Ali Campbell considers himself to be the “key member” of UB40.
The 65-year-old singer now tours as UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell after his departure from the group in 2008 and thinks he made the most important contributions to the work of the ‘Red Red Wine’ hitmakers – who also perform under their original name with Ali’s older brother Robin Campbell featuring in the line-up.
Ali told The Times newspaper: “I am the original singer, I sang on 40 Top 20 hits, and I wrote the melodies to the original UB40 songs. I am the key member of the band – or was. That’s how I see it.”
The star is “very sad” about the split – which stemmed from the reggae band refusing to allow him to do a solo tour – as it cost him his relationship with his siblings.
Ali recalled: “In 2007 I made a solo album called ‘Running Free’, and it went in at No 9.
“At the time UB40 hadn’t had a hit in 15 years. I asked the band for a month off to promote the album – they had encouraged me to promote my first solo album – and they refused!
“It was a lot to do with the management we had at the time, who were scared that if the solo tour went well I’d be off, which I wasn’t planning on doing. But I wasn’t going to be told I couldn’t do something either. So I left.”
He added: “It was very sad and it still is, because I don’t see my brothers any more. All I wanted was a month off!”
UB40 have faced accusations of cultural appropriation for their music and Ali can understand why – although he says that their material was very popular in Jamaica.
The ‘Food for Thought’ musician said: “Sometimes my being white annoyed the Jamaican artists.
“Unfortunately, we succeeded in popularising reggae around the world because I’m white. That would annoy you if you’re a black reggae artist, wouldn’t it?
“But when we went to Jamaica people loved what we were doing. As (the legendary reggae producer) Sly Dunbar said, ‘You’re good for reggae, Ali.’ And we were.”