UB40 take legal action against former singer Ali Campbell over use of their name

Tour: Ex-UB40 frontman Ali Campbell

Reggae band UB40 have started legal action against former singer Ali Campbell over his use of their name. The furious five-some includes Campbell’s own brothers Robin and Duncan - who have accused him of “hoodwinking” fans. They claim the rival trio have no right to the title - and say having another band using the name is hitting their business financially. Writs have been served on Campbell and pianist Mickey Virtue, who both left the band in 2008, and vocalist Terence “Astro” Wilson, who quit last November.

The ‘2B40’ row is now heading for legal showdown in the High Court - with the Campbell brothers giving evidence against each other in a bitter family clash. Guitarist and vocalist Robin Campbell said: “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.”

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Campbell, Virtue and Wilson began calling themselves UB40 in February and have since toured around the world using the name. The claimants are original members Robin Campbell, Jimmy Brown, Norman Hassan, Brian Travers, Earl Falconer and Duncan Campbell, who replaced Ali as lead singer.

Robin said: “Earlier this year Ali appeared on Australian TV, claiming to have re-formed and reunited UB40."It’s not true.“The band never split up and never parted. We just carried on doing what we had always been doing after he left.“We will give evidence against Ali if necessary.
"I don’t feel anything for my brother any more after the vitriol he has heaped on me over the last six years.” As the simmering row between the Campbell brothers has continued, Robin and Duncan say their 80-year-old mother, Pat, is upset by the family feuding but has consistently refused to take sides.

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Duncan added: “I thought Ali’s solo career would make him a megastar - another George Michael - and so did he. “But, the solo career having failed, he obviously thinks that the only way he can make a go of it now is by pretending to be UB40.“It really hurts. We were incredibly close. I can’t believe it’s come to this.“I have done nothing wrong but he has accused me of betraying him. There was never any reason to fall out on a family level.”

Ali previously accused Duncan of “murdering” his musical legacy and said his former colleagues were running a “karaoke band”.Duncan said: “He’s the one doing covers of old UB40 songs and become a tribute band.“We like tribute bands because they are out there every night promoting our music - but they are not pretending to be the real UB40.”