#brian travers

BRIAN TRAVERS R.I.P.

UB40: Terence Wilson Popularly known as Astro dies at 64

Terrence Wilson who is popularly known as Astro and a former British member of UB40 dies at 64.  The British vocalist and former member of UB40 died after a brief illness, his current band confirmed.   Terence Wilson rose to fame in the 1980s with impressive hits like “Red Red Wine” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love” which sold over 100 million records. They also held the record – shared with…

What happened to UB40? Its not unusual for a band to lose its Mojo, Slade, Lindisfarne and Dr Feelgood all fell from grace in the 70s with the pressure of coming up with new product but they found new ways of keeping going and adapted to the changes in the music business. No one fell from artistic grace as rapidly as UB40 but only in an artistic sense, for decades they remained pretty much the…

UB40 Founding Member, Saxophonist Brian Travers Dead at 62

UB40 saxophonist and founding member Brian Travers died Sunday, August 22nd, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 62. https://twitter.com/UB40OFFICIAL/status/1429758240800317445 “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our comrade, brother, founding UB40 member and musical legend, Brian David Travers,” the band wrote on social media. “Brian passed away yesterday evening…

UB40 Founding Member, Saxophonist Brian Travers Dead at 62

UB40 saxophonist and founding member Brian Travers died Sunday, August 22nd, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 62. https://twitter.com/UB40OFFICIAL/status/1429758240800317445 “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our comrade, brother, founding UB40 member and musical legend, Brian David Travers,” the band wrote on social media. “Brian passed away yesterday evening…

Remembering Brian Travers 1959-2021

UB40 saxophonist Brian Travers has died at age 62. Bummer! 

I first discovered the band in the early days of MTV with their 1984 hit “If It Happens Again”. In 1985 their cover of “I Got You Babe” with Chrissie Hynde had a music video directed by one of my heroes Jonathan Demme (who was quite passionate about reggae). They really found their audience with their string of covers: “Red Red Wine”, “The Way You Do the Things You Do”, and “(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You”. I dug some of their stuff, mostly in the 80s, but never really got heavily into them. But no denying their catchy reggae take on pop songs.