Friday, 19th February 2016
Pic by Chele Drappel
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell was recently interviewed by Talking Metal and gave another update on his health.
Vivian talked to One On One With Mitch Lafon about the new Last In Line album Heavy Crown, the band history, DIO, the status of the band after Jimmy Bain's death, Trinity, the Slang album, recording with LIL and Def Leppard, Steve Brown, Gothard, Riverdogs, Steve Brown, studio time and gave another update on the his health status.
Last In Line's Heavy Crown album was released around the world today.
Listen to the full 56 minute podcast below. Vivian is on from the start until 31 mins in.
Visit the Album News section. For more news on new music (based on band member quotes) dating back to January 2011.
Talking Metal/Mitch Lafon - Vivian Campbell Interview Quotes
Health Update
"I'm doing very, very well thank you. My health is the least of my worries - it's ongoing maintenance. The sad thing is Jimmy Bain died of cancer and he didn't even know he had it. Jimmy, we knew he was suffering from pneumonia but he had lung cancer that was eating way at his body and apparently he'd had it for years and years. You know I'm one of the lucky ones. I discovered it early. I'm well ahead of the game. I've got good health care and great doctors and you know right now I'm doing. I'm part of a phase 2 clinical trial taking this experimental drug called Pembrolizumab. Which is also the same thing that cured Jimmy Carter's melanoma. So it does have a very good record with certain other kinds of cancers."
"I'm one of the first wave of patients taking this and so far the results are good. You know it seems to be holding things at bay at least. I can continue this treatment for another year and a half or so. The beauty of that is that there is absolutely minimal side effects to me personally and I can continue to do my work which is of the utmost importance to me. So the hardest part is with me taking this drug is scheduling and the extra travel because it's a clinical trial I have to be administered this drug in Los Angeles. So wherever I am in the world I have to fly back to LA every three weeks. I've flown back from Singapore. I've flown back from London. I've flown back from where ever just to get these treatments. But it allows me to continue to work and like I said I'm one of the lucky ones. Jimmy was one of the unfortunate ones. He couldn't afford health care you know."
Why tour when you can stay in Los Angeles?
"That to me would be the death sentence. My work is catharsis to me. There's nothing that brings me greater happiness than to do this. It's all I ever wanted to do in my life was play guitar in a band. I'm fortunate that I get to play guitar in more than one band. I couldn't imagine anything worse than staying at home in just my own - looking at the clock on the wall you know. It's important to me to get out there and live life. You know and not capitulate to this disease and like I say. I'm fortunate that I've kept one step ahead of it all the way. So I've been able to do that and I've continued to do that. So you know if this drug doesn't clear the cancer to some extent within the next 18 months then I am gonna have to consider other options that may curtail my ability to work but in the meantime I'm gonna out loud and proud."
New Music/2016 Def Leppard Tour
"All of the above. I'm spinning as lot of plates. I'm trying to work as much as possible. Obviously Last In Line although you know our wings have been clipped from our original schedule what with Jimmy's passing. Leppard you know we did just postpone a bunch of shows. I should have been on the road with Leppard right now but we postponed a bunch of shows. We're gonna reschedule those shows for May. Then from late June to October we'll be in the States on another North American tour with Leppard."
"And I just got an offer to make another record with the Riverdogs. So it's good to be busy. It would be nice to revisit that. We just literally are in the discussions stages about the possibility of doing that though I wouldn't know when I mean the schedule is getting pretty busy. It's exciting to think about doing that again."
Related News - Vivian Campbell On Def Leppard's Slang Album/Last In Line
Related News - Vivian Campbell In New Last In Line Heavy Crown Making Of Video
Related News - Vivian Campbell On Def Leppard's Upcoming North American Tour
- Listen to the full interview at - spreaker.com
- Def Leppard - One On One With Mitch Lafon 2016 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Radio 2016
- Def Leppard - World Tour 2016
- Previous News - 19th February 2016