UB40

UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. The name of the band is in reference to the signing-on document issued to people claiming unemployment benefit from the UK government's Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) at the time of the band's formation. The designation UB40 stood for Unemployment Benefit, Form 40. The group has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. The band has been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times, and in 1984, were nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records. Their hit singles include their debut "Food for Thought" and two U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number ones with "Red Red Wine" and "Can't Help Falling in Love". Both of these also topped the UK Singles Chart, as did the band's version of "I Got You Babe". The ethnic makeup of the band's original lineup was diverse, with musicians of English, Scottish, Irish, Yemeni and Jamaican parentage. The band's initial lineup lasted for 30 years from the band's formation in 1978 until frontman Ali Campbell's departure from the band in 2008. Since that time, two other founding members (Mickey Virtue and Astro) have also left the band, and the trio of Campbell, Virtue, and Astro have since formed UB40 Reunited. (more on wikipedia)

Links To Peel
UB40's first gig was in February 1979 at the Horse & Hounds in Kings Heath in the West Midlands, where they managed a session for a local radio station. As luck would have it, a certain Mr John Peel heard the broadcast and before the band knew it, they were recording a session in 1979 for national radio on his BBC Radio One show, which was broadcast in January 1980. Peel constantly supported the band with playlists and sessions over a couple of years. However when the band released the Labour Of Love album in 1983, where they started to take a more pop direction, Peel subsequently lost interest and rarely played any of the material.

Sessions
Their first session is available on UB40 - Signing Off (CD, 2010, Virgin)

1. Recorded: 1979-12-12. Broadcast: 02 January 1980. Repeated: 29 January 1980, 24 June 1980 2. Recorded: 1982-01-09. Broadcast: 25 January 1982. Repeated: 11 February 1982, 27 April 1982, 15 December 1982, 01 April 1985
 * Food For Thought / 25 Per Cent / King


 * Politician / I Won't Close My Eyes / Love Is All Is Alright / Prince Baldhead Meets Gymslip And The School Girls At The Chemist

Other Shows Played
(The following list was compiled only from the database of this site and the John Peel Papers and is certainly incomplete. Please add further details if known.)

1980 1981 1982 Others
 * 12 February 1980: Food For Thought (cut immediately after intro)
 * 25 March 1980: Food For Thought (7”) Graduate
 * 19 May 1980: 'I Think It's Going To Rain Today (7 inch-B side of 'My Way Of Thinking')' (Graduate)
 * 19 May 1980: 'My Way Of Thinking (7 inch)' (Graduate)
 * 01 September 1980: Burden Of Shame (LP - Signing Off) Graduate
 * 01 September 1980: Signing Off (LP - Signing Off) Graduate
 * 02 September 1980: Tyler (LP - Signing Off) Graduate
 * 04 September 1980: Adella (LP – Signing Off) Graduate
 * 08 September 1980: Reefer Madness (LP – Signing Off) Graduate
 * 09 September 1980: Tyler (album - Signing Off) Graduate
 * 15 September 1980: Burden Of Shame (LP - Signing Off) Graduate
 * 24 September 1980: Tyler (12") Graduate
 * 11 May 1981: Don't Slow Down (7": Don't Slow Down) (DEP International)
 * 14 May 1981: Don't Slow Down (7": Don't Slow Down) (DEP International)
 * 28 May 1981: Sardonicus (LP - Present Arms)
 * 01 June 1981: Wild Cat (LP - Present Arms) DEP International
 * 08 February 1982: Politician
 * Feb 82-UB40: Politician / Love Is All Is Alright
 * 04 May 1982: Love Is All Is Alright (12" version) DEP International
 * 13 October 1982: Don't Do The Crime (LP - UB44) DEP International
 * Karl's Tape April May 1981: One In Ten / Present Arms / Neon Haze / Sardonicus (All part of Richard Skinner's session)
 * Karl's Tape 04 - April 1982: Love Is All Is Alright / Prince Baldhead Meets Gymslip And The Schoolgirls At The Chemist
 * 30 September 1982 (TOTP): So Here I Am #25
 * Karl's Tape 17 - April May 1983: Red Red Wine (KJ session)
 * 01 September 1983 (TOTP): Red Red Wine #01
 * 29 August 1985 (TOTP): I Got You Babe (featuring Chrissie Hynde) #01
 * 25 December 1985 (TOTP): I Got You Babe (featuring Chrissie Hynde)