Def Leppard News - VIVIAN CAMPPBELL Says Touring w/ DEF LEPPARD During Chemo Saved His Life

Monday, 16th July 2018

VIVIAN CAMPPBELL Says Touring w/ DEF LEPPARD During Chemo Saved His Life

By Chele Drappel

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell was recently interviewed in Tulsa, OK and gave an update on his health.

Vivian spoke to the Music Mania podcast on 9th July in Tulsa, OK.

Vivian talked about the 2018 tour with Journey, why they toured with Journey again, 2006 YEAH! tour, playing stadiums, digital/streaming deal, live shows/live sound, seeing DL on the Hysteria tour, Last In Line, outside projects, second LIL album, Ronnie James Dio, band dealing with tragedies and his current health.

Listen to the full 21 minute interview below.

Vivian's part starts at 5:26mins mins in until 26:52mins.

Phil was interviewed by the same podcast in June 2017.

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

Music Mania Podcast - Vivian Campbell Interview Quotes

Def Leppard Dealing With Tragedies

"Well I mean it's not just Def Leppard, life happens to a lot of people. You know you take any five people or six people including Steve, and you track them over the course of 30 to 40 years you know there's gonna be. Shit's gonna happpen. There's gonna be good, there's gonna be bad."

"With Leppard you know maybe our troubles have been a little bit more publicised than most. So you know I don't consider that this band is lucky or unlucky. We just kind of work hard. And we happened to have a certain amount of talent between us."

His Current Health

"As far as my diagnosis goes. I mean it was never anything I was too concerned about. And I really think that that's what has helped me get through it you know. When you're faced with something like a cancer diagnosis you only have two choices. I mean you can go one way or you can go the other. You can capitulate to the disease and start the slow agonising process of death or you can look it in the eye and say f**k off!, you know, and just get on with your life."

"And so I decided to go that route. To me it's pretty much a no brainer. I mean it's pretty obvious that's the path you gotta take. You gotta fight you know. And it's always been kind of the least on my concerns. I kinda really put it out of my mind you know. I never let it trouble me. You know there were times when it did trouble me because I was physically very very ill from it. But there's other times where I kind of forget about it you know."

"And it's kind of still ongoing with me. I still have to do treatments every month doing Immunotherapy. But I'm very very fortunate that I found a treatment that works for me that holds it at bay. And my doctors are quite happy to let me continue my life and my work and as long as it doesn't get any worse we're all good."

Touring While Doing Chemotherapy

"So you know but work was very important to me. I mean there were some difficult times with the band. I really wanted to continue to tour. I had a very hard time convincing Def Leppard's management that I could do that. Eventually I did, you know, we had a couple of shows where it was touch and go. But I got through it you know."

"But that was very very important for me. I think if I hadn't of done that I don't think I would have survived. You know work is life to me and it's a, like I said, my work is my passion. That's all I ever wanted to do since I was a kid was play guitar in a rock band. And I'm very fortunate that I get to play guitar in a lot of rock bands you know, but that's what keeps me alive. And even with the Last In Line stuff I mean I was out there when doing hardcore chemo playing club shows with Last In Line in Europe. I didn't have any hair on my head. I didn't even have eyebrows but it felt good. It kept me alive you know. So it's the power of music."