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Def Leppard Band Member / Vivian Campbell

guitars since 1992

A section for Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell with details of all releases and tours played on and personal information.


Def Leppard Vivian Campbell.

Vivian Campbell 1992 to Present

  • Instrument - Guitars/Backing Vocals.
  • Joined Band - 14th April 1992.
Main Information
  • Full Name - Vivian Patrick Campbell.
  • Birth Date - Saturday, 25th August 1962.
  • Birth Location - Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  • Nicknames - Viv.
  • Previous Bands - Sweet Savage.
  • Previous Bands - DIO.
  • Previous Bands - Trinity.
  • Previous Bands - Whitesnake.
  • Previous Bands - Shadow King.
  • Lives In - California.
  • Father - Vivian Snr (Died 2009).
  • Mother - Mary - (Died 2010).
  • Brother - John - (Played saxophone on the YEAH! album).
  • Brother - Michael.
  • Sister - Fiona.
  • Wife - Caitlin Campbell (formerly Phaneuf/Married 4th July 2014).
  • Ex-Wife - Julie 'Jewels' Devoney Campbell (1987-2012).
  • Children - Lily Rose (Daughter - born 6th May 1999) w/ Julie.
  • Children - Una Marigold (Daughter - born 9th May 2001) w/ Julie.
  • Read More

vivian campbell / band member info

Vivian was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and got his first guitar after seeing a Rory Gallagher concert.
He bought a Gibson Les Paul for 500 pounds and learned how to play.
Inspired by Thin Lizzy guitarists Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson and also Gary Moore.

He later formed his own band Sweet Savage before finding fame with DIO and Whitesnake in the 1980s.
He abandoned solo album plans to join Def Leppard in February 1992 and auditioned in Los Angeles.
Officially becoming a band member in April 1992 the day before his first concert in Dublin.

Joe Elliott (1992)

"We got everything we were looking for. He's our age. He's a nice guy. Good sense of humour and he plays good soccer too. All bonuses!."

Vivian Campbell (1992)

"With Def Leppard it's a little different - a lot different because Def Leppard is notorious as being one of those real band situations."
"Where they kind of grew up together and went through thick and thin."
"So that's a much more rewarding situation than just being a guitar player in someone's band."

Joe Elliott (1992)

"When we played our first gig, it was like Vivian had always been in the band - Def Leppard Mark II."

Illness/Treatment (2013 to Present)

In March 2013 Vivian was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma but has continued to tour and record with Def Leppard, Last In Line and Riverdogs.
Since mid 2015 he has been receiving monthly Immunotherapy treatments which have held his has cancer at bay which allows him to life normally and continue his musical career.

Vivian Campbell (November 2019)

"To be honest it's the least of my concerns and it always has been. Other than the first few months when they told me I had cancer. You know that's scary. You don't really know how to respond to it. But after a few months of that I looked at it very pragmatically. You know you have two choices in life with anything that's thrown at you. You can capitulate or you can pull your socks up and move on you know."

"But I've been very very fortunate that after a few failed chemotherapy attempts of different types of chemo. And I tried a Stem Cell transplant and that didn't work either. So it kept coming back and then I was fortunate that I got chosen for a clinical trial in the US for a new drug and I happen to be one of the people that responds very well. It's a drug called KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab). It's now on the market. And I believe it's one of the first drugs that was ever given to people for any kind of cancer that is dependent on a genetic marker that about a third of the population have."




vivian campbell / releases featured on


tours played on

  • All tours since April 1992.

releases featured on

  • All since Make Love Like A Man (1992) - (B-Sides)

instruments played

  • Electric Guitar.
  • Acoustic Guitar.
  • Backing Vocals.
  • Lead Vocals (2015).

vivian campbell / other bands/projects

  • Last In Line - 2012 to present.
  • Riverdogs - 1989 to 1990, 2004/2017.
  • Two Sides Of If - Solo Album 2005.
  • Clock - 1998-2003. 1 Album.
  • Red Felt Pig - 1992-2003. 3 Albums.
  • Sir Sodoff & The Trainwrecks - Live cover band.
  • Thin Lizzy - Live Shows 2011.


vivian campbell / latest news

Def Leppard News
29th february 2020

VIVIAN CAMPBELL To Raise Money For Music Education/Animals On DEF LEPPARD's Stadium Tour

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell was interviewed recently by Washington radio to promote the 20/20 Vision tour.

Def Leppard News
24th february 2020

VIVIAN CAMPBELL Says DEF LEPPARD Have Scheduled Writing Sessions For New Studio Album

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has been interviewed by Iowa radio and mentioned work on the next studio album.

Def Leppard News
18th february 2020

DEF LEPPARD's VIVIAN CAMPBELL Looking Forward To THE STADIUM/20/20 VISION Tours

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell was interviewed yesterday by Oklahoma radio to promote the 20/20 Vision tour.





vivian campbell / tours played on

World Tour 2020
Def Leppard Tour / 2020

The Stadium Tour/2020 Vision Tour 2020

48 shows scheduled from May to October.

World Tour 2019
Def Leppard Tour / 2019

World Tour 2019

43 shows played from March to October.

World Tour 2018
Def Leppard Tour / 2018

World Tour 2018

84 Shows played from March to December.







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