Vivian Campbell

This biography of a living person does not cite any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. (July 2009) Find sources: (Vivian Campbell – news, books, scholar)

Vivian Campbell
Vivian Campbell live in 2007 at the North Dakota, US State Fair
Background information
Birth name	Vivian Patrick Campbell
Born	25 August 1962 (1962-08-25) (age 47) Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, dulcimer, vibraphone, vocals
Years active	1977 - present
Associated acts	Sweet Savage, Riverdogs, Shadow King, Trinity, Def Leppard, Clock, Dio, Whitesnake
Website	Official site
Notable instruments
Gibson Les Paul Gibson J-200

Vivian Patrick Campbell (born 25 August 1962 in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish rock guitarist and a member of Def Leppard. Prior to joining the band in April 1992, he had been a member of the Irish rock band Sweet Savage, and other bands, including Dio, Trinity, Whitesnake, Riverdogs, and Shadow King.

Biography

Youth and Early Career

Campbell began playing guitar at the age of 12. He has played for Sweet Savage, Dio, Trinity, Whitesnake, Riverdogs, and Shadow King. He also played on Lou Gramm's (from Foreigner) second solo album Long Hard Look. Campbell attended Rathmore Grammar School.

Sweet Savage

Sweet Savage was a NWOBHM band that Campbell joined when he was 15. The band members in Sweet Savage included Campbell on guitar, Trev Fleming on guitar, David Bates on drums and Ray Haller on bass and vocals. The band influenced Metallica, who covered the song Killing Time on their Garage Inc. covers album. In 1980 when Campbell was 18. In 1981 they released an e.p. consisting of four BBC radio sessions and their first single "Take No Prisoners". "Take No Prisoners" included the song "Killing Time". Much later in the late 90's after Metallica covered "Killing Time", there was interest in Sweet Savage and they released an album without him. Campbell left Sweet Savage in early 1983 to join Dio, after the band's original guitarist Jake E. Lee left.

Dio

Campbell live in 2007 at the ND State Fair

When Campbell joined Dio, Ronnie James Dio had three songs that he had written while Jake was in the band - Stand Up And Shout, Don't Talk To Strangers and Holy Diver. All of these songs appeared on the album and became radio hits. Former Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain joined, completing the first line up. The band completed the album, which was a success and included Ronnie's biggest hit to date Rainbow in the Dark. The tour was a success. Ronnie and Jimmy Bain played the keyboards on the Holy Diver album and they hired Claude Schnell to play keyboards during their concerts. A concert video, called In Concert, from this tour was released. The band also played at The Monsters Of Rock festival in 1984.

The band returned to the studio to write and record the follow up to Holy Diver. This album was called The Last in Line and was as successful as Holy Diver and charted at #23. The Last in Line, We Rock and Mystery all became radio hits. Ronnie James Dio and Claude Schnell played the keyboards on the album and Claude once again played the keyboards at the concerts. The band continued to sell out arenas and play festivals. A concert video from this tour called A Special From The Spectrum was released.

After the tour the band started to work on the follow up to The Last In Line. Sacred Heart was still a success, and still managed to peak at #29 in the U.S. the album had 2 hits in Rock N Roll Children and Hungry For Heaven. The tour was very successful too and had an over the top stage show featuring a huge Dragon. Also around this time the band recorded the song "Hide In The Rainbow" for the Iron Eagle soundtrack, which was the last song Campbell would record with Dio. A Live EP, called Intermission, was also released. (Craig Goldy played on the albums only studio song "Time to Burn" & over-dubbed the rhythm parts on the live tracks). After the tour, Campbell became unhappy with the direction of the band^[1] and left in 1986 after being invited join Whitesnake^[2], he was replaced by guitarist Craig Goldy.

Whitesnake

In 1987, Campbell joined the British heavy metal band Whitesnake. Ex-Thin Lizzy and Tygers of Pan Tang (Spellbound and Crazy Nights albums only) axe-slinger John Sykes played the lead parts on the multi-platinum selling album simply titled Whitesnake, but he was fired by lead singer David Coverdale after the recording of the album, and Campbell replaced him for the subsequent world tour. Campbell was part of the new, glammed-up Whitesnake Coverdale had put together to conquer MTV and American audiences, also including Adrian Vandenberg, formerly of Teaser and Vandenberg, Tommy Aldridge of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Oak Arkansas fame, and Rudy Sarzo, having already become hugely successful playing with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. Campbell was fired after the 1987-1988 World Tour, because of "negative attitude".^{[citation needed]}

Def Leppard

In 1992, Campbell joined the rock band Def Leppard, after the release of their Adrenalize album. He replaced Steve Clark, who died on 8 January 1991. According to fellow guitarist Phil Collen, Campbell was able to lock right into the position very naturally by simply being himself. Campbell made his debut with the band by playing a show in a Dublin club to approximately 600 people. A week later, 20 April 1992, the band took the stage at the Freddie Mercury Concert for Life, with their new guitarist. They performed, "Animal," "Let's Get Rocked," and the Queen classic, "Now I'm Here", with Brian May. He has spent the last 17 years with the band.

Side Projects

Aside from his work with Def Leppard, Campbell has played on the side with Clock and Riverdogs. In 2005, he also released a solo album called Two Sides Of If, which features cover versions of his favourite blues tunes and one original blues song. It features two of Rory Gallagher's well known songs, "Messin' with the Kid" and "Calling Card". Vivian is a huge Rory fan. It also features ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons guest appearing on the songs "Like It This Way" and "Willin' For Satisfaction", and Joan Osborne guest appearing on the song "Spoonful". The album also features drummer Terry Bozzio.

Equipment

When he first started playing, Campbell employed a Les Paul with Di Marzio pickups. This guitar was also used on Holy Diver, as can be seen in the booklet pictures. At this point, the "superstrat" fashion was taking place and consequently Campbell switched to a Jackson Soloist. Around the same time, he can be seen in an instructional video playing a blue B.C. Rich ST, which was first producted around 1986 or 1987. When he joined Whitesnake, Vivian picked up a pink, red and yellow Rand, a 27-fret, high-end guitar handmade by Rand Havener, a former B.C. Rich employee whom he had met through a common friend. This guitar featured innovative scuplted wings, almost no neck heel due to a very accurate neck-through construction, a pointy, very droopy headstock, Pau Ferro (Bolivian rosewood) fretboard, custom inlays, a Floyd Rose bridge and two Tom Anderson custom pickups. This very instrument can be seen in the "Still Of The Night" video. Another Rand, yet with different colors, was used for the "Is This Love" music video. During the same period (1987-1988), Vivian had Dallas area luthier Buddy Blaze make him a custom guitar. This instrument, named the "Shredder", had a Strat shaped, mahogany body with polka dot graphic, a 24 fret neck with "ping pong" inlays (going from top to bottom up to the 12th fret and vice versa up to the 24th fret)on the ebony fretboard, a reverse pointy headstock and two Seymour Duncan humbucker pickups, a Full Shred in the bridge position and a JB in the middle position. The bridge was a Floyd Rose. A deal was then set up between Buddy Blaze and Kramer Guitars and the Shredder went into production under the "Nightswan" name. Vivian signed with Kramer as an endorser and there are a few ads of him with this guitar. He played the original Shredder through Whitesnake's 1987-1988 world tour. After he left Whitesnake, Campbell swithced back to Les Pauls and currently plays Gibson guitars.

Personal life

Campbell currently resides in Southern California with his wife Julie and their two daughters, Lily Rose and Una Marigold. His neighbor is Danny Bonaduce of Partridge Family fame.^[3] He also plays football regularly with Hollywood United F.C. The team is composed mostly of celebrities and former professional footballers.

Discography

With Sweet Savage

• "Take No Prisoners"/"Killing Time" (1981)
• "Demo 1981" (1981)
• "Straight Through The Heart"/"Teaser" (1984)
• "The Raid"/"Prosecuter Of Greed" (1985)

With Dio

• Holy Diver (1983)
• The Last in Line (1984)
• Sacred Heart (1985)
• The Dio E.P. (1986)
• Intermission (1986)

With Lou Gramm solo

• Long Hard Look (1989)

With Riverdogs

• Riverdogs (1990)

With Shadow King

• Shadow King (1991)

With Def Leppard

• Retro Active (1993)
• Vault: Def Leppard's Greatest Hits (1980-1995) (1995)
• Slang (1996)
• Euphoria (1999)
• X (2002)
• Best of Def Leppard (2004)
• Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection (2005)
• Yeah! (2006)
• Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008)

With Clock

• Through Time (1998)

Solo

• Two Sides Of If (2005)

See also

• Def Leppard
• Dio

References

1. ^ "Dio Biography". http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0ifoxqe5ld6e~T1/. Retrieved 1-9-2009. 
2. ^ "Vivian Campbell Biography". http://www.viviancampbell.com/. Retrieved 1-9-2009. 
3. ^ The Adam Carolla Show with Danny Bonaduce, April 24, 2007

External links

• Vivian Campbell - Official Site
• Vivian Campbell Official MySpace Site
• 2005 Vivian Campbell Interview by Brian D. Holland for Modern Guitars Magazine
• Vivian Campbell @ DefLeppard.com