Def Leppard News - VIVIAN CAMPBELL On His Guitar Style/2018 DEF LEPPARD Tour

Saturday, 4th August 2018

VIVIAN CAMPBELL On His Guitar Style/2018 DEF LEPPARD Tour

By Chele Drappel

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell was interviewed by Colorado radio in July and mentioned his guitar playing.

Vivian spoke to Ray Crockett and Marc Stout of Orange And Blue 760 radio to promote the 21st July show in Denver, CO.

Vivian talked about the 2016 Def Leppard Hysteria Cruise, 2018 baseball stadium shows, Football/FIFA World Cup, Irish/UK Football Teams, Starting On Guitar/Influences, Learning Guitar, favourite guitarists, Def Leppard Pale Beer and Last In Line second album.

He mentioned his guitar style and how he is self taught.

Listen to the full 12 minute interview below.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Crockett & Stout - Vivian Campbell Interview Quotes

2018 Baseball Stadium Shows

"Yes we have we played Wrigley last weekend and Comerica in Detroit. Atlanta yeah, we've done a few of them. We got a few more to come up so it's exciting. It's great."

Starting On Guitar/Influences

"Well like you say I grew up in Belfast in the 70s and because we had troops...it was a hardcore place back then. We didn't get a lot of international rock shows. In fact next to none. So there was an Irish guitar player called Rory Gallagher. That was the first album I owned. It was the first concert I saw and it was the second concert I saw. And it was the third and the fourth. He was the only one who would come to Belfast. You know he was Irish he was the only one who would come to Belfast. He wasn't afraid to go there in the 70s. And so I saw Rory a bunch of times and so I really. I copied his playing."

"And there wasn't anyone I could find who would teach me how to play guitar so I'm entirely self taught. Which is not such a bad thing. I mean it takes you a lot longer but sometimes, you know, as the saying goes necessity is the mother of invention. And you actually learn a lot from your mistakes and having to really dig deep to figure out how stuff works. rather than just going on the Internet and having some guy on YouTube show you you know."

"So it was good it kinda worked out for me. I think when you kind of teach yourself how to do something to such an extent, you know, going in depth so much. You really kind of, it helps you develop a sound and a style of your own which is more important than anything. So I think it actually kind of benefited me you know."

Learning Guitar

"In this day and age I can't imagine it takes too long you know 'cause the Internet is a wonderful resource for anything. But you know it's physically difficult you gotta get over the hump. It actually hurts you know. Literally your body, your hands get used to playing a stringed instrument. The guitar's a lot easier than an instrument like a Violin or a Cello or something but you know it shouldn't take too long if you can persevere."

His Favourite Guitarists

"It became like a sport in the 80s and that was a bit of a light bulb moment for me because I sort of realised that it's music. It's gotta be an artistic expression. It's gotta be an emotional connection. It can't just be a technical exercise. And that's you know when I kinda thought back and I realised that it maybe wasn't so bad that I had very limited resources when I started playing. And I didn't have a guitar teacher and I had to teach myself."

"So you actually, you discover your own voice I guess. When you gotta do it the hard way. There's still part of me would love to be a more technical guitar player but you know I'm very very comfortable with my sound and my style right now and I have been in recent years and that's a good place to be."

Last In Line Second Album

"We're actually, talking of second albums, we're in the process of mixing our second album. It'll be released early 2019. We're holding off on the realise so I can tour it. And I've been very active with that. When I'm not touring with Def Leppard I'm touring with Last In Line."

Listen to "7-20-18 Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard)" on Spreaker.

Buy 'CD/Vinyl Collection: Volume 1' Online