The iconic British band, UB40, has distanced itself from an upcoming concert titled “UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell,” scheduled to take place on December 21, 2023, at Kampala’s Kololo Airstrip.
While UB40’s current members Robin Campbell, Earl Falconer, Jimmy Brown, and Norman Hassan continue to perform together, the band has clarified that they are not part of the UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell event.
In an official statement published on the band’s website, UB40 refuted claims that they are set to return for the concert. However, they expressed their desire to return to Uganda at some point in the future.
The band went on to clarify that Ali Campbell, their former vocalist who departed from UB40 over 15 years ago, is indeed scheduled to perform in Uganda.
“There is not a single member of UB40 in Ali Campbell’s backing group – and none of his band members have ever performed with UB40 or contributed to a UB40 record,” reads the statement in part.
Back in 2008, UB40 made history by staging what many entertainment analysts consider the largest concert ever held in Uganda, attracting a massive crowd at the Lugogo Cricket Oval.
It was in the same year that Ali Campbell made the decision to part ways with the band in pursuit of a solo career.
Ali Campbell, who fronted UB40 for nearly 30 years, reunited with former UB40 bandmates Astro and Mickey Virtue in 2014 to create a new album titled “Silhouette.” Under the name ‘UB40 with Ali Campbell,’ he has continued to perform and entertain audiences around the world.
While the upcoming concert promises to be an exciting musical event, UB40 seems to want to ensure that fans are aware of the distinction between their own performances and those featuring Ali Campbell.
