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Artist News
UB40’s Astro dies
By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 8 November 2021
Former UB40 vocalist Astro – real name Terence Wilson – has died, after a short illness. He was 64.
A statement from his current band, UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell & Astro, reads: “We are absolutely devastated and completely heartbroken to have to tell you that our beloved Astro has today passed away after a very short illness. The world will never be the same without him. We ask you to please respect his family’s privacy at this incredibly difficult time”.
His former bandmates in the main UB40 outfit also tweeted: “We have heard tonight the sad news that ex-member of UB40, Terence Wilson, better know as Astro, has passed away after a short illness. Our sincere condolences to his family”.
Wilson joined UB40 a year after they originally formed in 1979, and remained with the group until 2014, following the release of their eighteenth studio album ‘Getting Over The Storm’. He subsequently joined the band’s former frontman Ali Campbell and keyboard player Micky Virtue, who had departed in 2008 following a dispute over UB40’s finances.
UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell & Astro began touring as a rival to the original UB40 – by then fronted by Campbell’s older brother Duncan – releasing a live album in 2015, followed by a collection of acoustic versions of UB40 songs the following year.
In 2018, they released their first album of originals, ‘A Real Labour Of Love’. The follow-up, ‘Unprecedented’, is set for release on 22 Feb next year.
