Rick Allen gives positive health update on Vivian Campbell: “On the up and up”
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen recently shared some good news about bandmate and guitarist Vivian Campbell’s current health.
Campbell was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013. He has subsequently been away from the band to undergo a bone marrow transplant. However, in a conversation with Eddie Trunk on Eddie’s podcast, Allen shared some positive news.
“He’s doing really good,” Allen reported of Campbell. “And the latest news is he’s feeling great.”
“I’m just hoping that Vivian can get back out with us as soon as possible,” the drummer continued. “We just need to give Viv time to figure things out in his own time. And I think that’s the most important thing. We don’t want to put any kind of pressure on Vivian. We never would. It’s about his comfort level,” Allen clarified. “And if he can be out there with us, then we’re just going to love that.”
Northern Irish artist Campbell first rose to prominence in the early 1980s as a member of Dio before finding his feet as the rhythm guitarist of Def Leppard following Steve Clark’s death in 1991.
He has spent over a decade battling cancer. Allen celebrated Campbell’s resilience, stating: “It amazes me too, that he’s able to rise above. That inspires me. That inspires me to want to go out there. The fact that I have bandmates that are – they’re strong. They’ve got incredible characters. So I’m just really happy that Viv’s on the up and up.”
He continued candidly: “I’m looking forward – I haven’t seen him in quite a while – so I’m really looking forward to seeing him and just supporting him along his journey.”
Def Leppard has an exciting summer ahead. They will perform at several festivals and have several headline US and Canadian dates. Bret Michaels and Extreme will join them for their shows, which Allen said they will attack with “guns blazing.”
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