UB40

Fact Sheet

Musical genre:	Reggae, Pop
Country	England, UK
Years active	1980-

UB40 is a popular reggae and pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England.

The band is multiracial and named after the former U.K. Social Security form for claiming unemployment benefit.

Its members include:

Jim Brown (drums)
Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals)
Robin Campbell (lead guitar, vocals)
Earl Falconer (Bass guitar, vocals)
Norman Hassan (percussion)
Brian Travers (saxophone)
Mickey Virtue (keyboards)
Terence Wilson (percussion, trumpet)

The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight, and have had a number of hits, most notably, "Red Red Wine" (a cover version of a Neil Diamond song).

UB40's music has often tackled social issues such as racism and unemployment.

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