They started out as friends and for some of them, brothers – but over the years there have been a number of issues that UB40 faced

The band UB40 made a name for themselves in the 1980s and their fame has carried on through the years. They won many awards and topped many charts together. The English reggae and pop band, formed in December 1978, has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart.

The name UB40 refers to an unemployment benefit form from that time. They were once the voice of the disaffected youth in the UK. They started out as friends and for some of them, brothers – but over the years there have been a number of issues that they faced.

“We were eight people who had been unemployed since school, trying to wade through Thatcher’s quagmire of sh** then sing about it. We were politicised, we were disenfranchised, and we had a lot to say,” Ali told the Daily Mirror.

Singer Ali Campbell (2nd R), his brother Robin Campbell (R) and their band UB40 attend the German Radio Awards 2005 at the Tempodrom Hall September 2, 2005 in Berlin, Germany | Getty Images

The two groups had legal issues as Ali Campbell was using the band’s name to perform. In 2014, the Mirror reported guitarist and vocalist Robin Campbell as saying: “Ali is selling tickets as UB40 when he isn’t. He’s taken our name because he can’t sell tickets on his own.

“They are perfectly entitled to play any UB40 tracks they like. What they are not entitled to do is to pretend they are UB40. Fans are being hoodwinked.”

Duncan’s health deteriorates

In 2021, Duncan said he was “reluctantly” retiring since having a stroke in 2020. “Unfortunately, due to continued ill health, I have reluctantly decided to retire from the band so as to focus on my recovery,” Campbell said in a post on a UB40 fan site.

Jeremy Corbyn (C-L) poses with members of UB40 – (L-R) Norman Hassan, Robin Campbell, Duncan Campbell, Jimmy Brow | Getty Images

Ali was asked on Good Morning Britain if he spoke to his brother after the stroke and he said that they hadn’t. He said that they no longer talk to each other.

“I only get to hear what’s happened like everyone else, so basically I don’t know what’s going down,” he added. He was asked if he would want to get the original group back together and he said: “I was betrayed by them. I stand vindicated. I’m just happy to carry on promoting reggae and diversion of UB40.”

It is not known if the brothers reconciled since then.