UB40, one of the world’s most iconic reggae pop bands are making their Qatar-debut at Doha’s Intercontinental Beach, West Bay Lagoon. UB40, founded in Birmingham, UK, in December 1978, are the world’s most successful reggae-pop formation, with more than 50 singles in the charts since then and more than 70 million records sold.


UB40 have performed in many countries. 

The Grammy-nominated band for “Best Reggae Album” four times, are all set to perform this Friday. The ethnic makeup of the band’s original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish and Yemeni parentage.
Their hit singles include their debut Food for Thought and two US Billboard Hot 100 number ones with Red Red Wine and Can’t Help Falling in Love. Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart, as did the band’s version of I Got You Babe, performed as a duet with The Pretenders’ singer Chrissie Hynde.
During their nearly four-decade long career, UB40 have been performing sell-out shows worldwide along with headlining the most important reggae festivals, such as “Reggae Sunsplash” in Jamaica and “Summer Jam” in Germany, as well as spreading reggae music to regions like Russia and South America.
The story of UB40, and how this group of young friends from Birmingham transcended their working-class origins to become the world’s most successful reggae band is not the stuff of fairytales as might be imagined.
By the summer of 1978, something else did happen, and the nucleus of UB40 began rehearsing in a local basement. Robin’s younger brother Ali, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers and James Brown all knew each other from Moseley School of Art, whilst Norman Hassan had been a friend of Ali’s since school.
The group had nailed their colours to the mast by naming themselves after an unemployment benefit form. Their political convictions hadn’t been gleaned second-hand either, but cemented in place whilst attending marches protesting against the National Front, or rallies organised by Rock Against Racism.
At the beginning of 2008, Ali Campbell decided to leave the band in order to pursue a solo career. With a minimum of fuss, he was replaced by another Campbell brother, Duncan, who has a voice that’s virtually indistinguishable from Ali’s.
Duncan had been invited to join the band at their inception, but declined. However, some thirty years later alongside the other UB40 vocalists he has made his presence count on the latest album “TwentyFourSeven,” which received widespread acclaim on its release during the summer of 2008.
Following on from “Who You Fighting For,” “TwentyFourSeven” was again recorded “live” in the studio, and thus showcases UB40 at their best. Not for the first time, the choice of material was dominated by the kind of searching, political messages they’d long been famous for.
Songs like Rainbow Nation, End Of War, Oh America and Securing The Peace rank alongside their best-ever reality tracks, except with guest singer Maxi Priest taking over lead vocals on Dance Until The Morning Light and a cover of Bob Marley’s I Shot The Sheriff, the mood is celebrationary as well. Freed of the need for hit singles (if not hit albums), UB40 sound rejuvenated, as if they’ve rediscovered the creative spark that inspired them in the first place. The results make essential listening, reaffirming their reputation as the world’s most successful reggae band as they continue to reach out to audiences that are impossible to categorise by race, age or nationality.
UB40 have made countless tours to places as USA, Italy, Germany, Spain and Slovakia to name a few. In between this extensive touring schedule they have also been recording albums which have received great response.