UB40’s Jimmy Brown on Why the Band Still Loves Each Other After Nearly 50 Years

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParking UB40 founding drummer Jimmy Brown joins Adam Montiel for a wide-ranging conversation about nearly five decades of music, friendship, politics, and the strange art of knowing when not to play. Jimmy talks about why reggae drumming is harder than it looks, how slowing down can be more demanding than speeding up, and why that lesson applies far beyond music. He reflects on UB40’s working-class Birmingham beginnings, the band’s political roots, and how a group of friends who had barely been playing six months suddenly found themselves in the spotlight. He also opens up about “Red Red Wine,” why UB40 never knew it was originally a Neil Diamond song until they went to record it, and how one massive hit can sometimes overshadow the hundreds of songs that came before and after it. The conversation also gets into the multicultural Birmingham that shaped UB40’s sound and worldview, why Jimmy still sees the band as a genuine family, and what it means that after all these years they still actually like each other. And in one of the lighter moments, Adam asks the question anyone with a song this popular should be asked: has Jimmy ever crashed a wedding after hearing UB40 playing through the walls? UB40 is heading back across North America on The Unstoppable Tour, beginning September 18, 2026, with more new music on the way in 2027. The band is also preparing a new take on Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One,” a song Jimmy says unexpectedly fits UB40’s own story after nearly five decades together. • UB40 official website: UB40.global • Tour dates and tickets: The Unstoppable Tour • Jimmy Brown on Instagram: @jimmyub40 • UB40 on Spotify: Listen on Spotify • UB40 on YouTube: Official UB40 YouTube channel ******** *PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL AFFILIATE FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS! Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel: Official Website: adammontiel.com Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music ******** CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK! ******** ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE! ******** FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM ********* Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them! Life Elements City of SLO WoodsHumaneSociety Tin City Distillery Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective Moonshiner on Spotify HERE Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com ©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.