Viv’s too busy – but he also believes it’s too difficult to find someone who can sing like icon Ronnie
Original and best: The first Dio lineup including Campbell, right
Vivian Campbell doesn’t want to take part in any of the upcoming Dio tribute albums – but not for the reasons most might suspect.
The guitarist, who had an infamously difficult relationship with the iconic singer before moving on to play with Def Leppard and Thin Lizzy, says he doesn’t have time to commit to the project. But more important, he doubts anyone can be found to replicate Dio’s voice.
Campbell tells InsideHeavy: “I haven’t been asked, but I’m not too sure I’d want to. Even if I did, I’m not available – I’m about to go on tour with Def Leppard and I’ve been playing with Lizzy, so it’s a pretty busy schedule.
“I’d only be interested in playing with the original guys, Vinny Appice on drums, Jimmy Bain on bass and Claude Schnell on keyboards.
“And I can’t imagine who would sing it. It would need to be one hell of a singer, because Ronnie was definitely the best of the genre. I can’t imagine too many guys can sing like that.”
The war of words between Campbell and Dio continued at a low level after the guitarist was sacked in 1986. The singer died last year but his wife and manager Wendy recently repeated that Campbell “always said he hated all the albums he played on with Ronnie.”
But Campbell states: “Musically it was great. The first incarnation of the Dio band was hands-down the best, and the first two records were really strong.
“After that something happened. A lot of people to this day think I turned my back on the band, but that’s not true: Ronnie fired me half-way through the Sacred Heart tour. I never wanted to leave, but Ronnie had a different idea. We never spoke again.
“He was so much older than me – it was like being in a band with your dad, and in my case, your stepdad. We didn’t have a lot in common other than the music; it was a very strained relationship. I’m sure it was as awkward for him as it was for me.”
Like it or not, this motherfucker saved Dio’s ass back in 1983 after Ronnie was kicked out of Sabbath.
At that time he was way better than Blackmore and Iommi put together … Too bad he has lost it all since then!
I like Viv. He’s a straight up guy and has always been a class act (something you don’t find much in the rock music business). He has to take a backseat to Phil Collen in his gig with Def Leppard, but he’s one of the most underrated guitarists of his generation.
Viv’s a great guy. He and Joe actually make the good songs in the band, but they only play the greatest hits so he never gets to show his skills off. Not that Def Leppard is a group that really cares to shred, but they have some big powerful solos sometimes. Love Paper Sun, DHTH, etc.
Found this interview on antiMUSIC.com good one. Hey Viv…call me. I’ll sing on that Tribute when you’re ready. I’d be honored. Just jammed those songs with Jimmy Bain a couple days ago buddy. Be safe. Talk soon
OMG, Vivian Campbell did not save Dio’s ass. Dio made him. If not for Campbell it would have been somebody else and Dio would have been just as great.
Campbell was better than Blackmore and Iommi??? That’s even a more insane comment. Iommi practically invented heavy metal.
I admire Campbell’s reasoning for not taking part in this project but couldn’t those points also apply to Thin Lizzy?
Asides from the time, I suppose – it sounds as if he’s planning to return to Lizzy when time allows. If that’s the case it supports that view… But you raise a good point.
His reasoning is BS. Its easy to say good things about someone when they are dead. Vivian said a lot of evil stuff about Ronnie in the press over the years. I remember when he joined Def Leppard he said to the press that the music he made with Dio was terrible & that Dio sucks. Vivian is a hypocrite, period.
It’s also possible he’s changed his mind over the years. When someone is interviewed a lot their opinions become a matter of record. There’s a lot of things I said ten years ago I’m glad aren’t written down because I’d never agree with them today. Death is the ultimate rethinker – perhaps he looked at things differently following Dio’s passing.
Just a suggestion!
First, Dio screened about a hundred guitar players before he hired Campbell who could save his ass.
Second, Dio based all his shows after 1986 on Viv’s songs recorded on the first two albums
Third, Iommi may be heavier but not better than Campbell (Even Tracy G sounds as heavy as Iommi)
Fourth, if Dio had paid him better Vivian would have stayed and we wouldn’t have had to listen to this Goldy loser
First… Dio wasn’t fired from Black Sabbath as far as I know; he chose to leave because of issues going on between him and Iommi/Butler.
Second… I don’t really think that it’s a fair comparison between Iommi and Campbell… They play the instrument so differently, that they really aren’t much alike, even if they both play metal. In my opinion, Grijalva, Iommi, and Goldy (and Robertson) all played better stuff than Campbell (I think that Dio only got better after Campbell, call me weird or whatever), but they all have their own signature styles and are all excellent in their own rights.
Third… Why dis Goldy? He’s good!
Fourth… From what I can see, just by watching old interviews and stuff, Campbell seems quite a hypocrite… But obviously I don’t know exactly what happened, so I can’t say for sure.
RIP RJD!