UB40 members bankrupt

Former chart toppers UB40 – famous for, among others, the tracks ‘Red Red Wine’ and ‘Kingston Town’ – have been declared bankrupt.

The Birmingham band, which currently has seven members, have sold more than 70 million records and have had 50 chart hits in their 33-year career.But four of its members – Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Terence Oswald and Norman Hassan – have been declared bankrupt by a judge at Birmingham County Court.He is allowing liquidators to chase debts and royalty payments on the group’s hits.District Judge Richard Musgrave also warned the reggae band they would have to pay costs, believed to be around £57 000.The case follows the group’s bitter split over their finances after the collapse of their management company DEP International.It comes as the band played a gig to fans at the Birmingham pub where they first performed together in 1978: the Hare and Hounds.Former frontman Ali Campbell, a founding member of UB40, acrimoniously split from the group in 2008 because of ongoing wrangles over finances.His spokesman said the bankruptcy court case showed Campbell was right to quit the band.She said: ‘It is ironic that the very week they celebrate their first gig they have been declared bankrupt, after administration began in 2006, vindicating both Ali and Mickey Virtue’s decision to leave UB40.’Ali did not personally receive an invitation to the Hare show and, as such, did not turn it down.’He most definitely would have liked to have been invited as it is where the journey began and Ali is proud of the fact that UB40’s music has been honoured.’The remaining band members are understood to be recording a new album at a studio in Redditch, Worcestershire.- skynews.com

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