Def Leppard plan speedier studio return

Def Leppard guitarist Viv Campbell says fans shouldn’t have to wait another seven years for the band’s next release.

They launched their self-titled 11th album last year – their first full-length effort since 2008’s Songs From The Sparkle Lounge.

But Campbell reports that with so many creative ideas within the group, a studio return shouldn’t take quite so long in the future.

He tells Billboard: “I do think it’s encouraged us a lot to the extent I think we’ll see another record a hell of a lot sooner than the time between this one and the last one. There’s always stuff around – there’s always ideas. Everyone in the band is reasonably prolific.

“It’s never the question of not having enough songs – it’s a question of what kind of songs. Every Def Leppard album has to have all these different flavours and hit all these different marks. It’s not a question of just showing up with a dozen rock songs. So that’s what takes a lot of time.”

Campbell, who’s been receiving pioneering medical attention for his Hodgkin’s lymphoma, also gives an update on the current state of his health, saying the treatment is going well.

He says: “It’s had good results so far. I have very, very minimal side effects, so I’ve been very lucky. It’s at least keeping it in check.

“The hardest part is scheduling and the extra travel to get injections every week or so, because I can only do it in Los Angeles. But it allows me to continue to work and that’s of paramount importance to me.

“I refuse to capitulate to this disease. I want to keep working while I can, so all good.”

Def Leppard were forced to cancel the remaining dates of their winter US tour after frontman Joe Elliott was ordered to rest his throat. Campbell reports: “He just needs rest for a couple months. He should be fine.”

Campbell, also a member of Last In Line, recently admitted their future was in doubt following the death of bassist Jimmy Bain.

Def Lep liberated by self-titled album project

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.