THE SHOW GOES ON

In conversation with Bazaar, English raggae and pop sensation UB40 speak about their new album, collaborating with Indian artist General Zooz, the Filmfare Awards, and more.

- Radhika Bhalla

It says something when 10-year-olds croon to hopelessly falling in love without quite grasping the meaning of it. For perspective, that was the impact Grammy-nominated, English reggae and pop band UB40 had from the ’80s onwards, with their Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits Can’t Help Falling In Love, Red Red Wine, and countless other successful tracks. Let’s just say UB40 defined a generation.

Of course, good things don’t only exist in hindsight: sure, the members disbanded in 2008, but recently, founding members guitarist Robin Campbell, drummer Jimmy Brown, and bassist Earl Falconer brought the show back on the road (with original vocalist Normal Hassan and new lead vocalist Matt Doyle). Together, they have released their album Bigga Baggariddim, with a track by Indian artist General Zooz from Raggae Rajahs, 35 years after the original Baggariddim album was released... The songs are making a mark, and UB40 has a top 10 hit in New Zealand.

Bazaar India spoke with the founding members to discuss music, success, memories of India, and more:

Harper’s Bazaar: What was it like being a musical sensation in the 1980s?

Earl Falconer: “It was like a whirlwind. A lot of us went to school together, and then we got the band together, travelled the world for 20 years, and still are...”