I hadn`t planned to go to this event but a childhood friend offered my wife a couple of tickets, so it was too good an opportunity to turn down. The ticket allowed entrance to the match against Preston followed by a gig by hometown heroes UB40 to celebrate the launch of the renaming of Birmingham City Football Club`s ground stand and the first gig on an extensive tour to promote UB40`s forthcoming album `UB45`
Thankfully, the Blues performed fabulously and won so a joyous atmosphere was set up for the show to follow.
I first saw UB40 at Norton Hall in Saltley in August 1979 and knew Brian Travers from the Robin Hood pub in Hall Green and mutual friends and I can remember his enthusiasm and excitement after the gig when he asked what Murrihy, Sammy and I thought. Brian was always a true Gentleman and once the band kicked off was always dapperly dressed and extremely friendly whenever I occasionally saw him. A BBC TV show appearance on `Mainstream` followed in November with Lincoln Kwesi Johnson at Digbeth Civic Hall.
The breakthrough year 1980 beckoned and it was a support slot at the Top Rank with the Pretenders in February along with gigs at Birmingham University with the Wide Boys and Weapon Of Peace and the Lafayette in Wolverhampton the following month. A support slot at Milton Keynes Bowl in July with The Police before a headline show at Birmingham Odeon in November to promote the debut album `Signing Off`. The year was rounded off with a Christmas show in December at the NEC with Elvis Costello, Squeeze and Madness.
I was at the Fellows Park, Walsall gig with Toots & The Maytels and Gang Of Four in June 1981, won tickets for Milton Keynes Bowl in August 1994 where Jamiroquai, Chaka Demus & Pliers and Bitty McLean supported and saw them with Robert Plant, The Moody Blues and Jeff Lynne`s ELO at the NEC in 1986.
I kind of fell out of love with the band if i`m honest and life as they say takes you down all paths with the band`s split and Brian and Astro sadly passing away.
At my recent appearances down `the Blues` the re-imagined `Food For Thought` song come anthem has really gelled with me and after seeing the video, it`s kinda re-sparked my UB interest.
As to the show, I have to say it was an hour of mixed emotions for me but hand on heart I thought it was superb and felt at times like a really proud parent. Singer Matt Doyle who joined from local reggae band Kioko, brought to mind Ali in his heyday. My stand out songs were `Please Don’t Make Me Cry`, obviously `One In Ten`, `Cherry Oh Baby` which even had my wife who`d never seen them before dancing along. `Johnny You`re Too Bad` had Norman filling Astro`s big shoes admirably, and cuts like `Red Red Wine` and `Kingston Town` had this frenzied crowd dancing and singing along.
The fellas shared two tracks from the forthcoming release with a cover of Brenton Wood`s `Gimme Sign` in the form of `Gimme Some Kinda Sign` and the reworked anthemic `Food For Thought` with `Forever True`.
They finally sent this twenty thousand strong crowd home with `Can`t Help (Falling In Love With You)` which kind of summed up the night for me.
This band were a big part of my formative early adult years, and it was like catching up with old mates whom you haven`t seen for donkey`s. It brought to mind really happy times attending UB gigs with my brother Martin, who is no longer with us, Sam Quereshi and Martin Murrihy.
Astro Terence Oswald Wilson, Brian David Travers, Alistair Ian Campbell and Mickey Virtue were also in my thoughts. I have to say this re-acquaintance with the band has certainly given me `Food for Thought` as by now many rivers have been crossed and i`m might even get along to their Resorts World show in Brum on November 9th.
This performance could hopefully inspire more shows at the stadium, and I have to give credit to the Birmingham City management who organised this event. If that Danish lager company did top days out in Brum this was certainly one, a Blues win, UB40 gig, a few beers in Digbeth and an excellent curry at the legendary Manzils.
As the lyrics to UB40`s latest hit say, “Keep Right On, Forever True, Keep Right On, Forever True to the Royal Blue”.
