Last Kiwi gig as UB40 leader

Ali Campbell has called it quits. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

UB40 frontman Ali Campbell has quit, but it will not affect the band's headlining spot at this weekend's Raggamuffin festival in Rotorua.

The one-day concert, which also features The Wailers, Maxi Priest, the Black Seeds and Katchafire, will be one of his last gigs with the band he co-founded in 1979 in Birmingham.

Thanks to hits like Red Red Wine, I Got You Babe and Rat In Mi Kitchen, they went on to become the most popular reggae band in the world with more than 50 million album sales.

However, Campbell announced he was leaving the band this week after 28 years because of "ongoing management difficulties".

"I have an ongoing investigation into the handling of my business affairs in relation to UB40. Suffice to say, I felt I had no other option but to resign from my band," he said on his website.

"I have been deeply unhappy with the administrative practices and with many decisions that have been made in recent years regarding the band."

When TimeOut talked to Campbell recently he gave no indication he was thinking about leaving the band. However, he sounded chuffed about his new solo album, produced by reggae legends Sly & Robbie and featuring guest appearances by Smokey Robinson, Mick Hucknall and Beverly Knight.