding – of being a “pathological liar”.

UB40 (Image: Michael Putland, Getty Images)

The father

The film includes the UB40 brothers’ late father Ian Campbell singing The Cockfight in The Jug O’ Punch Folk Club at Digbeth Civic Hall, which exposed his sons to their first musical influences which included visiting artistes like Paul Simon.

Looking back to being a kid at the Jug O’Punch, third son Duncan says: “We always talked about being Britain’s answer to the Jackson Five. But things change!”

The first half of the film is a warm-hearted look back at the band’s origins, as seen from both sides of the current camp.

In a rare moment of tenderness towards his siblings, Ali adds: “Me, Rob and Dunc used to sing together, three-part harmonies.

“I remember me mum coming in and thinking it was the radio and three of us were singing. We got quite tight.”

UB40 (Image: Michael Putland, Getty Images)

A manager’s view

Along with Peter Price, Bill Curbishley was a music manager for UB40 from 2004-07, having previously managed The Who, Robert Plant and Judas Priest.

Price and Curbishley – the older brother of former Blues and Villa midfielder Alan Curbishley – could not fathom what had happened to the UB40 “millions” he believed they should have been paid.

Agreeing to split their money eight ways enabled the band to enjoy a longevity denied to many others, but even their pact unravelled.

Curbishley says: “I don’t see why this (name rivalry) couldn’t be solved very easily, but once emotions get involved and bad feeling form the past and accusations it gets very muddy and nobody has any rational or commonsense.

Robin Campbell thanks fans at the end of UB40’s headline appearance at Solihull Summer Fest (Image: Graham Young)
“I have never seen a whole band suffer to this degree.

“They have been cleaved down the middle in terms of family members, they’re all at odds with each other, they’ve all lost their houses and they’ve all been bankrupt.

“It doesn’t get much worse than that.

“It’s quite stunning in a way.

Setting his record straight: original UB40 lead singer Ali Campbell, 57 (Image: Graham Young)
“When I first joined them I thought they were a bunch of happy go lucky guys but none of them seem to have had the rewards for their previous hard work.

“It just doesn’t make sense.

“Promises and Lies seems to have been the motto of their career. It’s a sad story.”

Suited and booted: UB40 with Robin and Ali Campbell in the centre (Image: Paul Natkin, Getty Images)

The film director’s view

Charlie Thomas is such a fan of UB40 that he’s genuinely saddened by the fallout he couldn’t resist trying to make a film of.

So how did he follow the Mail’s lead and persuade them all to talk?

“I gained each side’s trust and wanted to steer a course down the middle,” he says.

“It was important to have David as he was able to give an objective (but not an outsiders’) view and it enabled him to stand back a bit.

Brian Travers with brothers Duncan and Robin Campbell in the Eagle & Tun, Digbeth (Image: Darren Quinton)
“When I (first) heard they had split into two, I was really surprised.

“It was a case of wanting to get to the bottom of what’s happened combined with wanting to do a tribute to them.

“But I don’t think we will ever completely get to the bottom of it.

“They had done so well, for so long yet clearly didn’t make as much money as they should have done.”

UB40 (Image: Ebet Roberts, Getty Images.)

Why didn’t you give all members of UB40 a voice, including Earl Falconer and Norman Hassan?

“In documentaries, I think you can have too many talking heads and not enough visuals,” says Charlie.

“I found the members to be very approachable, intelligent and articulate – Robin refuses to be bitter because without the band he wouldn’t have had the fantastic experiences he’s had and he is still able to get out there to play his music, though he’s not as secure financially as he should be.”

As a fan, what does he make Duncan trying to fill the void by Ali, a singer he adores?

“I think Duncan has had a pretty hard job to replace Ali, but I think he’s done a pretty good job considering he had to go into a standing start. That was pretty brave of him.”