UB40 'betrayal' and upset: The sad split that tore one of Birmingham's biggest bands apart

Editor Katie Watkin's  17/9/20

UB40's Ali Campbell has claimed his former bandmates 'betrayed' him and says there is no chance of the reggae group ever reforming.  

The singer,  now 61, left the band in 2008 after a dispute with management and now performs under the name UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro.   

Ali was replaced by his brother Duncan, 62, and the pair have not spoken for years, despite the new frontman suffering a stroke earlier this month.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Monday, Ali was asked by host Adil Ray if there was any chance of the band reforming.

He replied: 'Those days are well done. Astro and I, we tour around the world, we're very successful. 

Robin and Ali Campbell turned themselves from 1970s' unemployed hopefuls into chart-topping global stars with careers that have now lasted for more than 40 years. 

 But their high profile decade-long war of words suggests the time-honoured phrase "There's nowt so queer as folk" is today more powerful than the notion "Blood is thicker than water..."  Seen through the prism of the lyrics to a song made famous by Edwin Starr, many outside observers might well ask: "War... what is it good for? Absolutely nothing say it again..."  

The ongoing acrimony between the Campbells seems to be at least on a par with Manchester's double act of Liam and Noel Gallagher, Matt and Luke Goss.

 So one thing seems to be clear.  While brothers can achieve greatness together in any walk of life - think Bobby and the late Jack Charlton in the victorious England 1966 World Cup team - other things can come along and end up driving seemingly well-bonded siblings apa.

And, with the Campbells, there are not just  two brothers Robin Campbell and Ali Campbell... but there were another two involved in the story.  

Non-band member David is the eldest followed by guitarist Robin, then Duncan - the current frontman of more than ten years - and original lead singer Ali.  

The voice of the band's first 30 years of hits like Kingston Town, One in Ten and Red Red Wine might be 61 now.  But Ali will, of course, always remain  the youngest.

According to UB40's saxophonist Brian Travers, that's always been part of the problem - right from their school days.  

"Ian and Robin's story is rather like the brothers in The Kinks, The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, INXS," muses Brian.  "Fame changes people, pecking orders change and egos get frustrated and out of control..."  

Following Duncan's stroke, the band issued a statement on its @UB40 Official Facebook page on August 4, 2020 to say: "We can confirm our lead singer and brother Duncan Campbell was taken to hospital after suffering a stroke. 

 "While we can report he is already up and about, we ask fans to respect Duncan and the family's privacy as he works his way back to what we all hope will be a strong and speedy recovery.