Red, red, whine for UB40 stars
There is only one UB40 and Ali Campbell, ex-frontman of the 80s' reggae legends, is no longer part of it, a judge heard as the battle over the band's name went to the High Court.
The six members of the band Ali left behind when he quit in 2008 say they are the only ones who can use the UB40 name and are suing him in the High Court. Edmund Cullen QC, representing the six, including Ali's brothers, Robin and Duncan, said they are recognised by fans as 'the true continuation' of the 'Red Red Wine' hits machine.
But Ali, whose splinter group has been joined by Mickey Virtue and co-frontman, Astro, say it is they who the public really want to see.
So far as fans are concerned UB40 without Ali and Astro is not UB40 at all, their barrister, Tom Hickman, told the court.
In a tense stand-off, Robin and Duncan, and their four fellow members of the 'original' band are battling to stop Ali's group using the UB40 name.
Ali, 57, and his band are currently on a major tour, using the name 'UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue', and are due to play London's O2 next month.
But his brothers, James Brown, Norman Hassan, Brian Travers and Earl Falconer insist that Ali's band has no right to use the UB40 name in any form.
They want an injunction and damages against Ali and his bandmates who they accuse of 'passing themselves off' as UB40.
The Brummie reggae-pop superstars sold 120 million albums, and had three UK and two US number one singles, in their heyday. But the band split after hitting financial and personal difficulties in 2008.
The move also triggered a family rift between the the three Campbell brothers and Ali stated in 2014 that he had not spoken to Robin and Duncan since 2008.
The court has now reserved its decision on the case and will give its ruling at a later date.
