UB40 band name argument costing members thousands in legal fees

UB40 founder member Brian Travers has revealed that the battle for the right to use the group’s name has cost his version of the band more than £250,000 in legal fees.

Yet despite the quarter of a million pounds legal bill, there is still no sign of a resolution.

Former frontman Ali Campbell has been playing gigs under the UB40 name with bandmates Astro and Mickey Virtue, neither of whom were original members.

However most of the originals including Ali’s brothers Robin and Duncan Campbell are still together with Brian, also touring the world as UB40.

Jimmy Brown (drums), Earl Falconer (bass), Norman Hassan (percussion / trombone) complete the original line-up, now complemented by keyboard players Tony Mullings and Martin Meredith, and Laurence Parry (trumpet).

Although the name UB40 was originally conceived by a third party, Brian is determined that his band will win the right to the name.

UB40’s turmoil has hit Brian more than most because he has not only lost his lead singer but his house and best friend too.

They were best friends at Moseley School of Art, with Ali even being best man at Brian's wedding.

Father-of-two Brian is philosophical about having had to downsize his own lifestyle.

He had to sell his large Worcestershire property to settle debts believed to have been £2.5 million.

Brian says he feels like the luckiest guy in Birmingham, having spent his life "expressing himself and paying the rent".