Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell Discusses Upcoming Stem-Cell Transplant

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has been battling Hodgkin's lymphoma for over a year now. He recently announced the good news that for the second time the cancer is in remission.

After it was revealed earlier this week that he would be out of action until Christmas as he undergoes stem-cell surgery, Campbell has posted the following statement to the fans on his Facebook page:

As many of you know, I’ve been scheduled to start a stem cell transplant and as soon as I got home from tour I began the necessary tests and preparations. I’ll be admitted to hospital soon for all the yucky bits, so in the meantime I’m headed to Target to stock up on cozy pajamas, fresh underwear, and a sackful of car-porn.

Unfortunately, this means that I won’t be able to perform with the band on the upcoming NFL broadcast on Sept. 28th, nor will I be able to do the shows scheduled for Oct/Nov.

While I can’t say that I’m looking forward to the process ahead, I’m very much looking forward to what I feel will be a most successful outcome. Next year will be very busy for Def Leppard with a new album and a world tour, and frankly, I don’t think they would sound as loud without me, so I have no intention of letting the team down!

See you all (with hair!) in 2015.

Viv

The new Def Leppard album is tentatively scheduled to be released in April or May of 2015.

In a radio interview this week, frontman Joe Elliott talked about Campbell's situation: "So, up until Christmas, he’s gonna be kind of out of action, because once they start on this, they have to keep him so locked down and away from germs and stuff. I think anybody visiting him has to put on one of those nuclear suits. He’ll be locked away and he’ll be the boy in the bubble, but he’s very confident that he can do this and his spirits are great.”