Liz Nicholls chats to Robin Chapman, 60, founding member of UB40

Going
Talking Point <<
storm
down
a
Liz Nicholls chats to Robin
Campbell, 60, founding member
of UB40, as the band bring their
world tour home, including a gig
at G-Live Guildford
L-R: Norman Hassan (percussion & vocals), Earl Falconer (bass
Liz
Nicholls
chats
to
Robin
Chapman,
60,
founding
member
of
UB40, as the band
& vocals), Jimmy Brown (drums), Robin Campbell (guitar &
vocals),
Traversworld
(saxophone),
Duncan
Campbell (vocals).
bringBrian
their
tour
home,
including a gig at G-Live Guildford
You’re just about to go on stage in Basel, but you
sound relaxed… Ahhh, yes: very relaxed! I’m sitting here
on my tour bus – I like to do as little as possible before a
show, but I’m making an exception for you! We’ve been
doing this 30-odd years and hopefully we’ll carry on a
few more – until I drop. We don’t stop gigging. That’s
what we love doing.
How are you feeling about the ongoing feud with
your brother, Ali [UB40’s former frontman, against
whom the current line-up have issued writs over
the use of the band’s name]? We’re in the middle of
court proceedings which is a bit sad, and a bit silly, but
y’know, we’ve got to do it, otherwise [Ali] would confuse
our fans. We’ve never stopped performing and recording
as UB40 and we’ve got to stop him using our name. Ali
hasn’t spoken to me for eight years, or my other younger
brother Duncan, even though he got Ali’s permission to
replace him after he left to go solo. But, what can you do?
You can pick your friends, but not your family.
How does the political atmosphere compare to
when you started in 1979? Everything is cyclical;
unemployment is high and the Tories are in power, so it’s
simliar. Life is tougher on kids nowadays, I think. When
we formed the band, we went on the dole to have time
to learn to be musicians! We’re still of the same leftwing mentality, but the election coming up feels a bit
hopeless. There’s no distinction between parties – if you
ask me, they’re all horrible, self-serving gits.
14 | R&A Alton & Bordon
Do you mind playing the big hits? Nah: I love it! I think
it’s dreadful when [musicians] just play new material! It’s
wonderful to play Red Red Wine and I Can’t Help Falling In
Love because of the crowd’s reaction. Those are the hits
that made them love us in the first place. I think we’d be
lynched, or hounded out of town, if we didn’t play them!
Will you go out in Guildford after the gig? We usually
end up sampling a local watering hole. We tend to meet
the fans – some are very persistent and get backstage.
The older you get, the more you have to preserve yourself
for the shows. So, I don’t party as hard as I used to... but I
still like the occasional tipple.
Who is your musical hero? Hmm, it’s a tough one, and
most of my musical heroes are dead. But: Bob Marley.
The song that never fails to cheer me up is Two Little
Birds. I saw Marley perform in England in 1976. That was
the moment I knew I wanted to form a band.
What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever had?
Bloody hell. ‘Don’t join a band – you’ll never, ever have
any success.’ I was told that – a couple of times. My dad,
several people, my manager when I told him I was leaving
my factory job... I dunno if I’ve ever had good advice,
to be honest. I’ve only ever had bad advice, really. I just
ignored it, and got lucky!
O UB40 play Guildford’s G Live on May 13th.
For tickets and more, visit www.ub40.co.uk
May 2015