Posted March 15, 200817 yr Maxi Priest to join UB40 Mar 14 2008 Source: birminghammail.net REGGAE star Maxi Priest is to replace lead singer Ali Campbell as the new frontman of Birmingham superband UB40. The band have decided to carry on despite an acrimonious split from Campbell after a festering row with management. The collaboration with Maxi Priest, expected to form a more permanent alliance, has already yielded a recording of Bob Marley's I Shot The Sheriff and is expected to form half of a double A-side single soon. A source close to the band said: "The recent recording session with Maxi Priest turned out brilliantly and the band are really buzzing about the year ahead." Maxi Priest joined UB40 on tour last year, culminating in sell out shows at the NEC in December. He had top ten hits with Wild World in 1988 and Close To You in 1990. He has worked with Sly & Robbie, Roberta Flack, Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Joe & Dennis Brown. Meanwhile, Ali Campbell is currently based in London where he is rehearsing a new band for probably the most important gig of his career, a showcase for his second solo album, Running Free, at the Royal Albert Hall. "We've got an explosive set planned," he promised. "It's going to be a historic night. Pato Banton will be there, Sly and Robbie are coming over and, most thrilling of all, I'll be sharing the stage with my all-time hero Smokey Robinson." After that he has a world tour planned, taking in such exotic dates as Seychelles, Mauritius and Hawaii.
March 15, 200817 yr My Grandad is in the band i didnt even hear bout this! LOL im gonna call him tommorow
March 21, 200817 yr Maxi Priest to join UB40 Mar 14 2008 Source: birminghammail.net REGGAE star Maxi Priest is to replace lead singer Ali Campbell as the new frontman of Birmingham superband UB40. The band have decided to carry on despite an acrimonious split from Campbell after a festering row with management. The collaboration with Maxi Priest, expected to form a more permanent alliance, has already yielded a recording of Bob Marley's I Shot The Sheriff and is expected to form half of a double A-side single soon. Maxi Priest - thats actually a good fit - probs a better fit than going to a Queen concert for a bit of All Right Now tho Sean Kingston could easliy fill the void - as he does sound like a bad Ali Cambell.. but one going thru Cher's vocoder :lol: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/11/25/inxs_wideweb__470x330,0.jpg however thought for a moment we might be getting a reggae version of INXS's Rock Star (probs presented by Preston off Big Brother fame :lol: ) - tho think INXS did replace Hutchence with loads of famous singers (well that is if you live in Australia and know who Jon Stevens is :lol: - i wouldnt know a Noiseworks record from that of missing persons) along the way before doing that show and failing as the singer wanted to do their own stuff "We've got an explosive set planned," he promised. "It's going to be a historic night. Pato Banton will be there, Sly and Robbie are coming over and, most thrilling of all, I'll be sharing the stage with my all-time hero Smokey Robinson." btw Pato Banton and Rankin' Roger's Bubblin' Hot is great - still love that tune - great demented sounding song - and one of the reggae guilty pleasures from around the mid 90s tho couldnt find that so here's the good part of rudebox - sly and robbies ft shinehead - boops O1mZ7sV9bdI
May 1, 200817 yr UB40 singer replaced by brother Source: bbc.co.uk Former UB40 singer Ali Campbell is to be replaced in the band by his brother Duncan, with reggae singer Maxi Priest also bolstering the line-up on tour. Ali Campbell, who fronted the group for 30 years, quit in an acrimonious fall-out earlier this year. Duncan, a former professional spoon player, will join his other brother, guitarist Robin Campbell, in the group. He said he asked for Ali's blessing before stepping in, but stressed they were not otherwise on speaking terms. "I told him if he objected strongly, I wouldn't do it," Duncan said. 'Fresh wounds' Ali replied that he was "disappointed but didn't object", according to Robin. "But I haven't spoken to him since," Duncan added. "The wounds are fresh." In January, Ali said he left the group because he was unhappy with the management of the band's financial and business affairs. The remaining band members say he quit to go solo. "He left to pursue a solo career for the financial benefits that that brings," Robin said. "That's what he told me." Robin Campbell said the brothers' relations with Ali would "take a lot of healing". "He's my kid brother and I felt dumped, as did every other member of the band," he told the BBC News website. "We felt deeply hurt and those things take time to heal. "Obviously things are difficult, but he's my baby brother so it doesn't stop me loving him. I wish him all the very best. "I'm just still disappointed and sad about the way it's happened, but life goes on and the band goes on." The band are giving away a version of their new album, Twentyfourseven, with the Mail on Sunday newspaper this week. The 10-track CD is the last work recorded with Ali Campbell. An extended version with seven further tracks recorded since Ali's departure will go on sale in June. It includes contributions from Maxi Priest, who will also perform with the band on tour in the UK, Europe and US later this year. Priest is best known for his late-1980s and early-1990s hits such as Close to You and Wild World. UB40 formed in Birmingham in 1978. Professional spoon player Duncan Campbell sang in a harmony group with his brothers when they were children and has performed with their father, Scottish folk singer Ian Campbell, on stage. He said he had also recorded a reggae album in Jamaica for Ali's record label, but it was never released. "I was the only professional spoon player in the country registered with the Musicians' Union - until they registered me as a vocalist," he added. "I have suggested playing the spoons in UB40 but they don't seem very keen." Discussing his previous jobs, Duncan said: "I opened and managed the first casino in Barbados, I ran a fish and chip shop in Perth, Australia, and I've been an actor on and off." Should they have called it a day after Ali left? Will they still be successful?
May 3, 200817 yr Ali Campbell, who fronted the group for 30 years, quit in an acrimonious fall-out earlier this year. Duncan, a former professional spoon player, will join his other brother, guitarist Robin Campbell, in the group. Professional spoon player Should they have called it a day after Ali left? Will they still be successful? I dont know but if he's gonna bring his professional spoon playing to UB40's popular reggae riddims - now thats an episode of Later I will rmember to record :lol:
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