Thomas Stanley Orwat Jr. from RockMusicStar.com spoke with DEF LEPPARD/THIN LIZZY guitarist Vivian Campbell recently about a number of topics. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

RMS: Def Leppard really doesn’t even need a support act. It seems like the band is more popular now than ever before.

Campbell: "Yeah, I think that you’re right. There certainly is a whole new generation of people that have discovered the band. I do think that is one of the upsides to music piracy. They say music piracy has decimated the industry, and I don’t agree with that at all. It certainly decimated record sales. But I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing overall for music, because it really has turned on a whole new generation to classic rock. Obviously, it’s a whole different story if you are a new artist, because you have to sell records. But for Def Leppard, we have been seeing for the last decade, younger and younger people coming to the shows. They sing along and know all of the words. But yeah, the band is more popular now than certainly it was in the 90’s."

RMS: Def Leppard will also be releasing a live CD this summer, called Mirrorball. But in addition to the live tracks, there are also three band new studio tracks as well. Can you tell us a little about the style and sound of the new tracks?

Campbell: "Well, they are three very different songs. It was really a last second decision to put new songs on the CD. Originally, it was just going to be a live album. It was pointed out to us, that it would be beneficial to put some new songs on as well. So, Joe Elliott wrote a song, Rick Savage wrote a song, Phil Collen wrote a song, and I wrote one. Unfortunately, mine got in last. So it didn’t make the cut. The Sav song is pretty epic, The Phil song is pretty Leppard like. Of the three, the one that really stands out to me is the one that Joe wrote, called 'Undefeated'. That is probably the only one of the three, that we are going to perform on this upcoming tour. It’s a pretty amazing song. I really think that out of all of us, Joe is the best at writing simpler songs. All it takes is three chords and a melody. Joe always seems to come up with the best ones. But, yeah we have three new songs, plus a disc of live material, and a DVD of concert footage - with some backstage shenanigans."

RMS: How would you describe your working relationship with your co-guitarist Phil Collen and how does your guitar style differ from him?

Campbell: "Phil is a lovely, lovely guy. There is no competition or rivalry like that. I think that we too old for that shit. Maybe twenty-five years ago, it would have been a bit different. But we are very different guitar players. We have totally different styles. When we are in the studio and we are trying ideas for songs, frequently we will switch guitars, to try different things. But, even when I play through his guitar and amp , I sound nothing like Phil. The same thing happens when he picks up my Les Paul and plays, he sounds like him. A guitar player's tone and style comes primarily from his hands, and how they approach the instrument. Phil and I are different, he practically picks every note he plays, and I have much more of a metal style. I’m also more blues influenced, and he’s more of a technical guitar player. It’s very different, so I think that we complement one another. Plus he is very easy to get along with, so there are no problems there."

Read the entire interview here.

Mirrorball was recorded across the world over the course of many of the band's sold-out dates. Mirrorball will feature all of the classic songs that have made Def Leppard one of the most respected and beloved power rock bands in the world. The release captures the group's legendary concert experience at its thunderous best and three new studio tracks: 'Undefeated', 'It's All About Believin'' and 'Kings Of The World', that are undeniably Def Leppard.