UB40 frontman lashes out at McManus over Raggamuffin NZ
Recently arrested Australian promoter Andrew McManus has angered UB40's Ali Campbell for booking an alternate version of the band for Raggamuffin Music Festival in New Zealand.
NZ Herald is reporting the reggae band's frontman was originally offered the slot at Auckland's Trusts Arena on February 20 but had to turn it down because of his own nine-date tour of New Zealand with UB40 from January 6.
"It is unbelievable McManus is putting on the other UB40 so close to our tour," Campbell told the NZ Herald. "I think he feels a bit betrayed we decided not to do Raggamuffin after headlining it four or five times in the past.
"But in recent times there has been too many hip-hop and rap acts on the bill and we felt the festival was losing credibility with reggae fans,” Campbell added. “Last year Ice Cube went down like a horse-shit sandwich, as Lauryn Hill did the previous year."
The alternative UB40 features Campbell’s brothers Robin and Duncan, as well as original members Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, and Brian Travers.
Campbell’s band, featuring original UB40 members Terence ‘Astro’ Wilson (vocals, percussion and trumpet) and Mickey Virtue (keyboards), are set to headline Australia’s Bluesfest next Easter long weekend.
A spokesman for Raggamuffin told NZ Herald they chose the alternative version of UB40 for the festival because Campbell’s band were performing in Australia around the same time and had already announced a summer tour of New Zealand.
"We are not here to play politics and the beef between the two bands has nothing to do with us. The UB40 playing Raggamuffin are not imposters.
"They have several original members and everyone is looking forward to hearing them do the classic songs we grew up with."
The news follows a bitter lead-up to a forthcoming court battle over the UB40 name. Campbell, Virtue and Astro left UB40 in 2008 only to form their own band using the same name this year. A hearing date at Britain's High Court isn’t yet confirmed.
"I am the original voice of UB40 and everyone knows that," Campbell said. “[…] My brothers will find it very difficult in front of what is basically my crowd at Raggamuffin."
The McManus Group established Raggamuffin festival in Australia in 2008, but in 2012, when Campbell’s UB40 were set to headline, promoters announced its cancellation. Citing poor ticket sales, promoters promised a return in 2013 and a goal to extend the New Zealand to two days. In 2014 McManus hosted a two-day Raggamuffin with Damian Marley, Shaggy, Groundation and Morgan Heritage headlining. The festival never returned to Australian shores.
Andrew McManus was arrested on September 10 over his alleged affiliation with a drug syndicate. According toFairfax, McManus had been charged with perverting the course of justice, attempting to defraud by false of misleading statements and knowingly participating in a criminal group to assist crime.
In a statement issued to media his publicist said, “McManus will strenuously defend the charges that have been brought against him.”
The 54-year-old’s publicist Leanne Menard, owner of Menard PR, also said contrary to some media reports, the police have not alleged McManus has been involved in any drug syndicate, drug importation or money laundering.