Why don’t more people talk about Vivian Campbell?

[evildik]

My god. I’ve been revisiting some Dio lately and I think he’s at least at least in the conversation with guys like Lynch and DeMartini when talking about great players from that era. However, it struck me that I almost never hear his name come up.

 

[BlackSG91]

I guess Vivian Campbell is an underrated guitarist in some ways but I sure do love his Kramer Nightswan series of guitars. I love this Nightswan Aztec with the ping-pong dot inlays. It also has double JB pickups...ebony fretboard & I think this one has an R1 nut? Btw...below is Chris who is and has been a devoted musical disciple of Vivian. Chris is also known as 'Grasshopper'.

 

[Vondragonnoggin]

I always thought he was a severely underrated guitarist also.

His guitar work on the Dio albums was amazing. An inspirational player.

 

[SSS]

Dio picked him because his playing was a bit old school compared with the LA players. He can shred with the best of them but seems to have a feel or bluesiness a lot of 80's players lacked. Some people like that, others like pure shredders I guess, maybe that is why he isn't mentioned much?
Amazingly he was only 19 when he joined Dio. The album he did with Riverdogs is worth a listen, very different to Dio but his playing is as tasteful as ever.

 

[squeally dan]

I think he gets overlooked because he’s played rhythm guitar behind Phil in Def Leopard for 100 years.

 

[iamdavea]

Vivian Campbell

I didn't listen to much rock during the eighties but in recent years I've caught up a little and listened to EVH, Paul Gilbert, Zakk Wylde, Jake Lee and others. I've seen a few clips of Vivian playing with Dio and I think he does some great stuff but he doesn't seem to get mentioned as much as...

www.thegearpage.net

 

[RicOkc]

He's a great guitarist and really stood out during his stint in Dio, but since he joined the guys in Leppard he's been more in the background.

 

[jogogonne]

Because it's 2022 and not 1987??

 

[Rick Lee]

Yup, his current gig is what takes him out of that conversation. And that's not a knock at all on Def Lep or Phil Collen. Everyone knows Vivian can shred with the best of them. I'm happy to see him in a very well-paying gig. Seems like a really good guy who's paid his dues and whose chops have always been top notch.

 

[Raimond]

I think he gets overlooked because he’s played rhythm guitar behind Phil in Def Leopard for 100 years.

Umm he plays Steve Clark’s parts on the old songs and Steve played plenty of leads, in fact they were Co-leads and its Def Leppard.

 

[NB_Terry]

My god. I’ve been revisiting some Dio lately and I think he’s at least at least in the conversation with guys like Lynch and DeMartini when talking about great players from that era. However, it struck me that I almost never hear his name come up.

He was rocking this week

 

[evildik]

Matthias Jabs is another one from that era who played some memorable solos. Of course, I could be mistaking Rudy Schenker”s work for his in some cases. .

 

[MERCYFULFATE]

People do talk about Viv.

All the time.

 

[Mudder]

Campbell is great but always seems to be in someone else’s band, like Doug Aldrich or Reb Beach. All awesome players.

 

[derekd]

We've discussed Vivian a number of times before.

Wonderful player but he was much like a dozen or more guys around the same time.

 

[Wyatt Martin]

I have a hunch more people "see" him today than would if he wasn't in Def Leppard.

As a fan of his Dio days I have to admit he made a very wise career move joining Def Leppard. He can break away and play clubs now because he wants to and not because he has to and probably doesn't have to carry anything much heavier than a guitar pick to his gigs.

Without Def Leppard it's hard to say if he wouldn't have disappeared from music altogether 30 years ago.

 

[evildik]

I don’t know. Personal preference I guess. His playing stands out to me above most of the players of that era. I prefer his work over the guys I mentioned in the initial post. I’d say the only players I enjoy as much or more from that general style are EVH, Randy Rhoads, Jake E Lee, & Nuno a little later on.

I agree that a big part of him flying below the radar is likely the Def Leppard gig where he’s taking second chair behind Phil Collen.

 

[Misterbulbous]

Probably be more popular in deaf leopard if he took his shirt off during the shows.

 

[Raimond]

deaf leopard

 

[Misterbulbous]

What?