It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our comrade, brother, founding UB40 member and musical legend, Brian David Travers. Brian passed away yesterday evening with his family by his side, after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with Brian’s wife Lesley, his daughter Lisa and son Jamie. We are all devastated by this news and ask that you respect the family’s need for privacy at this time.
UB40 have announced fellow Birmingham reggae band KIOKO’s Matt Doyle as their new lead singer.
The announcement comes a week after Duncan Campbell announced his retirement from UB40 in order to focus on his recovery from the seizure he suffered at his home last month.
Doyle will already be familiar to many UB40 fans after KIOKO opened for the Brummie legends’ 40th anniversary concert at The Royal Albert Hall in May 2018, before supporting them on their UK tour later that year and their European tour in 2019.
In addition, Doyle’s lead vocal features on the track ‘You Don’t Call Anymore’ from UB40’s new collaborations album Bigga Baggariddum, which was released on 25th June.
UB40 guitarist and vocalist Robin Campbell said, “Matt has already demonstrated his ability and compatibility with the band on our latest album Bigga Baggariddim with the track ‘You Don’t Call Anymore’. He’s a talented young man with a voice and singing style that will prove to be a good fit and a great asset to the band. And on top of all that he’s a nice guy, too.”
Matt Doyle said of his appointment as UB40’s lead singer, “I don’t quite know how to put into words just how incredibly honoured and grateful I feel to be given this opportunity.
“I have loved UB40’s music for as long as I can remember and that love has only grown since getting to know them and watching them play live night after night on tour. They took KIOKO under their wing and gave us the opportunity of a lifetime by inviting us out on tour, and although I’ll deeply miss playing shows with KIOKO I know that they will carry on to do incredible things and that we will always remain the best of mates.
“I wish the absolute best for Duncan and I hope that he makes a full and speedy recovery, I’ve seen how much love he puts into his performance and he has written some incredible songs that I can’t wait to sing, as well as all the hits that have been such a big influence on my own music.
“UB40 have loyal and wonderful fans and I have loved getting to know so many of them already. My promise to them and to the fans all around the world is that I will always give it my all singing the songs they know and love and, alongside this legendary band, bring them a performance they’ll never forget.”
Doyle will play with UB40 at all of their dates this summer, starting on July 31st at Lingfield Park Racecourse, before embarking on the band’s twenty-four-date UK tour in November and December.
UB40 singer Duncan Campbell has announced his retirement from music after suffering a seizure at his home last week.
Duncan, 63, who has spent the past year recovering from a stroke he suffered last August, had been preparing for the reggae legend’s UK tour later this year.
Duncan said, “Unfortunately, due to continued ill health, I have reluctantly decided to retire from the band so as to focus on my recovery. I am very grateful, and would like to express my sincere thanks, to the fans for all their support during this time and indeed throughout my time with UB40. The band have my full support going forward and, of course, my very best wishes for the future with their new singer.”
Duncan’s brother and bandmate Robin Campbell said on behalf of UB40: “We’ve been rehearsing with every intention of Duncan’s return to performing, but sadly, after suffering further illness he has made the decision to retire from music in order to concentrate fully on his recovery. While we are deeply saddened, we completely understand and fully support his decision. As far as touring goes, we are ready to hit the road for our upcoming summer shows and will be announcing our new front man imminently.”
Big Love
UB40
An album of reggae collaborations with artists spanning four continents and seven decades of recording experience, featuring House of Shem, Tippa Irie, BLVK H3RO, Inner Circle, Pablo Rider, KIOKO, Gilly G, Slinger, Winston Francis, Leno Banton and General Zooz (Reggae Rajahs)
“Intergenerational duets with guests from Tippa Irie to BLVK H3RO and Leno Banton.”
– MOJO
“…classic roots-reggae with a vintage ‘70s warmth..[with] new young Jamaican heroes BLVK H3RO and Leno Banton lend[ing] a more contemporary dancehall/hip hop edge.”
– Uncut magazine
“Bigga Baggariddim proves the doubters wrong…”
Today, Friday 25th June, SRG Records (via Virgin/Universal) release UB40’s Bigga Baggariddim, an incredible celebration of the genre they love and a seminal reggae collaborations album.
Over 35 years after the original Baggariddim album, UB40 have reunited with artists who appeared on the 1985 album and collaborated with new, diverse reggae talent from around the world, who sing and deejay over cuts of the same rhythms. It was in cities like UB40’s hometown of Birmingham where people from different ethnic backgrounds first learnt to live with one another, giving rise to multi-cultural Britain. It’s therefore natural for UB40 to collaborate with artists of differing nationalities, ages and cultural backgrounds, as well as those sharing the same roots as themselves.
“We really enjoy collaborations and this is a natural progression from the original Baggariddim, only more international, and a perfect companion to our last album For The Many because it uses the same rhythms/backing tracks, but features some of the reggae friends we’ve met and worked with around the world.” – Robin Campbell, UB40
A companion to their critically acclaimed 2019 album For The Many, Bigga Baggariddim features the same rhythms and guest artists from different parts of the world including Jamaica, New Zealand, India and UB40’s home town of Birmingham. New Zealand’s roots reggae band House Of Shem guest on three tracks, led by the irresistible Good Vibes Tonight. From India, the Reggae Rajahs’ General Zooz adds more diversity to UB40’s most eclectic album yet and as the founders of Goa’s annual reggae festival, are a testament to India’s rapidly growing reggae scene. They perform on the ear worm, Roots Rocks Reggae.
Joining this selection of international talent are artists from reggae’s homeland of Jamaica, where a new generation of stars has emerged in the past decade, led by Protoje, Koffee and Chronixx. After UB40’s management heard a BBC 1Xtra session showcasing new Jamaican artists, BLVK H3RO and Leno Banton (son of legendary dancehall pioneer Burro Banton) were invited to appear on Bigga Baggariddim.
Veteran Jamaican reggae artists are represented by Winston Francis (whose long list of hits includes Mr Fix It, which UB40 covered on Labour Of Love III) and Inner Circle, whose overdubs on the track Rebel Love gives it their distinctive, platinum-selling Inner Circle Sound.
Reggae bands like UB40, who write and produce their own music, had all but disappeared in the UK until fellow Brummie band KIOKO came along. The two bands met when Kioko performed a tribute to UB40, playing One In Ten live at Birmingham’s annual Music Awards. They join the together on Bigga Baggariddim’s You Don’t Call Anymore.
Alongside UB40’s emergence in the 1980s, there was a UK deejay explosion. Of this talent, Tippa Irie made his reputation on London Sound Systems – and guests here on On The Road – alongside three Birmingham MC’s: Gilly G (Me Nah Leave Yet), Pablo Rider (Did You See That) and Slinger (Mi Life Action).
Pablo Rider and Slinger both featured on the original Baggariddim album in 1985 and also made cameo appearances on For The Many. They and Gilly G are all expected to join UB40 on the Bigga Baggariddim tour which begins in November (see below for details).
UB40’s passion for reggae and belief in its cultural importance has led them to create an exceptional reggae collaborations album, which will remind the listener of reggae’s timeless and evolving power, whilst also introducing them to new, vital and emerging reggae talent.
Based on the extensive album biography by Echoes magazine’s John Masouri. Available on request.
Bigga Baggariddim tracklist:
Our brand new collaboration track with HOUSE OF SHEM out today!
Watch >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdIP24thdCE
Stream or download now >> https://smarturl.it/bigga-baggariddim
Big Love
UB40