DEF LEPPARD's CAMPBELL: 'I Haven't Been This Excited About Guitar Playing Since My Teens!'

Sean Patrick Dooley of Gibson.com recently conducted an interview with DEF LEPPARD/THIN LIZZY guitarist Vivian Campbell. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Gibson.com: What has it meant to you, playing with THIN LIZZY these last few months?

Vivian: It's been a tremendous pleasure to tour with THIN LIZZY. Playing with a band that meant so much to me in my formative years has really rekindled my passion for the instrument again. I haven't been this excited about guitar playing since I was in my teens!

Gibson.com: Has there been any talk about THIN LIZZY possibly writing and recording new music? Would you take part in that if you could?

Vivian: Yes, and yes. It would be brilliant to go into the studio with the band. THIN LIZZY's songs were always guitar driven, so that would be a very tasty proposition.

Gibson.com: Would you like to be a part of future THIN LIZZY tours, should you be available?

Vivian: Absolutely! However, I continue to be fully committed to DEF LEPPARD, and we're going to be on the road from June of this year, so LIZZY are searching for a replacement for me for their continuing summer dates. They have very kindly offered me the opportunity to come back when my schedule with DEF LEPPARD opens up, and you can bet that I'll be there in a heartbeat!

Gibson.com: DEF LEPPARD has a big tour this summer. Will the band be writing and demoing songs on the road for a new studio album, like you guys did for the "Sparkle Lounge" album?

Vivian: Yes, we will. It's our intention to release a full album of new songs in 2012, and in order to do that we'll have to be writing as we go this summer.

Gibson.com: Late DEF LEPPARD guitarist Steve Clark wasn't a super-human shredder, and his parts are not necessarily challenging for you. Still, you rarely stray from the way he laid it down. Steve's legacy is important to you, isn't it?

Vivian: Steve's solos were more thematic than technical, and as such, they became an integral part of the songs. Your ear wants to hear the melodies that he recorded on the original albums. I try to be as faithful to his parts as I can whilst, at the same time, trying to inject some of the more aggressive aspects of my playing style.

Read the entire interview from Gibson.com.