Fuelled by the voice that powered UB40 to 70 million record sales and over fifty UK chart hits, Ali Campbell is again bringing some much-needed reggae cheer into the world as he takes the latest incarnation of his extraordinary band to the world’s biggest stages. Building on a legacy that dates back 45 years to his formative years in inner-city Birmingham, singer and guitarist Ali’s touring ensemble remains the most authentic realisation of UB40’s original aim of advancing reggae in all its guises. You can catch him perform at Goffs Park in Crawley on Friday 12th July.
ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR UPCOMING TOUR?
It’s going to be massive, we have circumnavigated the globe and getting better with age. In our summer tours we have Frank Benbini from the Fun Loving Criminals bringing a new edge to our performances.
HAVING BEEN TOURING FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FUNNIEST ON STAGE FAUX PAS?!
Great question. We did a Lands End to John O’ Groats tour and whilst in Blackpool we were dancing with some old ladies at Blackpool Tower who we swapped some drugs with! When we got to Inverness the next day we did an impromptu karaoke bar visit and whilst singing “Red Red Wine” we were booed off stage and told we sounded nothing like UB40! Ha!
ARE YOU FINDING AUDIENCES ARE MADE UP OF ORIGINAL UB40 FANS OR ARE YOU ATTRACTING THE NEW GENERATION OF REGGAE FANS?
I would say half and half. We know this ‘cos we ask at our concerts and get the crowd to respond!
WHAT INSPIRES YOU WHEN WRITING SONGS?
Anger does spur me on when writing, unless it’s a love song!
THE RECENT STEVEN KNIGHT ‘THIS TOWN’ SERIES ON BBC FEATURES A FEW OF YOUR SONGS, IS THIS AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL? DOES IT BRING BACK MEMORIES?
To be honest I couldn’t watch it. The main characters accent sounded nothing like a Borsel accent!
IF YOU ONLY HAD TO TAKE 3 THINGS TO A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?
- Seeds to grow my own marijuana
- A pipe to smoke it
- And a gun to shoot for food (that would be fun!)
WHO WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL CELEBRITY DINNER PARTY GUESTS?
Idris Elba is a top bloke, the legend that is Bob Marley, Sigmund Freud and Angela Davis.
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
It might not be the best but it’s the funniest. Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records told me at the start of my career, “You have no commercial viability whatsoever!” At least I got to prove him wrong! We are friends now and I have stayed at his house Goldeneye in Jamaica so no bad feeling there!
MOST EMBARRASSING ITEM IN YOUR WARDROBE?
Five toed shoes. They literally hug every toe! Feels so weird to wear them – so I hardly ever do!
WHAT ACTOR WOULD YOU HAVE PLAY YOU IN THE MOVIE VERSION OF YOUR LIFE?
Charlie Drake or Johnny Depp.
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST CHARACTER TRAITS?
I am a funny man. I definitely love the life I live. I am also a real family man, I have 7 kids!
WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?
Smoke weed. 24/7! I have been fighting for the legalisation of marijuana all my life.
