DEF LEPPARD's VIVIAN CAMPBELL On His Rock God Phil Lynott

Friday, 31st March 2023

Def Leppard 2023

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell appeared on The Rock Show on BBC Radio 2 and chose his Rock God.

The new album Drastic Symphonies will be released on Friday 19th May.

The album will feature 16 classic Def Leppard songs reworked and reimagined with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London.

The first single 'Animal' was released to digital and streaming services on the same day as the announcement - listen below.

Vivian's other band Last In Line today released their third album Jericho which is available to buy and stream.

Vivian Campbell Chooses His Rock God

Vivian appeared as a guest on the BBC Radio 2 Rock Show earlier tonight.

The show is hosted by veteran BBC DJ Johnnie Walker whose BBC Radio show in January 1993 featured one of the band's first ever live acoustic sessions.

Vivian chose Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott as his Rock God.

Like Phil in 2022 he did not go the obvious route and choose a guitar player.

Vivian also revealed some interesting trivia about his first band Sweet Savage and the Dublin venue where he would later play his first Def Leppard show in 1992 (before the Freddie Mercury Tribute).

Last In Line's 'Do The Work' was played before Vivian's segment.

Thin Lizzy's 'Thunder And Lightning' was also played.

The show was broadcast from 11pm to 12am.

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

Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

Def Leppard 2023.

The Rock Show with Johnnie Walker - 31st March 2023 Show Quotes

Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell picks his Rock God!

Johnnie Walker - "Time now for My Rock God. Every week an artist reveals their Rock God to us. And last week Cormac Neeson from The Answer chose Paul Rodgers."

Johnnie Walker - "This week it's the turn of Vivian Campbell from Def Leppard."

Johnnie Walker - "Guitarist Vivian joined Joe Elliott and the boys in 1992 and his first gig was at The Freddie Mercury Tribute show at Wembley Stadium. Wow, bet he was nervous."

Johnnie Walker - "And before he was part of Def Leppard Vivian played with DIO in the 80s and also had a spell in Whitesnake."

Johnnie Walker - "These days as well as his full time job, he's also in Last In Line. Made up of musicians from DIO's original band."

Johnnie Walker - "They release a new album today called Jericho. And before we hear from Vivian here's a track from the album. It's called Do the Work."

Vivian Campbell - "Hi I'm Viv Campbell of Def Leppard and my Rock God is Phil Lynott."

Vivian Campbell - "Linott, Lynott - however you wanna pronounce it, Phil was an absolute rock star. When Phil walked into the room everyone noticed and he held everyone's attention."

Vivian Campbell - "It was such an inspiration to me and to my musician friends that, you know, growing up in Ireland, Belfast in the 70s. It wasn't a fun place, but to witness this band Thin Lizzy get this international success."

Vivian Campbell - "To be on shows like Top Of The Pops, but yet they were the cool rock band when everyone else was doing disco music."

Vivian Campbell - "I met Phil Lynott so many times."

Vivian Campbell - "I had a band called Sweet Savage. We were teenagers."

Vivian Campbell - "We had pretty much a regular gig at a pub in Dublin called McGonagles. And on several occasions Phil got up with us and performed a Lizzy song which obviously really helped our credibility."

Vivian Campbell - "It really kind of helped us to look up to this man and to this band and to say, you know, it's possible to move beyond what it is that we see around us in our daily lives and to dream big."

Vivian Campbell - "So thank you Phil Lynott."

Johnnie Walker - "The title track of Thin Lizzy's 1983 album. That's Thunder And Lightning and Phil Lynott was the Rock God of guitarist Vivian Campbell."

Johnnie Walker - "Vivian a busy guy right now. Touring with his band Def Leppard."

Johnnie Walker - "Their world tour with Motley Crue hits the UK on the 22nd of May at Bramall Lane in Sheffield."

Johnnie Walker - "And if that's not enough work for one man, he's also released an album today with his other band Last In Line."

Johnnie Walker - "And that album is called Jericho."

The Rock Show with Johnnie Walker - 31st March 2023 Show Quotes

Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell picks his Rock God!

Guitarist Vivian Campbell is a busy man. Not only is he on a mammoth world tour with his band, Def Leppard, he's also got a new album out with his other band, Last In Line.

Vivian first came to prominence in Dio's band in the 1980's and he's reunited with some of his Dio bandmates for the Last In Line project (and of course they take their name from the classic Dio album, too). He's been with Def Leppard since 1992, after a brief stint in Whitesnake. Safe to say, his Rock God is a cracker!

Elsewhere, Johnnie's marking the 20 year anniversary of the White Stripes album Elephant. This week's Live and Dangerous comes from an early Johnnie Walker Radio 1 session from Hawkwind in 1972!

Listen to the show here with Vivian's part starting at 40 minutes in.

Def Leppard 2023.

New Single - Animal (feat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)

01 - Animal - 4:03 - Amazon - (MP3)

Producer - Def Leppard/Ronan McHugh/Nick Patrick
Mixer - Ronan McHugh
Release Date - 16th March 2023

Buy 'Drastic Symphonies' Online

Amazon - 1CD
Amazon - 1CD/Blu-ray
Amazon - 2LP Regular Vinyl
Amazon - MP3

Drastic Symphonies (feat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - Tracklisting

01 - Turn To Dust - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:29
02 - Paper Sun - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:33
03 - Animal - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:03
04 - Pour Some Sugar On Me (Stripped Version) - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:26
05 - Hysteria - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:56
06 - Love Bites - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 6:41
07 - Goodbye For Good This Time - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:26
08 - Love - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 3:55
09 - Gods Of War - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 6:45
10 - Angels (Can't Help You Now) - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:58
11 - Bringin' On The Heartbreak - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:33
12 - Switch 625 - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 3:04
13 - Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:55 - (Bonus Track)
14 - Too Late For Love - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 5:37
15 - When Love & Hate Collide - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - 4:16
16 - Kings Of The World - (Def Leppard with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - 6:19

Producer - Def Leppard/Ronan McHugh/Nick Patrick
Mixer - Ronan McHugh
Record Label - Universal Music Recordings/Bludgeon Riffola
Total Time - 82 mins
Release Date - 19th May 2023

Def Leppard (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) - Drastic Symphonies - SHM-CD 1CD Version (Japan)

Def Leppard Drastic Symphonies - Product Description (Translated)

"Co-starring work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, one of London's leading orchestras."

"London's leading orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Def Leppard have teamed up to dramatically reconstruct the songs Def Leppard has released in the past, making it more spectacular and lively than ever."

"In this work, not only Def Leppard's super famous songs, but also the original tape sound sources of hidden masterpieces are played with the performance of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra."

"New vocals and guitars have also been added, which complement the beautiful orchestral arrangements. There are also several passages in which Joe Elliott sings a duet with his younger self."

"The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios on March 22, 2022. The album was produced by Def Leppard, Ronan McHugh, and Nick Patrick (producers of the album with Elvis, Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys, Buddy Holly and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and other orchestras)."

"Arranged by Eric Goffen (Neil Diamond, Ryan Adams, Christina Aguilera)"

Def Leppard 2023.