UB40 are to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal debut album, ‘Signing Off’, by performing the whole album live during a tour of intimate venues across Ireland and the UK throughout October and November 2010.
UB40 will play The Waterfront, Belfast on 21 November, The National Stadium, Dublin on 22 November and The Royal Theatre, Castlebar on 23 November 2010. Tickets for all shows will go on sale on Friday 13 August at 9.00am.
Taking its name from the unemployment form, ‘Signing Off’ was heralded as a landmark album when it was released in late August 1980. Considered by many as one of the greatest reggae albums ever released by a British band, ‘Signing Off’ was well received amongst many music fans, including followers of punk and the 2 Tone movement, and struck a chord amongst a large proportion of the UK’s disaffected youth. Mixing reggae and dub, ‘Signing Off’ chronicled the times, and wider social and political issues, as well as the plight of communities throughout the country during the early Thatcher years.
‘Signing Off’ went on to attain Platinum status after spending 71 weeks in charts, peaking at #2. The album features hit singles ‘King’/‘Food For Thought’ and ‘I Think It’s Going to Rain Today’ (#4 & # 6 on the UK singles chart, respectively), along with other UB40 classics such as ‘Tyler’, ‘Madam Medusa’ and ‘Burden of Shame’.
The album artwork for ‘Signing Off’ also famously depicted a replica of the bright yellow unemployment card from which the Birmingham-based band took its name: Unemployment Benefit, Form 40.
Since the release of ‘Signing Off’, UB40 have become one of the most successful reggae groups of all time, with over forty UK Top 40 hit singles and sales of 80million records across the world.
UB40 saxophonist Brain Travers said, “2010 marks UB40’s 30th anniversary, three decades since we started this incredible journey. We had to ask ourselves “How can we celebrate? How can we say thanks to the fans for their unconditional support?” We decided to go back to where we started, downtown to the heart of the cities and the venues where we played our first gigs, then perform our first album ‘Signing Off’ in its entirety, something we have never done before. Of course, there will also be some surprises, but we’ll save them for the night.”
In addition to performing ‘Signing Off’ in it’s entirely, UB40 will perform a second set on the evening featuring some of the band’s most loved tracks.
MCD Proudly Presents
UB40
SIGNING OFF TOUR 30th Anniversary Tour
Tickets on sale Friday 13 August at 9.00am
The Waterfront, Belfast
21st November 2010
Telephone: 02890 334455, Book On Line: www.waterfront.co.uk
The National Stadium, Dublin
22nd November 2010
Telephone: 0818 719 300, Book On Line: www.ticketmaster.ie
The Royal Theatre, Castlebar
23rd November 2010
Telephone: 0818 300 000, Book On Line: www.royaltheatre.ie