Dispute with Campbell rocks UB40

Lead singer Ali Campbell's departure from UB40 is getting messy - but he'll still join the rest of the band on stage in Rotorua on Saturday night.

Campbell, who has spent 30 years with the British reggae legends, is leaving UB40 to focus on his solo career.

However, since the weekend's announcement, the remaining members have issued a statement following media reports and interviews given by Campbell.

It said Campbell claimed he was forced to resign from UB40 due to issues with the band's management and was shocked at the official statement issued by UB40 stating he left to pursue his solo ambitions.

He further claimed the real reasons he left the band were due to bad administrative practices and that for the last five years he had been kept in the dark over the band's finances.

However, band members have put out a statement saying these claims are untrue.

The remaining seven members, including Campbell's brother Robin, say Campbell was never forced to resign, was always included in band decisions and members supported him with his solo album Running Free.

Despite the problems, UB40 will be performing at Rotorua's International Stadium as part of the inaugural Raggamuffin festival on Saturday.

The band's official spokesperson said Campbell had decided to put his solo career above continuing to work with UB40 after February 2008, which is when he will perform at Raggamuffin in Rotorua, seven dates in Australia and a concert in Uganda.

Leesa Tilley, general manager for Raggamuffin promoter Andrew McManus Presents, said the full UB40 team would perform in Rotorua, which will be their final New Zealand show to feature them all together.

The inaugural Raggamuffin festival will feature international superstars including UB40, The Wailers, Maxi Priest and Arrested Development.

Also performing are New Zealand artists Katchafire, House of Shem, The Black Seeds and The Midnights.

The Midnights lead singer Leo Horgan was excited about getting the chance to perform alongside UB40 during their last performance in New Zealand before they break away.

However, he said it was sad that a band of such high calibre would break up over issues such as management.

He said UB40 were well known all over the world and were legends in their field.

"I look up to them in that sense," Horgan said.

UB40 drummer James Brown said the band was shocked and disappointed when they received a letter from Campbell's solicitors several weeks before leaving stating he wouldn't be fulfilling his commitment to UB40, the new album and the tours for 2008.

"You would think after 30 years of working together as a family unit that you could at least have talked through these issues with your family members," Brown said.

He would love Campbell to join them on stage throughout this year and help promote their new album.

"We as a band will honour all tour dates this year and the commitment to our fans and each other, these are the same dates which were agreed by all band members, including Ali."