Thanks for sending in your questions for Robin. We received hundreds of questions, we have included a selection of them here.


Tina and Ness from Cambridgeshire, England asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin.....if you could be anybody past or present, just for a day, who would you be and why?
A: Hi Tina and Ness. Is this a real question?.......Any woman, so I could try and understand them! Big Love, Robin

Bobby from Wolverhampton, England asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin. As well as being a talented and great musician, you have a passion for snooker, don’t you? Being keen myself of this sport, I was wondering, who is your all time greatest player/s, past and present. What’s your personal highest break, and what’s the most memorable match you have seen?
A: Hi Bobby, All time greatest player is without doubt the current greatest player Ronnie O’Sullivan. The most gifted natural player we've seen in the game, he knows instinctively what others take years to learn, and what some will never understand. He will break every record as long as he stays playing. The standard I play at is infantile in comparison. My philosophy is that two breaks of 30-40 will win any game. However, I do regularly have 40-50 breaks and I’ve had 88 twice. Crap eh? Robin.

Nikki from the West Midlands, England asked Robin:-
Q: Robin, you have achieved so much over the years as part of UB40. What’s left? Do you have any more goals to reach, either personally or as part of UB40? Another 21 years please! xx
A: Hi Nikki. My only personal goal is to stay happy. As for the band, we’re still chasing global domination and still trying to make an album we’re all happy with. Neither will ever happen. Luv Robin.

Russell from Surrey, England asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin, having been in UB40 21years +, and had the success you have had, what still drives and motivates you to want to continue in making music, and is there any other band that you would work/record with as a solo artist?
A: Hi Russell. A simple love of music. I still pinch myself when I think of how I make my living. Reggae not only changed my life, it became my life. And I get paid too! Not bad eh? I don’t have a yearning to do solo work but if I did I’d put my own band together. Robin.

Peter from New York, USA asked Robin:-
Q: Hey Robin. After hearing you sing “Sweet Sensation” back in the early ‘80’s on the Labour of Love album, some of us truly wanted and expected to hear much more of you doing lead vocals on many more tracks than you have done up to now. Can we expect to hear you taking more of a lead-singing role any time in the near future? Thanks.
A: Hi Peter. How kind you are, thanks for that. The simple answer is I hate doing lead vocals; I’ve only ever done lead when Ali has refused too on a particular song. I do love doing harmonies and building a vocal sound around a lead vocal like Ali. He is so good that as long as he’s around I’ll be backing him. Robin.

Neil aka bbb asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin, I sing in a tribute band playing a lot of your original material. Could you tell me what you think of ‘tributes’ and reggae’s future, do you think there will be another ‘UB40’?
A: Hi Neil. How can I say anything other than ‘tributes’ are cool. By fans for the fans. Keep it up. As for reggae’s future, I would say its secure, I’m just not sure which form will be dominant. Of course there won’t be another UB40, we’re unique, but there’ll probably be a bigger reggae band and they might not be Jamaican.

Carlene from Sydney, Australia asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin. I would just like to know, if you could build your ultimate concert with the boys in UB40, where would you stage it (either somewhere you haven’t been or a previous venue), and who would be amongst the guest appearances? Thank you.
A: Hi Carlene. We are still hoping to put together our ultimate concert with some of the ‘Fathers’ of Reggae. John Holt, Ken Booth, etc…… It’s impossible to pick one venue, or country, even. U.K – Holland – New Zealand – Caribbean – Hawaii – South America, are all favourite audiences. It would have to be a full tour to be perfect – one day eh? Robin.

Steve from Essex, England asked Robin:-
Q: Yo Yo Yo Robin, hope all is OK on the good ship Dep. OK What has been the highlight of your life, what’s the thing that has stood out and meant the most to you? Mine’s watching my child being born, nothing can touch that. How about you?
A: Yo Yo Yo Jumbo, we’re still afloat at Dep.
Just too many to pick one: -
1. Playing South Africa with Mandela as President, the end of Apartheid and the Cultural Boycott.
2. Being honoured by 20,000 Maoris in New Zealand, they can sing.
3. Touring behind the iron curtain in Russia, it can never be done again.
4. Our first No. 1 record, and the ones that followed.
Just a few from a long career, I’m a lucky man. Seeing my kids being born was pretty amazing too! Robin.

Mel from Oxon, England asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin. As you have recently released the Fathers of Reggae album, will there be any more and will you be making an album of the original stars and their own song words, with UB40 supplying backing tracks? I refer to the Story of Reggae DVD, with Melvyn Bragg. I just loved John Holt singing My Best Girl over your music interpretation. Awesome! Thank you, for giving us all so much pleasure so far.
A: Hi Mel. I hope we get the chance to do ‘Fathers II”. Too many artists got away the first time and any excuse to work with the same people again would suit me fine. Robin.

Cade from Hawaii asked Robin:-
Q: Robin, I am the lead guitarist/songwriter/vocalist for my reggae band called Uprising located in Hawaii and I was wondering what various effects or pedals do you use for your guitar and what kind of guitar do you most use? Will you guys ever make it to Hawaii again, cause I have never seen you guys live and that’s a damn shame. Thanks.
A: Yo Cados. My guitar is a Patrick Eggles Berlin Custom. A Birmingham based maker fast gaining international recognition.
Amp: Trace Ellcot (Valve). Effects: Korg AI Guitar Processor, Digitec Studio Tube. We certainly hope to be coming to Hawaii in 2003. Hang Loose, Robin.

Stefan from Lincolnshire, England asked Robin:-
Q: Hello Robin. What is the secret of your success to keep going all these years when so many groups come and go.
A: Hi Stefan. If we knew, we’d bottle it. I think we’re just lucky that we have a unique sound, instantly recognisable and enough people like what we do. The trick is to keep your fans happy while attracting new younger listeners, never easy, and seldom achieved for long. We’re still trying to make ourselves happy. Robin.

Sara from Holland asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin. Were your parents supporting you and Ali’s choice to form a band instead of a normal job and would you support your children if they wanted to go into the music business.
A: Hi Sara. Our Mom (mine and Ali’s) was very supportive from the start. Our Dad didn’t take us seriously for a while but soon came round. They’re both very proud of our success. Some of UB’s kids are interested in making music and already have our support and probably a better chance, than some, of getting into the business. I think they are probably more aware of the cut throat, hit and miss nature of the business too. Robin.

John from Manchester, England asked Robin:-
Q: Robin, I’ve read it was your job to choose the tracks to be covered for the Fathers album, was it hard to pick the songs you wanted for each artist and did you change any of your original choices? Dennis Brown was due to appear on the album but very sadly passed away, which track was he going to cover? All the best for the forthcoming album………John.
A: Hi John. I didn’t actually choose the tracks to be covered by the Fathers, that was a band thing. I didn’t choose the artists either, that was the whole band too. I did, however, have to select the track for the artist and vice versa. It took too long and was nerve racking. I didn’t want to put any of my Gods off the idea by giving them songs they didn’t like. It was worth the effort because most of them complemented me on the choices I made. Bob Andy specifically asked to do ‘Love is All’ because he loved the lyrics. Sadly, we never got as far as selecting a track for Dennis Brown.

Jenny from Birmingham, England asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin. I have grown up around your music and it has inspired me to do the things I have achieved. I was just wondering if anyone inspired you when you had just begun UB40, and if you have thought any more about me being your new Mrs Campbell? LOL LOL
A: Hello Jenny. Musically I guess the most inspiring person was Marley. When we saw him in Brum in the mid 70’s that was the single event that made us want to be in a band.
If you knew me you would find me boring. All I do is make music and play snooker, ask the old Mrs Campbell! LOL LOL

Carol asked Robin:-
Q: Hi. How come at all your concerts it’s you that does all the chat to the audience?
A: Hi Carol. I guess its ‘cause I’m the least shy or the more relaxed on stage. Ali does try occasionally, but no one can understand him, bless. Robin.

Reza from Johannesburg asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Rob, greetings from the land of “nothings-a-problem”.
In many discussions with you over the years I’ve learnt that UB40 have many ideas and cards up the sleeve. What I’d like to know is in this rather strange music industry we now have, how restricted are you from seeing these idea’s materialise and in your opinion do you find that record companies are responsible for a lot that doesn’t actually materialise? (ps. I’d still like a full UB40 tribute album performed by South African artists – just like we did the UB40/Ringo collaboration…any thoughts?)
UP THE VILLA!
A: Yo Reza, how’s it hangin’!
Of course all artists are restricted by their record companies. We may have artistic control (though not always) but everything is dictated by budget and the record companies hold the purse strings. If they’re not into the idea, it will languish on the ‘creative’ shelf until the artist gives up or runs out of money. I loved the Ringo collaboration and I’d happily do more. Big Love, Robin.

Crucial T asked Robin:-
Q: Hi there Robin, hows trix mate. We all know how ‘Reggae’ has influenced your life from your youthful days ‘til now, and how knowledgeable you are on the said subject. I’m your genie for a second, and I grant you this wish……of all the Reggae Bands/Artists you’ve followed over the years, which would you have loved to be a part of, and why?
A: Yo Crucial, you all say such nice things but I must admit, my knowledge dwindles with the onset of senility, or is it just short term memory loss?
I wouldn’t choose any career over the one I’ve had with the UB’s. You couldn’t hit that lucky twice. Now if I’d never been in a band I’d take any chance to play with any and all. Robin.

Alan from Oxon, UK asked Robin:-
Q: Hi Robin. My brother and myself are the same age as you and Ali, our youth seems about 100 years ago now, funny thing is we are from Wolverhampton which is what, 20 miles away from you yet the music scene was very different, where as you were into reggae for us it was northern soul, motown, altantic etc. Just wondered did the northern soul scene ever reach Borsell Heath, if not there is quite a big revival now and I’m sure you would enjoy some of the music…..anyway can you hurry up and sort out another tour since we saw you in South Africa we are waiting to book holidays in hope of another tour.
A: Hi Al.B. Believe me, there was a lot of reggae goin’ down in Wolverhampton. We were also listening to Tamla, Stax, Atlantic , etc in Brum, but when reggae happened in the late 60’s it took over as the no.1 music for us.
As for South Africa….we will be back. Robin.

Anka from Aotearoa, New Zealand asked Robin:-
Q: Hey Robin. Some reggae and drum & bass find their inspiration in the land and its culture, what has been your personal inspiration through the years? And would you guys consider touring in Aotearoa (NZ)? There are a lot of fans in the South Pacific that want to see you guys. Cheers, Anka
A: Hi Anka. Speaking personally I can’t pinpoint a particular inspiration. Other artists, politics, emotions, beliefs, things in and around my life all inspire the music I make.
We’d love to do a tour in the South Pacific, its finding a promoter that’s the problem. Robin.