WITH a career spanning over three decades, one of the most commercially successful reggae acts of all time will perform at Salisbury City Hall on Sunday.

Formed in 1978, the band’s name came from the code number of the unemployment benefit form.

They have had more than 50 singles in the UK singles chart and are one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold more than 70 million records.

Drummer Jimmy Brown told the Journal: “The first half of this British tour has been one of the best tours we have ever done. Over the years our status has changed, we do have that lovely legends status but we have never stopped.

“Our very first gig we did for somebody’s birthday.

“We wanted to see if we could put a show on – there were 60 people and they loved it.”

The band is made up of friends who met through school in Birmingham.

They decided to form a band and spent six months learning to play instruments and rehearsing every day.

Brown said: “I don’t think we thought past the first record.

“Obviously we believed in it, but we were very lucky, being in the right place at the right time.

“At the age of 21 we were absolutely gobsmacked by where we were – it was unbelievable really.”

The band has plenty of popular hits to choose from for their set list, including Food for Thought, Red Red Wine and Can’t Help Falling in Love.

But Brown says they prefer playing their newer songs.

“They are the ones we enjoy playing the most, you need to keep yourself fresh on stage.

“It’s hard because we were successful so long ago. We started in the early rock and roll days and it’s very different now.

“There’s a lot more variety in music today and lots more people have access to making music now.”

The band shows no sign of slowing down, or going out of favour.

Their latest album, Getting Over The Storm, was awarded BBC Radio 2’s album of the week accolade and received five-star reviews from the UK’s music press when it was released last year.

Brown said: “First and foremost UB40 are a live band – I don’t think we will ever change.

“And we’ve got an edge because we have been playing together for 35 years.”

To book tickets – only standing tickets are now left, priced £28.50 – go to cityhallsalisbury.co.uk or call the box office on 01722 434434.