SALUTE TO HARD ROCK LEGEND VIVIAN CAMPBELL

Sad news in the world of hard rock that Def Leppard guitarist VIVIAN CAMPBELL, who joined the band in the early 1990's in the wake of the tragic death of the band's star guitarist STEVE CLARK, is battling Hodgkins Lymphoma, although the prognosis appears to be good at this stage for a full recovery there is still a long road ahead for this very gifted traditional melody and riff loving hard rock guitarist.


Besides his stoic if not heroic tenure in Def Leppard, Campbell made a big name for himself in the early to mid 80's playing in the band of gothic trad metal superstar RONNIE JAMES DIO, who was the first and only worthy replacement for OZZY OSBOURNE in BLACK SABBATH. His definitive work for Dio was his blistering and thumping performance on the debut Dio album HOLY DIVER in 1983.

Argubaly Campbell went one better being a member of the short lived and spectacular AOR group SHADOW KING, which also featured LOU GRAMM of FOREIGNER on lead vocals. Shadow King only released one self titled album in 1991, but it was a ballbuster, and besides some stellar and mesmerizing vocals from Gramm, Campbell cooked up some absolutely ripsnorting and downright breathtaking guitar riffs on the album.

At his best the irish born guitarist was a hard rock legend, right up there with GARY MOORE and JOHN SYKES from WHITESNAKE, too other 80's guitarists who could play some monster chops. Included here is a clip of THIS HEART OF STONE off the SHADOW KING album.