UB40 split poses star conundrum
Feuding reggae bands with the same name leave ‘Walk of Stars’ bosses with headache
BIRMINGHAM pop legends UB40 will not be honoured on the Broad Street Walk of Stars until they settle their differences.
Despite being one of Birmingham’s most successful chart acts, the group has yet to be honoured on the Broad Street attraction.
And the reason, admit Walk of Stars bosses, is that they “don’t know who to give it to”.
A bitter feud has left two bands on the road: UB40 – led by founder Robin Campbell – and UB40 featuring fellow founder Ali Campbell.
The brothers have been engaged in a war of words, and legal action, since Ali left the group in 2008.
Westside BID manager Mike Olley, who oversees the Walk of Stars, told the Post there was a fundamental problem.
“There is some issue with UB40 as, who do we give it to?” he said.
“I believe there is a court case going on over the UB40 name and we don’t want to be caught up in the middle of that. The Walk of Stars is a 100 per cent positive thing, and we don’t want to be involved in the argument. Maybe once all the mist has lifted on that, we can start the ball rolling.”
Birmingham comedian Jasper Carrott, who chairs the Westside BID committee, admits that “UB40 ought to have one by now – but there are too many factions.”
Last month Ali Campbell claimed that the reason they didn’t have a star was that they were told they would have to pay for their own.
Mr Olley “categorically denied” that they would have been asked to pay for their star.
“I can guarantee they wouldn’t be asked to pay,” he said. “Maybe they were told that, but it’s absolutely not true.”
Other chart stars to grace the prestigious Broad Street boulevard include ELO’s Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan, Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi, Slade’s Noddy Holder, Beverley Knight, Joan Armatrading, Jaki Graham and Toyah Willcox. Black Sabbath’s bassist Geezer Butler will have his star unveiled next month in a ceremony at Villa Park.
“There are other people that people might be surprised are not already there, like Duran Duran for instance,” added Mr Olley.
“But the process can take a long time, especially when the band members are all over the place.
“Since Jasper took over, he’s improved the way we go about things, and he can open a lot of doors that we couldn’t before. We have 30-odd stars now, and we’ve got a whole list of people we would love to get on there, but each one has its own challenges.”