Ali Campbell
UB40 have announced that lead singer Ali Campbell intends to quit the band this year.
The BBC reported that the singer, who has been in the band for nearly 30 years, is leaving to concentrate on his solo career. However, his media team sent us a copy of an open letter to his fans this morning, confirming that "management difficulties" were the real reason behind the split.
The Birmingham-based band will continue to record with their other seven members, and will release their next album 24/7, which features Campbell, as planned.
Ali will be leaving the band before UB40's July UK dates, but tickets are now on sale for his solo tour, starting in June.
Ali's open letter to his fans reads as follows:
As one of the founder members of UB40, I have put the band first in my life for the last 28 years and am deeply saddened at the ending of that relationship. No words can express how upset I feel today that I have been forced to make this decision.
I am perhaps most upset on behalf of the fans, who have stuck with us, through thick and thin, throughout the years and are the best fans in the world.
However, I feel that it is important for me to put the record straight on my reasons for leaving the band.
Contrary to some of the misleading, false information and accusations that have been circulating in recent months, the reason for my forthcoming departure from the band is NOT, as has been stated, due to my wanting to pursue a solo career. That is not the truth!! I released my first solo album 13 years ago and when I released my current solo album I had every intention to continuing to balance my solo career with my commitment to the band.
The reason for me leaving the band is that management difficulties, which have been ongoing for almost 5 years, had become intolerable. I have been deeply unhappy with administrative practices and with many decisions that have been made in recent years and I have an ongoing investigation into the handling of my business affairs in relation to UB40. Suffice to say I felt I had no other option but to resign from my band.
This decision has not been taken lightly and has come as a result of a long, painful and agonizing thought process.
I know UB40 will carry on successfully without me and I wish them all the very best - they have been my family for the last 28 years and will always be my brothers.
Big Love
Ali
