Open brief van Ali Campbell

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

Ali Campbell stapt uit UB40!

UB40 PRESS STATEMENT 25th January 2008

UB40 have today confirmed that they have parted company with lead singer Ali Campbell after a thirty year career together, following Campbell’s wish to focus more time on his solo career. Ali’s final dates with the band will be in Australia, New Zealand and Uganda in February 2008

Lead singer Ali Campbell had embarked upon a solo album project (Running Free) last year and throughout the course of this album, his time and commitment to the band began to conflict with his recording work, promotional commitments and his own corporate shows. Ali Campbell has taken the decision to focus on his solo career and in doing so, could not give his full commitment to UB40. The other band members of UB40 are naturally disappointed and saddened after being together as a band unit and as good friends for almost thirty years. A decision on replacing Campbell has not yet been made by the other seven band members. The bands next studio album - 24/7- which was recorded with Ali Campbell will go ahead as planned for release in May on the bands own REFLEX MUSIC record label.

A spokesman added: "The band are of course saddened by Ali’s departure, they have been together for a long time and their relationship as band members and friends is almost like a marriage, having lived in and out of each others pockets for pretty much most of their lives. They have been through some amazing times, but the band members realise that Ali needs to go and do his solo projects and perhaps it’s a good thing that they can take some time away from each other to reflect. They haven’t ruled out working together in the future but for now the other seven members will continue as UB40. However all of the band members wish Ali every success in his future solo career."

Bosbest' Verleidelijke 14

10 soko - i’ll kill her
9 simone white - beep beep song
8 voicst - everyday i work on the road
7 leaf - new song
6 kate nash - pumpkin soup
5 duffy - mercy
4 marc broussard - come in from the cold
3 moke - heart without a home
2 aka the junkies - konijntje
1 sheryl crow - love is free

Cobra Starship - Viva la Cobra!

Het is tijd voor iets fris, iets fruitigs, iets nieuws. En dus komen we uit bij Cobra Starship van frontman Gabe Saporta. In 2005 werd deze band namelijk opgericht en eind vorig jaar verscheen hun tweede album Viva La Cobra!

De band kreeg bekendheid door hun songtitel voor de film Snakes on a Plane met Morgan Freeman in de hoofdrol en hun cover van Three Times a Lady voor de realityserie The Girls Next Door die je op het Playboy Tv-kanaal zou kunnen zien tijdens het zappen.

De eerste tracks van hun nieuwste album pakken je meteen in. City is at war en Guilty Pleasure hadden namelijk allang vette hits moeten zijn.
Op Kiss My Sass rapt ook Travis McCoy van Gym Class heroes een deuntje mee.

De mannen (en een vrouw) van Cobra Starship hebben absoluut gevoel voor humor, wat blijkt uit songtitels als Damn You Look Good and I’m drunk en Prostitution Is The World's Oldest Profession (And I, Dear Madame, Am A Professional).

My moves are white lijkt geïnspireerd door de ketting om de nek van zanger Gabe. Deze heeft hij naar eigen zeggen van Justin Timberlake persoonlijk gekregen, die hem vertelde dat het dragen van die ketting er toe zou leiden dat hij beter ging dansen.

De muziek van Cobra Starship hangt een beetje tussen gitaarpop en electropop in en het album Viva La Cobra is geproduceerd door Patrick Stump, de frontman van Fall Out Boy waar ze mee op tour zijn geweest.

Prijsnummer: Guilty Pleasure


© bosbest for KXradio.nl / bosbest.blogspot.com / bosbest.hyves.nl
Deze recensie is tevens te beluisteren op zaterdag 19 januari tussen 19.00 uur 21.00 uur in The Vibe bij www.ORTS.nl

Jaya The Cat - More Late Night Transmissions With...

In het verre Boston aan de andere kant van de Atlantische oceaan, wordt in het jaar 2000 de ska/punkband Jaya The Cat opgericht. Zij brengen twee studioalbums uit en treden veel op, maar een echte doorbraak blijft uit. In 2003 ontstaat er muzikale wrijving en de band valt voor de helft uit een. . Zanger/gitarist Geoff Lagadec en drummer David Germain besluiten dan om voor 3 maanden naar Amsterdam te verhuizen om na te denken over de toekomst van Jaya the Cat. Maar drie maanden werden drie jaar en een derde studioalbum dat eind vorig jaar is verschenen: More Late Night Transmissions with Jaya the Cat.

De meeste songs gaan over het dagelijkse leven van de bandleden. En dat hun leventje is niet zo spannend is, kunnen songtitels als hangover en hold my beer and watch this beamen. Drank, drugs en vrouwen zijn de belangrijkste onderwerpen.

Toch kunnen ze serieus zijn. Pass the Ammunition en Voice of the Poor bevatten politieke statements die er mogen zijn. Thank you reggae is vanzelfsprekend een ode aan de band en muzikanten die hun hebben beïnvloed. De laatste track van het album is Closing Time, dat vorig jaar een bescheiden radiohitje was, en waaruit blijkt dat ze al regelmatig de kroeg zijn uitgezet.

Jaya the Cat klinkt als Smash Mouth dat Beef tegen het lijf loopt, met een heel klein beetje Linkin Park. De cd is zeer toegankelijk voor iedere muziekliefhebber maar een echte aanrader voor liefhebbers van ska, reggae en punk.

© bosbest for KXradio.nl / bosbest.blogspot.com / bosbest.hyves.nl
Deze recensie is tevens te beluisteren op zaterdag 5 januari 2008 tussen 19.00 uur 21.00 uur in The Vibe bij www.ORTS.nl