COMMENTARY
So, you be famous where you from or wot?

By Jeff Widener

Jeff Widener, the guy with the chagrined look on his face, poses with the UB40 band in Papeete, Tahiti. Photo by Jamie Conway

Last November, my parents' ashes were reunited in the cargo hold of a Boeing 767-300 bound for Tahiti. The trip was for their memorial service in a Bora Bora lagoon and a much-needed vacation for this Honolulu Advertiser photographer.

Alas, fate has a strange sense of humor.

Photojournalists are cursed with a wandering eye and dangerous curiosity. While on layover at a Papeete hotel, I noticed a group of sunburned joking British tourists eyeing my Leica camera and artistic posture. The leader of the pack was a jovial bloke named Brian, and I asked where the group was from.

"England," he replied. I already figured that so I asked what city? The squad replied in chorus, "Birmingham." Initially I thought they were insurance salesmen attending a convention. Brian added they were musicians.

Miffed that my guess was incorrect, I blurted out, "So are you guys famous or something?" What followed was my blank stare and a mildly shocked reaction from the group.

Only my girlfriend, Jamie Conway, broke the awkward silence: "You guys are great ... I love your music." I had stumbled on UB40, one of England's most beloved bands, which was on the first leg of its world tour, and all I could do was look for the nearest dignified exit.

The band almost rolled out of their lounge chairs with laughter. Brian was saxophone player and horn section leader Brian Travers.

With more chuckles from the musicians, a CD was tossed my way from band manager Paul Hunter. It was the group's newly released album "Homegrown."

Jamie and I were asked to sample the songs and invited to attend their Papeete concert. The group may have found it refreshing that this cocky American did not know one of the world's most famous reggae bands. They soon adopted me as the traveling band photographer.

Over the next two days, I found myself on their bus, sitting next to lead singer Ali Campbell and vocalist Astro. They both ribbed me on whether or not I had ever heard their smash hit "Red Red Wine."

After the concert, I was sipping champagne in the dressing room with bass player Earl Falconer, drummer James Brown and Ali's guitarist brother, Robin Campbell. UB40 trusted me with exclusive back-stage access. Because of their generosity, I was able to capture on film a rare and private glimpse of this legendary band.

Thanks to a bunch of great guys from Birmingham, my dark vacation ended with rainbows.

Jeff Widener is a photographer for The Honolulu Advertiser.