UB40, the world’s most successful reggae band, have today been honoured with a PRS for Music Heritage Award.
A special plaque was erected this morning, Tuesday 4 October 2011, at the Hare and Hounds pub in Kings Heath, Birmingham, where the original group Robin Campbell (guitar/vocals), Brian Travers (saxophone), James Brown (drums), Earl Falconer (bass guitar), Norman Hassan (percussion), Ali Campbell (guitar/vocals), Michael Virtue (keyboards) and Astro (trumpet) first performed on 9 February 1979.
A special plaque was erected this morning, Tuesday 4 October 2011, at the Hare and Hounds pub in Kings Heath, Birmingham, where the original group Robin Campbell (guitar/vocals), Brian Travers (saxophone), James Brown (drums), Earl Falconer (bass guitar), Norman Hassan (percussion), Ali Campbell (guitar/vocals), Michael Virtue (keyboards) and Astro (trumpet) first performed on 9 February 1979.
The band and its members Robin Campbell, Brian Travers, James Brown, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan and Astro were there to see the plaque unveiled in Kings Heath.
PRS for Music Chairman, Guy Fletcher OBE, who is pictured above with the band, said: 'It’s an honour and a pleasure for us to commemorate the site of the first UB40 gig with a PRS for Music Heritage Award.
'UB40 has made an incredible contribution to the music scene in a career spanning three decades and they are still going strong. The much-loved band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, achieved considerable international success and sold over 70 million records – a superb achievement.'
Robin Campbell said: 'I'm humbled that the birthplace of UB40 has been chosen to be marked in this way. It's a pleasure to return to the place where we first performed back in 1979.'
Adam Reagan, owner of the Hare and Hounds, said: 'We are delighted that such an important moment of UB40’s history will be recorded at Hare and Hounds, a venue that is now a base for some of the area’s best up and coming artists.'
UB40 have had numerous hits in both the UK and internationally, including Food For Thought, One in Ten, Red Red Wine, Kingston Town, Rat in mi Kitchen and Can’t Help Falling In Love.
Collaborations with Chrissie Hynde on I Got You Babe and Breakfast In Bed and the late Robert Palmer on I'll Be Your Baby Tonight helped make the band a pop powerhouse during the 80s and 90s.
PRS for Music set up the Heritage Award in 2009 to recognise the unusual ‘performance birthplaces’ of famous bands and artists. UB40 is the eighth band to be given the honour of receiving the permanent plaque. Previous recipients of Heritage Awards are: Blur, Dire Straits, Jethro Tull, Squeeze, Elton John, Snow Patrol and Dire Straits.
PRS for Music Chairman, Guy Fletcher OBE, who is pictured above with the band, said: 'It’s an honour and a pleasure for us to commemorate the site of the first UB40 gig with a PRS for Music Heritage Award.
'UB40 has made an incredible contribution to the music scene in a career spanning three decades and they are still going strong. The much-loved band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, achieved considerable international success and sold over 70 million records – a superb achievement.'
Robin Campbell said: 'I'm humbled that the birthplace of UB40 has been chosen to be marked in this way. It's a pleasure to return to the place where we first performed back in 1979.'
Adam Reagan, owner of the Hare and Hounds, said: 'We are delighted that such an important moment of UB40’s history will be recorded at Hare and Hounds, a venue that is now a base for some of the area’s best up and coming artists.'
UB40 have had numerous hits in both the UK and internationally, including Food For Thought, One in Ten, Red Red Wine, Kingston Town, Rat in mi Kitchen and Can’t Help Falling In Love.
Collaborations with Chrissie Hynde on I Got You Babe and Breakfast In Bed and the late Robert Palmer on I'll Be Your Baby Tonight helped make the band a pop powerhouse during the 80s and 90s.
PRS for Music set up the Heritage Award in 2009 to recognise the unusual ‘performance birthplaces’ of famous bands and artists. UB40 is the eighth band to be given the honour of receiving the permanent plaque. Previous recipients of Heritage Awards are: Blur, Dire Straits, Jethro Tull, Squeeze, Elton John, Snow Patrol and Dire Straits.
