Guitarist Vivian Campbell Says He's "Championing" DEF LEPPARD To Do A Straightforward Rock Album

March 27, 2011, 13 years ago

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Rob Cavuoto from Guitar International caught up with DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell while on the road with THIN LIZZY recently. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Guitar International: Are there plans to revisit Thin Lizzy after the Def Leppard tour and possibly record?

Vivian Campbell: "I would like to, they have asked me to come back and I want to but that depends on who they get to replace when I go out with Leppard. I don’t want to ruin any chemistry that they’re working on. I wouldn’t want to come back and step on that person."

Guitar International: Tell us about Def Leppard new live CD, Mirrorball, is the name a spin-off of the Sparkle Lounge?

Vivian Campbell: "Exactly, that’s Joe Elliott logic [Laughing]. Joe loves that stuff. He is always coming up with titles and concepts. They carry though for the tour and on the t-shirts. So it’s exactly that."

Guitar International: Phil Collen has promised that the next Def Leppard LP would be hard rock, are you guys able to deliver on that promise?

Vivian Campbell: "It’s not this one! [Laughing]. He was talking about the next one! [Laughing] We all agree and know on a certain level that we can make it happen. If we were with a major record label and they paired us with Rick Rubin, I’m sure he would strip us down and have us doing it. It’s easier said than done. What Def Leppard did 30 years ago; they were in a different head space then. You played and wrote different then. So it might actually be disingenuous of us to go back and force ourselves to do a record like High 'N' Dry."

Guitar International: Not necessarily go back and redo High 'N' Dry but juts a straightforward rock LP?

Vivian Campbell: "Back then Rick Allen had two arms, although we can represent ourselves very well live, it’s difficult for Rick to jam. If I were to come in the room and show the other guys a riff, Rick would have to sit there and think how he was going to join in. It’s not like other bands where you can kick out the jams and see what happens. It does take a little more patience. I’m not saying we’re not going to do it; Phil and I are championing and trying to do something like that for the next record."

Read the entire interview here.



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