THE ICONIC REGGAE BAND UB40 ON THEIR FOUR-DECADE JOURNEY

Jimmy Brown, Drummer of British reggae band UB40 spoke to us about the new album, the writing process and more.

- KRITIKA DUA

'Bigga Baggariddim' is UB40's 20th record. It is a collaborative effort with artists spanning four continentsincluding reggae veterans and Zorawar Shukla of Reggae Rajahs as well as artists from Jamaica, New Zealand, and UB4O's home town Birmingham. Through this album, they are revisiting their 1985 album ‘Baggariddim'. The band has reunited with guest artists who appeared on 'Baggariddim' as well as collaborated with new and diverse reggae talent who sing and deejay over cuts of the same rhythms to lend their individualistic rootsy musical blend to the brand-new release. The new material features contributions from founding members Robin Campbell (co-vocals/Guitar), Brian Travers (saxophone/ keyboards) (he passed away on 23 August after a long battle with cancer), Jimmy Brown (drums), Earl Falconer (bass/keyboards/vocals) and Norman Hassan (percussion/vocals), alongside longtime members Duncan Campbell (vocals), Martin Meredith (saxophone), Laurence Parry (trumpet) and Tony Mullings (keyboards) as well as guest appearances from House of Shem, Tippalrie, BLVK H3RO, Inner Circle, Pablo Rider, KIOKO, Gilly G, Slinger, Winston Francis, Leno Banton and more.

Excerpts:

Q. The new album 'Bigga Baggariddim' has collaborations with artists from four continents. How did it happen?