 The story of UB40, and how this group of young friends from Birmingham transcended their working-class origins to become the world’s most successful reggae band is not the stuff of fairytales as might be imagined. The group’s led a charmed life in many respects it’s true, but it’s been a long haul since the days they’d meet up in the bars and clubs around Moseley, and some of them had to scrape by on less than £8 a week unemployment benefit. The choice was simple if you’d left school early. You could either work in one of the local factories, like Robin Campbell did, or scuffle along aimlessly whilst waiting for something else to happen.

By the summer of 1978, something else did happen, and the nucleus of UB40 began rehearsing in a local basement. Robin’s younger brother Ali, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers and James Brown all knew each other from Moseley School of Art, whilst Norman Hassan had been a friend of Ali’s since school. Initially, they thought of themselves as a "jazz-dub-reggae" band, but by the time Robin was persuaded to join and they’d recruited Michael Virtue and Astro – who’d learnt his craft with Birmingham sound-system Duke Alloy – the group had already aligned themselves to left-wing political ideals and forged their own identity, separate from the many punk and Two Tone outfits around at that time. The group had nailed their colours to the mast by naming themselves after an unemployment benefit form. Their political convictions hadn’t been gleaned second hand either, but cemented in place whilst attending marches protesting against the National Front, or rallies organised by Rock Against Racism.

By the time Chrissie Hynde invited them to tour with the Pretenders during the summer of 1980 and their debut single "King b/w Food For Thought" had sailed into the UK Top 5, all the essential elements of UB40 were already in place. Their line-up will remain unchanged for almost thirty years, and they will continue playing a mix of original material and inspired choice of reggae covers in a style that’s instantly accessible with its bright melodies and sweeping horn arrangements – one that’s allied to a formidable rhythm section, capable of holding its own with anything from Jamaica.

UB40’s first album was released the following September, on Graduate Records. Their deal allowed them more creative freedom than if they had signed with a major label. The cover artwork memorably duplicated an unemployment benefit card, with the title "Signing Off" rubber-stamped in red, but it was the music that quickly worked its way into the affections of a young, mainly student crowd with its knowing lyrics, solid reggae rhythms and dubby, instrumental passages, offset by warm horn solos and Jamaican style scatting. There was nothing else like it at the time. As a multi-cultural band from Birmingham, UB40 weren’t drawn into trying to sound "authentic," and there was considerably more depth to their music than that of many punk and 2Tone bands. "I’m a British subject, not proud of it, whilst I carry the burden of shame," they sang on one of the tracks. Accepting the truth of their own situation amidst a sea of other reggae songs proclaiming black heritage gave us a valuable insight into where UB40 were coming from. They were unafraid to stand up and be counted, and British audiences instinctively loved them for it. "Signing Off" duly went to No. 2 in the UK and stayed on the nation’s album charts for 72 weeks.

On September 2nd, 2013, UB40 released their latest album ‘Getting Over The Storm’ on Universal/Virgin Records.

brisk :

adjective
quick, energetic and active:
- He set a brisk pace and
we struggled to keep up

Royal Blood are a two piece band formed in Brighton, UK.

TYPHOONS. Out 30th April 🌀
https://royalblood.me/typhoons

Godfather’, ‘Legend’, ‘International Hero’. All accolades attributed by loving fans Worldwide to the DJ, Producer and scene pioneer known as ‘Slipmatt’. For over three decades, this dubplate diamond has been changing the game, staying on the pulse and keeping ahead of the curve, packing dancefloors and selling out clubs long before it was cool and still does so to this very day.
  
Having produced a ton of successful singles and compiled a number of hit selling mix albums under his ‘Slipmatt’ alias for some of the World’s most respected record labels including United Dance and Ministry Of Sound, ‘Slipmatt’ is also one of the masterminds behind legendary production outfit SL2 (along with Lime and MC Jay), the visionaries responsible for the chart smashing anthems ‘On A Ragga Tip’ & ‘Way In My Brain’ among many others on the iconic label XL Recordings, home to legendary acts such as ‘The Prodigy’, ‘Basement Jaxx’; and ‘Adele’. 

‘On A Ragga Tip’ is presently enjoying a resurgence of popularity as it goes on the current Virgin Media TV ad as part of their Un-Limiting adverts which includes the new ‘On A Ragga Tip’ Un-Limiting Remix, which has equally proved as popular as ever with dancefloors around the globe and this year alone is scheduled  to collaborate in the studio with Shades Of Rhythm, Andy Galea of Sol Brothers, Alex P, Awesome 3, Alexis Raphael, Sooney and, his good friend DJ Lime with some brand new SL2 releases also in the pipeline.

This wayward don of dance has also played at every major dance event and venue worth knowing about over the years including Energy, Telepathy, Fantazia, Vision, Universe, World Dance, United Dance, Dreamscape, Helter Skelter, Slammin’ Vinyl, Rezurrection, Elevation, Moondance, Raindance, Peace Fest, Clockwork Orange and to top it all off had the great honour of playing directly after his good friends ‘The Prodigy’ to a packed O2 Arena of over 20, 000 people, bringing that particular night to an epic close, and ringing in the year 2014 with a tremendous bang.

‘Slipmatt’ also repeatedly continues to play across the globe in the USA, Asia, Australia, Europe and every corner of his native UK for a string of well recognised and well attended club promotions, festivals and events. He’s no stranger to a Festival or two either playing at leading big top gigs such as Glastonbury, Boomtown and We Are Festival and there has also been and continues to be multiple overseas visits to Ibiza where Slipmatt still to this day enjoys regular return trips to the White Isle’s most infamous hot spots to play such as Eden, Es Paradis and Benimussa Park (The Zoo) 

His media outreach is quite noteworthy also, having started RAW FM, been a resident on Kiss FM, a regular in M8 Magazine and Mixmag, featured in the illustrious DJ Magazine Top 100, he’s been on BBC television a number of times including the famous chart show ‘Top Of The Pops’, runs two of his own popular Radio shows and Podcasts ‘World Of Rave’ and ‘Slip’s House’ and additionally, has won a multitude of awards, including that of ‘Best DJ’ and ‘Best Producer’ awarded by some of the industries most respected bodies such as Kiss FM and EHM.

Not one to ever slow down or fall behind and always keeping himself fresh and relevant, this dancefloor don has been focusing lately on the biggest and best house beats, which has led him to an already extraordinarily busy 2020. Add to that his upcoming book “My Story (and How I Became a World Class DJ)”, which is set to be a smash hit amongst rave fanatics the World over later this year and with over a hundred gigs booked for 2020 already (mid-Feb), there are no signs of this crowd pleasing international artist slowing down any time soon. 

Godfather Of Rave and still keeping it fresh? Definitely.

by Jon Brown | 2020

Official Allen & Heath DJ and a main player in the UK music industry for 30 years. Mark EG has transmitted his musical message many times over from the UK to Australia, transcending generations and cultures by playing countless different styles of electronic music. With a unique and anarchic approach, Mark has won many awards and accolades. His energy and passion for sound is quite simply, unparalleled. 

Mark’s stage antics are legendary. Previous shows have involved ironing boards, chainsaws, smashed decks and guitars, 12ft ladders, bags of flour. He entertains his fans like no other DJ in the world. They even have their own 'Mark EG' chant. 

 As a respected radio DJ, Mark runs his own national FM radio show on Megapolis 89.5FM. 'Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out' focuses on techno, electronica and more. His Megacast focuses on the harder sound. 

 Mark has released, remixed and mastered music under various guises on some of the worlds top labels. He runs his own Blackout Audio label (dark techno) and EG-303 (acid). His work with global equipment giants Allen & Heath has taken him around the world, officially testing and demonstrating their products at various events and conferences. He now also runs his own Music School, which enables him to give his knowledge back to those who want to get ahead in the music industry.

 There have been many imitators, but there is only one Mark EG! 

joppo is following