UB40 Declares No Reunion with Former Frontman Ali Campbell ‘No Matter the Cost’

UB40’s Stand on Reunion

UB40 have stated that they will never reunite with their former frontman Eli Campbell “for all the money in the world.”

Background on Campbell and the Band

Campbell was a founding member of the Birmingham-based reggae-pop group, established in 1978. He departed from the lineup in 2008, shortly followed by Mickey Virtue. Astro also exited the group in 2013.

• READ MORE: UB40’s Ali Campbell interview: ‘There will never be a reunion between me and my brother’

Campbell’s brother Duncan assumed the role of lead vocalist in 2008 but retired from live performances in 2021 after suffering a seizure following a stroke in 2020. He was succeeded by Matt Doyle (formerly of reggae group Kioko), who is part of the current line-up. UB40 version.

Ali’s older brother Robin remains in the band, playing guitar, as does Jimmy Brown on drums. The pair recently appeared on a podcast Trawl, where they discussed Ali’s controversial departure at the end of the 2000s.

“As technology advanced, fewer and fewer records were sold,” Brown explained. “And we had to tighten our belts.”

He continued, reminiscing about Ali’s extravagant spending: “Ali found himself a new boyfriend, a new girl, you know, and rejected his family. He was trying to impress; it was like Mike Tyson in a jewelry store!”

Both musicians shared their belief that Ali made a “deliberate” choice to leave UB40 and pursue a solo career.

“I think he made a calculation, you know, encouraged by his girlfriend and our former manager, believing that if he left the band, he could continue to live the same pop star life that he had for 20 years,” Brown recalled.

“Unfortunately, the tour he booked under his own name back then just fell through!”

Robin asserted that Ali’s departure was strictly business and not due to any “family consequence.” He noted: “It wasn’t the brothers who fought. He left the group.

“He was often closer to some band members than to me, despite being my younger brother. For instance, Brian Travers, our saxophonist who passed away, was his best friend since they were 10 or 11 years old.”

Reflecting on Ali’s decision to part ways with UB40, Robin implied that his brother had “turned his back” on the band’s spirit and on the advice from their late father, which was to “share everything equally.”

Brown stated that Ali left in order to pursue a solo career and “play the role of a pop star.”

“I think the problem with Ali was that he didn’t want to be told he wasn’t a pop star,” he explained. “He didn’t like being humiliated. He didn’t want to be grounded.”

In response to a question about whether UB40 might follow in the footsteps of Oasis’ Liam and Noel Gallagher to reunite with Ali, Brown replied: “All the money in the world wouldn’t make us do that.”

“Ultimately, I conclude that he has done us a great service. We have a brilliant singer now. He’s fantastic, and he’s only 30. He has an amazing voice, and you can rely on him. He doesn’t get drunk every night!”

Ali continues to perform live under the banner “UB40 featuring Ali Campbell.” Astro, who passed away in 2021, also performed as part of the group (then known as “UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro”). Initially, they toured under the name “UB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey” along with Virtue.

Speaking to NME in 2020, Ali Campbell was asked if he would ever reconcile with his former bandmates in the original group.

He responded: “No, that will never happen. They’re failing, and we’re flying high, so I wouldn’t dream of going back to them. There will never be a reunion.”