THIRD World recently completed the European festival leg of their 40th anniversary world tour.

The band performed on three of the region’s biggest festivals: Belgium’s Reggae Geel, Reggae Sun Ska in France, and Rototom in Spain. They also did shows in Germany and Poland.

Surviving members of the original group (from left) Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore, Bunny Rugs and Richie Daley.

On lead vocals was A J Brown who replaced long-standing singer Bunny Rugs, who is ill.

“Under these circumstances, we were very fortunate that we could make a last-minute call to our long-time ‘bredren’ A J Brown. It was fantastic,” said bandleader and guitarist Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore.

Brown will accompany the band on a handful of dates in the United States which starts September 1 in Houston, Texas.

Third World was formed in 1973 with Coore and keyboardist Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper among the original members.

The band recorded a series of solid albums for Island and Mercury Records. Journey To Addis, released by Island in 1978, contained the hit song Now That We Found Love.

Coore, Rugs and bassist Richie Daley are survivors of the classic line-up of the 1970s and 1980s.