UB40 split: not quite so amicable after all

The departure of Ali Campbell from UB40 isn't the 'happily leaving to pursure a solo career' that we had been lead to believe by the official statement.

Indeed, Campbell was surprised there was an official statement at all:

The 48-year-old denied reports that he was quitting because of arguments over his solo career. "That is not the truth. I released my first solo album 13 years ago and when I released my current solo album I had every intention of continuing to balance my solo career with my commitment to the band," he said.

"The reason for me leaving the band is that management difficulties, which have been ongoing for almost five years, had become intolerable. I have been deeply unhappy with administrative practices and with many decisions that have been made in recent years, and I have an ongoing investigation into the handling of my business affairs in relation to UB40," he said.

This could, then, be the first time a band have split over administrative differences.