UB40

The Profile

UB40 are a British reggae/pop group formed in Birmingham in 1978. Named after the UK unemployment form, they scored global hits with Red Red Wine and (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You, and became one of the most successful reggae acts worldwide.

Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978; name derives from the UK unemployment benefit form ‘UB40’. Achieved UK No.1 with Red Red Wine in 1983 and US No.1 in 1988; scored another global hit with (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You in 1993. Widely reported to have sold over 70 million records. Key members include vocalist Ali Campbell and saxophonist Brian Travers.

Reviews praise UB40’s upbeat white-reggae/pop blend, their Birmingham roots, and the unemployment-form origin of their name. Focus falls on Signing Off, Rat in the Kitchen, and Labour of Love II, with nods to big covers like Kingston Town and chart-toppers. The mood ranges from breezy nostalgia to reflective admiration, with consistent appreciation for their catchy grooves and sax flourishes.