UB40 featuring Ali Campbell & Astro

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro comprise two founding members of the original UB40 band. The English reggae/dub group were formed at the end of 1978 by several young friends from the multicultural neighbourhoods of Birmingham. Coming from working class origins, the name UB40 alluded to the UK government’s Unemployment Benefit Form 40, which many people at that time were scraping by on.

In 2008, following the release of UB40’s 16th studio album TwentyFourSeven, frontman Ali Campbell left the group, and was followed shortly after by keyboardist Mickey Virtue. They were reunited with trumpeter and vocalist Astro (born Terence Wilson) when he departed in 2013.

Working together as a threesome going by UB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey, they recorded and released Silhouette in 2014, The Hits Of UB40 Live in 2015 and Unplugged containing acoustic versions of UB40 favourites in 2016. Virtue exited in 2018 after they released a collection of cover songs called A Real Labour Of Love, which peaked at No.2 on the UK albums chart.

As UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro, the pair continue to build on the legacy of the original Birmingham band while fusing elements from other genres, actively not limiting their music to the past. Their instantly recognisable voices are backed by a dynamic seven-piece band.