Ali will be holding a live chat session on Thursday 1st of May at 7:30 p.m GMT
To ask Ali any questions you like personally, you just need to be a member of the forum of this site, click here to visit the forum and register if you haven’t already, it’s quick and easy so get signed up now and start preparing those questions for thursday!
Following RAH
10th April 2008
Hi Everyone
I thought I would stop by, now that there is a little time to catch my breath.
As you probably know it has been a roller coaster couple of months culminating in the concert at the Royal Albert Hall last Thursday.
It was an incredible night and thanks to all those that sent and posted messages of support, photos and letters - they were greatly appreciated, as were the banners that I saw from the stage - recognizing some familiar faces, made it seem a little less daunting!
- I was a bit nervous, as it was the first live show with the new band, but it was a fantastic night in the end, despite one or two tech problems .... Thanks for being the most amazing and supportive audience ever !! - Hard to pinpoint the best bit ... Loved the choir on Many Rivers to Cross and of course all the guest artists, who were terrific. The atmosphere was so good that night and now we are really looking forward to the Uk tour - Hope you can join us at one of the dates along the way and once again thanks for all your support - seeing you guys dancing and enjoying the reggae vibes, made it all worthwhile -
I will be arranging another online chat soon, so that I can let you know some of the exciting things we have in store for the rest of the year.
See you soon
Big Love
Ali xx
Rehearsals for RAH - Photos
28th March 2008
Hi Everyone
Thought I would put up a few snap shots we took at rehearsals over the last few days - I am really looking forward to RAH and I hope that those of you who are going have a great night - we have been working hard and we are all excited about the show - Sly and Robbie joined us from Jamaica and Bitty dropped in too yesterday ....
See you all soon
Big Love
Ali
x
Head over to the forums to check the photos out
www.alicampbell.net/forum/photos/
Congratulations to the Competition Winners!
26th March 2008
Congratulations to Grace and Sandra on winning the competitions. Hope you have a fantastic time at the RAH!
Press Release from Michael Virtue
19th March 2008
UB40 keyboard player quits band
Michael Virtue, band member and keyboard player with UB40, has announced today that he is resigning from the band.
“I can no longer work with the management team and I am joining Ali Campbell in his investigation into the handling of the band’s business affairs. I am very upset to be leaving the band who have been like family for the last 30 years, but feel under the circumstances that this was the only option left open to me.”
I have been unhappy with the way things have been run for many years and wanted to get to the bottom of the band’s business affairs, which I have been unable to do. Ali has not had contact with the band since the last UB40 concert in Uganda so I called him last week and asked to speak with him.
I have now had a meeting with the same legal team, Hextalls LLP, who are representing Ali and are now also representing me.
It certainly can not be said that I am leaving to pursue a solo career and neither did Ali.
Suffice to say, I am extremely disappointed”
Ali Campbell left UB40 in January 2008 citing intolerable management difficulties.
Running Free
26th February 2008
Look out for the latest single from Ali - Running Free, featuring Beverley Knight ... The single is a promo single, and released for download only on March 31st. In addition, there will be a brand new remix of the track available for download soon too - we will keep you posted!
For anyone heading to the Royal Albert Hall on April 3rd - we are completing the documentary, that was filmed of the ’making of the album’, with some rehearsal footage and concert footage. We would also like to film some of the fans, from Ali’s site, for the documentary - a few interviews and general Alibaba Craziness .... We will post details soon for anyone that would like to be included.
Finally, Ali asked us to pass on his thanks for the card that he received in Australia, he will be coming on the site personally soon, to leave a message, but in the meantime, asked us to say it was a lovely card which was really appreciated and wanted to thank everyone that wished him well.
Ali Campbell’s law firm Hextalls LLP (London) have today issued a press release. The reason for this is to hopefully prevent continuing press releases from PR and Management Companies which reflect conflicting points of view and which can be misleading and inaccurate.
Hextalls are a reputable London based law firm, it’s press release removes the usual SPIN used by others and represents a true, fair and factual version of events.
Therefore, Hextalls have today issued the following press release direct from their firm, to clarify for the final time Ali Campbell’s true and factual position.
Hextalls represent Ali Campbell and have been investigating for some time the financial and other issues that have arisen regarding the business managers of UB40.
Hextalls have been asked to make it clear that Ali Campbell does not intend to enter into media tennis arising out of recent media statements that have been released by others.
Hextalls have been asked by Ali Campbell to confirm and clarify his position. We can confirm that Ali Campbell did not inform UB40 via Hextalls of the possibility of his departure from the band. He notified each band member personally, in November 2007, that he could no longer work with UB40’s business and financial management team. Subsequently Hextalls have confirmed the position.
Hextalls confirm that Ali Campbell is seeking a resolution to numerous on-going long term issues that have arisen with the business managers of UB40 and he wishes to emphasise that these issues are the real reasons which have caused Ali Campbell’s departure from UB40. References to Ali Campbell leaving UB40 to pursue a solo career are erroneous and misleading. Ali Campbell’s solo career has been on-going for more than 13 years.
Ali Campbell has been requesting financial and other information from the business managers of UB40 for a number of years through appointed representatives and now through Hextalls. There has been a complete failure to supply any adequate financial information causing Ali Campbell to question why it is being with held particularly when so much time has passed. It is this failure that hasled to the break down between Ali Campbell and the business managers of UB40 and ultimately to Ali Campbell’s departure.
Hextalls have advised Ali Campbell that the failure to supply the financial and other information is placing the forth coming Ragamuffin Tour (of New Zealand, Australia, and the separate date in Uganda) at risk. This is particularly so in circumstances where there are still unresolved financial issues relating to the previous 2007 tours of Holland and the UK.
UB40 has no creative manager and Ali Campbell’s and Hextalls requests for financial and other information have been made repeatedly to the business managers of UB40 - these business managers are not band members.
We would like to make it known , that Ali was completely unaware that Reflex intended to make this announcement last night straight to the BBC . He had not seen the press release and had no knowledge of what it contained . It would have been his choice to inform the fans who have supported the band first , ahead of the media , but unfortunately , he was not given that opportunity and that was not his decision.
However Ali has asked that we post this open letter from him on the website this morning.
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 the administrative practices and with many decisions that have been made in recent years regarding the band and I have an ongoing investigation into the handling of my business affairs in relation 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
