Thursday, 17th May 2012
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell was interviewed by 96.5 WCMF radio in Rochester, NY last week and said a new studio album by the band is long overdue.
Vivian was promoting the 17th August show in Darien Center, NY in an interview recorded on 11th May and broadcast last night.
Vivian said he feels the next studio album by the band is long overdue and also seemed to indicate that he, like Joe and Phil, wants them to release a few songs at a time. He also talked briefly about new recordings on Tuesday 15th May on his facebook page (see bottom quote).
In a 10 minute interview Vivian talked about his time off, touring with Heart in 2011, the Rock Of Ages movie, touring with Poison again, Lita Ford, the Mirrorball (Live & More) album, It's All About Believin' being released as a single and rehearsing it for the tour, touring with Thin Lizzy in 2011/how Joe got him involved with the band, Def Leppard's side projects, touring with the original DIO members in 2013 and new music/recording a new album.
Church Of Crowley Show - Vivian Campbell Interview Quotes
Playing The New Single Live
"A song called All About Believin'. It's a Phil Collen song. Yeah so we're gonna be playing that this summer. We have to learn how to play it first!. Rehearsals start in a couple of weeks. We've never actually played it live so it'll be a bit of a learning curve."
New Def Leppard Music/Studio Album?
"And next year I'm playing to go out with the original DIO band, which is proving to be a little controversial! (laughs). But obviously not stepping on Def Leppard's toes. I'm not sure what Leppard's plans are for next year. We will be active to some extent in 2013. I would suspect we're well overdue to make a new record so we'll be doing that I'm sure. But in the months in between i'm planning to keep busy."
"It's long ovedue, it really is you know. It's been a strange time for the industry, as I'm sure you know, there's a lot of controversy as to whether or not albums are even valid any more or whether it's albums versus tracks or EPs or whatever. And the value of recorded music and all that you know. But it's - as a musician and for us as a band you gotta stay creative to stay relevant you know even if nobody's buying it. It's important to exercise that muscle. So you know none of us have any expectations that we're gonna sell millions and millions of records again. It would be nice if we do but I don't think anyone really sells a lot of records anymore compared to back in the day you know."
No I don't think it's the same as it was back in the day but I have a really hard time believing that if Def Leppard put out another album that people wouldn't be buying it up.
"Well yeah we do have our core fan base and I would like to think that they would be interested in it. But even within the band the opinion is kind of divided as to whether or not it's worthwhile making a record. Like a whole album of ten or twelve tracks versus you know just getting a handful of solid songs and putting them out there. I mean if you've only written five or six good songs then just do the good songs you know. So that's my opinion, that's my personal opinion. So we're still kind of arm wrestling over that within the band."
Vivian Campbell - 15th May facebook Quote
"We will definitely record some new songs between the end of this upcoming tour and before touring again."
Def Leppard Radio 2012 - Church Of Crowley Show Page
Def Leppard - 2012 Radio
Def Leppard - 2012 Album News
Previous News - 13th May 2012