UB40 founding member Astro dies after short illness

LONDON (Reuters) - One of the founding members of British reggae band UB40, Terence Wilson, has died after a short illness, his band has announced.

Wilson, known by his stage name Astro, left the band in 2013 to perform with breakaway group "UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro".

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"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," the group said in a statement on Twitter late on Saturday.

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Susan Fenton)