Jimmy Brown of UB40 Talks About His Favorite Gigs, Springsteen Influence, And More

100.1 WJRZ’s Barbara Farragher had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Jimmy Brown, UB40’s resident drummer and one of the band’s founding members.  

Currently embarking on their 2024 World Tour, the band is taking to the Seaside Heights stage this coming Friday, August 16th presented by 100.1 WJRZ and Seaside Heights Live. 

As a seasoned veteran of the stage Brown describes his favorite gig thus far on their 2024 tour as so, “There's not that much difference between one audience from the next, I have a good time they sing along, they dance and yeah generally everyone has a good time.”  

While every member of the band has an individual introduction to the music industry, Brown’s passion began to bloom long before he could remember, as a young student in primary school. “I think I had an affinity to it; I remember I used to constantly be tapping sorta rhythms at school on the school desk and getting the back of my knuckles hit with a ruler by the teacher,” added Brown as someone who’s been sticking it to the man for many decades now.   

The UB40 drummer has mentioned on multiple accounts that the group gathers a strong influence from Long Branch, New Jersey’s very own Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, "It must have been 1980...we really liked the way that the different members of the band moved around on stage,” said Brown.  

“We don’t plan anything, Yanno but just know that at that same time, the brass section could be at the front of the stage rather than the back of the stage...and I think that was an influence from Bruce Springsteen because it was a real freedom of movement at each show,” Brown added.   

For a group to share in such rich musical success for over 45 years within the everchanging industry is no easy feat, Brown let us in on a little secret as to how UB40 remains such a success today, dualling as his official advice for aspiring bandmates of the future, “If you’re a band, I can recommend you do what we do and share everything equally...when everybody contributes, everybody should get rewarded,” finalized Brown.  

Be sure to catch Jimmy Brown and the rest of UB40 live on the Seaside Heights stage on Friday, August 16th alongside Barbara Farragher & the 'JRZ Street Team for a night above higher ground. For tickets, click here

Tour riders are often some of the most interesting parts of any artist or band's tour. They often offer an inside look into just how high-maintenance some artists can be. This is often exemplified by how specific their requests might be.

Some rock stars require specific kinds of food and drink, while others clearly want a dressing room that sets a certain mood. Some tour riders feature requests so outrageous they must be a joke. Other tour riders -- like one infamous one at the very end of our list -- feature details that are actually requests to see if you read the rider at all.

And then there are rock stars like Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, who likes to see just what he can get away with. He shared in a recent interview, " ... As the years have gone on, and we had access to more and more outrageous requests being honored, it starts to make you ask for strange things." Homme also claims that asking for strange things is a sign of having a good sense of humor, which he says, "other than injections," keeps you young.

So, what strange things have Homme asked for on his rider? Apparently, it has included chocolate-covered ants and a map of Ireland on his dressing room wall.

Homme said, "People would ask me, ‘Josh, why do you have chocolate-covered ants and a framed map of Ireland?’ and I would say, ‘Wouldn’t you like to know, mind your damn business.'"

Our list below highlights eight tour riders. The first from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band made headlines back in 2023. (Make no mistake: When a tour rider is leaked, it almost always makes headlines. There are at least a few items on it that leave you asking, "Umm...really?!")

Without further ado, keep scrolling and find out which of your favorite rock stars have interesting requests on their tour riders.