UB40 frontman Ali Campbell will quit the band after current touring commitments have been concluded.
Campbell says that his final tour with the band he helped start 30 years ago will be for the upcoming Australian, New Zealand and Uganda tour.In a statement, UB40 said "The band are of course saddened by Ali's departure, they have been together for a long time and their relationship as band members and friends is almost like a marriage, having lived in and out of each others pockets for pretty much most of their lives. They have been through some amazing times, but the band members realise that Ali needs to go and do his solo projects and perhaps it's a good thing that they can take some time away from each other to reflect. They haven't ruled out working together in the future but for now the other seven members will continue as UB40. However all of the band members wish Ali every success in his future solo career."
Campbell will still be heard on the band's next album, '24/7' which was completed before he made the announcement. Ali is working his solo album 'Running Free' at the moment, a title that in retrospect now seems quite prophetic.
Reggae band UB40 formed in Birmingham in 1978. They took their name from the UK's unemployment (U) benefit (B) form 40.
The band was an immediate global hit. The single 'Food For Thought' reached Top 10 in the UK.
UB40 went on to have more than a dozen hits, many of them covers, including 'Red Red Wine', 'I Got You Babe' and '(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You'.
