DEF LEPPARD Guitarist On Touring, Longevity And NWOBHM

September 4, 2008

Ilikemusic recently conducted an interview with DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

Ilikemusic: You're coming to the end of a massive global tour with WHITESNAKE. Has touring changed over the years? Do you still enjoy it?

Vivian: "Yeah, I think we still enjoy touring! Though going on tour now is very different to going on tour back in the day — we're not sleeping on guitar amps in the back of a van after playing in bars and coffee shops anymore. We worked really hard and took every opportunity we could. Things have definitely become easier; nowadays, you get into a sort of routine while touring. It's much more comfortable."

Ilikemusic: With over three decades of being in the music business, you're still keeping fans captivated. How do you manage it after so long?

Vivian: "Well, we're certainly an ambitious band. I mean, we have enough of a back catalogue to just play old songs on stage but, as musicians, we always look forward to playing new songs too. New material and energetic stadium shows really help when you're trying to cultivate a whole new set of younger fans."

Ilikemusic: DEF LEPPARD were initially considered the leaders of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. How do you feel about this title?

Vivian: "Well, we never really thought the title fit us. We came out around the same time as bands like IRON MAIDEN, who eventually did claim the status — and they deserved it. DEF LEPPARD were a lot heavier back then but we soon morphed into a hard, stadium rock band, which was a new sub-genre of music at the time."

Read the entire interview at Ilikemusic.

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