[2] The ethnic make-up of the band's original line-up was diverse, with musicians of English, Welsh, Irish, Jamaican, Scottish, and Yemeni parentage.

[3] The name "UB40" was chosen in reference to an attendance card issued to individuals claiming unemployment benefits from the UK government's Department of Employment.

They were soon joined by several friends, first percussionists Yomi Babayemi and Norman Hassan, followed by saxophonist Brian Travers and keyboardist Jimmy Lynn.

Although Robin Campbell was initially hesitant to commit to forming a band, he eventually joined after being persuaded by his brother Ali.

With Robin's inclusion, the eight musicians officially formed a band, choosing the name "UB40" after a friend suggested it as a fitting reference to their shared unemployed status at the time.

The classic UB40 line-up was completed a month later with the addition of percussionist and vocalist Astro, who had previously worked with Duke Alloy's sound system and attended reggae dances across Birmingham.

[7][8] Before some of the members had learned to play their instruments properly, Ali Campbell and Brian Travers travelled around Birmingham promoting the band by putting up UB40 posters.

The band’s distinctive sound was developed and refined through numerous lengthy jam sessions held at various locations around the city.

[3] Their first gig took place on 9 February 1979 at The Hare & Hounds Pub in Kings Heath, Birmingham, for a friend's birthday party.

This was commemorated in October 2011 by the unveiling of a plaque at the venue, recognising the band receiving the Performing Rights Society's Music Heritage Award.

The band's debut single, "King"/"Food for Thought", was released on Graduate Records, a local independent label run by David Virr.

As UB40 gained in popularity, they encouraged and supported local musicians and bands from Birmingham, such as Beshara, often bringing them on tour.

[11] On 11 June 1988, UB40 performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London, alongside Dire Straits, George Michael, Whitney Houston, the Bee Gees, and other artists.

[12] Their most successful worldwide single release is their reggae/pop version of "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You," which was the main title for the 1993 Sharon Stone movie Sliver; it was a number one hit across Europe and in the US.

In 1995, they covered the Stevie Wonder song "Superstition" for the Eddie Murphy movie Vampire in Brooklyn, and it appears on their album The Best of UB40 – Volume Two, released that year.

In 2003, UB40 and the United Colours of Sound recorded "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" as the official anthem for the England national rugby union team.

"[15] The remaining seven members issued a statement, saying: "Ali made a very simple decision; he chose to pursue and prioritise his solo career over continuing to work with UB40 after February 2008.

"[20] In April 2008, the BBC reported that Campbell was to be replaced in the band by his brother Duncan, with reggae singer Maxi Priest also bolstering the line-up on tour.

[21] The band released their next album, TwentyFourSeven, UB40's last with their classic line-up, as a free insert in The Mail on Sunday's 4 May 2008 issue.

The announcement followed the success of the band's latest Top 30 album, Getting Over the Storm, which was awarded BBC Radio 2's 'Album of the Week' accolade and received five-star reviews from the UK's music press upon its release in September 2013.

[31] Astro joined former UB40 members Ali Campbell and Mickey Virtue on stage at the indigO2 Arena in London on 6 December 2013,[32] and on 17 January 2014, the trio announced on their website that they were in the studio recording new music.

[33] Ali Campbell was highly critical of his replacement in UB40, stating, "I sat back for five years and watched my brother Duncan murdering my songs.

[36] Duncan Campbell retired from UB40 in June 2021 due to ill health, following a stroke he had suffered the previous year; he was replaced the following month by Matt Doyle of fellow Birmingham reggae band Kioko.

Their love of ska, reggae and early lovers rock inspired such original tracks as "King", "Madam Medusa", "Food for Thought", "Signing Off" and "One in Ten".

[50] Their early musical style was unique, with a heavy influence of analogue synthesisers, psychedelic rock guitar, saxophone and dub producer techniques.

[53] UB40 are one of the most commercially successful reggae acts of all time in terms of record sales (over 70 million), chart positions, and touring schedule.

[4] Reflecting on the group's longevity, Ali Campbell has said that they were fortunate in choosing a relatively young genre, as reggae "... hasn't outlived its own cool like jazz has".

While DJ-ing, he met the Campbell brothers, and bonded so well with them over a shared love of Jamaican music that they invited him to join them as their MC.

[68] Norman Lamont Hassan (born 26 January 1958) is a British musician of Yemeni and Welsh descent, best known as a member of UB40 since its formation in 1978.

[74] The splinter group later changed its name again, settling on "UB40 featuring Ali, Astro, and Mickey", until late 2018, when Virtue departed the band.