UB40 singer Ali Campbell’s family is still torn apart by a rift between him and his band member brothers, and he was even snubbed by his father before he passed away.
He left the group in 2008 after 30 years but is now back touring with two other original members of the band, Mickey Virtue and Astro.However, Ali confesses that he is still not speaking to his brothers Duncan and Robin who perform with the line up that he left, which Ali calls “the dark side.”
“We’ve reclaimed the name UB40 back because we’re trying to save the legacy,” Ali, who will be gigging across the UK in December, tells Day & Night.
“For five years we’ve watched the dark side, as I call it, destroying the name.
“My older brother Duncan is destroying my songs, playing smaller and smaller venues and only really playing in England and Holland.
“So we’re taking the name back and there’s nothing they can do about it.
“It’s six years since I left my own band,” he adds.
“I was made to leave, it wasn’t to pursue a solo career.
“It was my brother Duncan who persuaded me to down tools and leave and then he jumped in to become the singer.”
He says the rift affected his parents.
“My mum is stuck in the middle, she doesn’t want to take sides with anyone.
“Unfortunately before my dad passed away he took their side and blanked me at my gran’s funeral.
“That’s how deep the rift has gone.
“It hurt then but it doesn’t hurt now.
“I’m bored with the whole thing.
“Fans can choose who they want to go and see.”
