Vivian Campbell

[Cazmarzak]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I never really considered Dio and Whitesnake and bands like that Hair bands, althought they had plenty of it

I considered the hair bands to be Poison, and bands like that , the glam style bands to be hair bands, I mean really did anyone ever call Ozzy a hair band? HAHHA


I also never really considered Def Lepard to be a metal band either, more of the hard rock category for me.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Vivian Campbell

DIO and OZZY are definitely considered true metal.
"Hair Metal" may or may not have been metal, tho all if it had a glam element.

 

[rmcfee]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I believe Vivian Campbell aslo recently used Vigier guitars which are excellent. They are available with DiMarzio or Duncan pups.
The amazing Shawn Lane also used them. - Rob McFee

 

[ankalar]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I think hair metal is hard rock with the glam aspect, but hair rock just doesn't roll of the tongue like hair metal. TO, I like it to, but it's silly.

 

[Usurper666]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I just call all the glam stuff "Butt Rock", it has nothing to do with real Metal (Dio, Priest, Maiden, etc) I refuse to call any of those Butt Rock bands any kind of "Metal" at all.

Cheers,

CJ

 

[badco33]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I just saw Vivian perform with the Riverdogs in San Diego a few months ago. That's the band he was in after Whitesnake. They released one album with Viv in 91 I think it was and it had a good combination of melodic rock and great solos. The singer is fantastic and Viv really ripped on that album. I still stay up to date on what the singer is doing and his website listed that the Riverdogs and Viv were reforming for a few shows so I went and I was glad I did. The band sounded good and Vivian had his moments. He played 2 Les Pauls and a Tele for the slower songs. They played 2 really small venues in San Diego but he had some sweet tone going. Each night the band stuck around afterwards and talked to people. I went right up to him and said I was a big fan from the Dio, Whitesnake and Riverdogs days and shook his hand. He was real friendly and we talked about some of the songs and his set-up. Just a real cool guy. I talked to him the second night as well and got a pick. He didn't get upset when I asked him about his Dio days or about where his black Les Paul is so regardless of what some of those interviews may say he seems to appreciate it when people talk to him about what he has done in the past and how they enjoy it. At least it seemed that way to me.

That being said, he definitely didn't shred like he used too. I have some old Dio tapes where he just tears it up and it is almost unbelievable. He had some good moments though and you can still see that the fire is there if he wants it to be. He really just plays like a more mature guitar player kind of fitting into the song and singing background. More vibrato and bends instead of harmonics and dive bombs. I think he probably was just never comfortable with the whole guitar hero thing. Of course everyone yelled "Play Rainbow in the Dark" at the show but he just kind of smiled.

I know from articles I have read that he used some Dimarzios and JB's in the old days. During the Riverdogs and Whitesnake days he was playing the Kramer Nightswan with a full shred in the bridge and a hot rails in the neck, he then went to the Andersons when he went on tour with the Riverdogs. He used those for a while and now has gone back to Les Pauls.

If you haven't heard the Riverdogs album check it out. It's on eBay sometimes for pretty cheap. They seem to fit right between Whitesnake and Def Leppard. Not as Heavy as Whitesnake but not as watered down as Def Lep. He had some good solos on that album.

 

[inter]

Re: Vivian Campbell

Nice post badco33.

I have no doubt that Vivian has had to deal with many a moron. Now let's be honest, there are metal fans out there who aren't the sharpest knives in the draw. Can you imagine dealing with these people on a regular basis and knowning every time you do a show you'll get the DIO devil horns :saeek: , holy diver requests, etc :smack:. There would be a few occasions where he's had a gutfull and forgot to play the media game.

 

[NT02]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I just call all the glam stuff "Butt Rock", it has nothing to do with real Metal (Dio, Priest, Maiden, etc) I refuse to call any of those Butt Rock bands any kind of "Metal" at all.

Cheers,

CJ

Butt Rock :haha: Could be my near-delirous state of mind due to too many rough phone calls with mentally challenged clients, but that totally cracked me.

Those ignorant fans are the only reason I'm not a famous rock star. That, and the drugs and easy, beautiful women, and the bus rides and parties and money and... Nevermind. I'm jealous. He should be grateful to the idiots.

 

[shred-dog]

Re: Vivian Campbell

riverdogs and shadow kings albums have amazing tone great cd's and vivian tears it up on the riverdogs cd!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Vivian Campbell

riverdogs and shadow kings albums have amazing tone great cd's and vivian tears it up on the riverdogs cd!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love your enthusiasm, Scott!

 

[Oneeye]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I really don't want to be negative, but Mr. Campbell's soloing on the Dio albums is really out of pitch, sorry! Maybe it's just part of his style, and I enjoy those albums a lot anyway, but he plays out of tune....

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I really don't want to be negative, but Mr. Campbell's soloing on the Dio albums is really out of pitch, sorry! Maybe it's just part of his style, and I enjoy those albums a lot anyway, but he plays out of tune....

Can you supply us with an actual song title , Oneeye?

 

[ankalar]

Re: Vivian Campbell

Oh snizzap, Oneeye, you did NOT just say that in front of TO! He gon' be pizzled of the hizzle now!

 

[Oneeye]

Re: Vivian Campbell

Well, "Gypsy" is one example. He plays fast and bends a lot, but he never reaches correct pitch in his bends, same on "Don't Talk to Strangers". I don't know, some pretty famous guitarists simply play this way and it's quite subtle, it's not like he's sticking out like a sore thumb or anything. In general the phrase "play with one's ears" is seldomly put to effect, if you know what I mean

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Vivian Campbell

Well, "Gypsy" is one example. He plays fast and bends a lot, but he never reaches correct pitch in his bends, same on "Don't Talk to Strangers". I don't know, some pretty famous guitarists simply play this way and it's quite subtle, it's not like he's sticking out like a sore thumb or anything. In general the phrase "play with one's ears" is seldomly put to effect, if you know what I mean

Hmmm ... I'm gonna check out those solos today at work and report back.
I don't think VC's bends were anything to write home about, but I wanna refresh my frame of reference before I vote 'yay' or 'nay' to this one.
Even on Dokken's 1st commercial release (Breaking the Chains), there are what would seem to be some dubious bends ... in actuality, it's the chorusing effect on the guitar. I wanna make sure that's not what we're talking about here ...

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Vivian Campbell

Oh snizzap, Oneeye, you did NOT just say that in front of TO! He gon' be pizzled of the hizzle now!

 

[Cazmarzak]

Re: Vivian Campbell

If I could have played like that when I was only 22 years old, I wouldn't be sitting here talking about someone else who was famous, you guys would be talking about me HAHAHA!

 

[Oneeye]

Re: Vivian Campbell

Mr. Lynch is a good example of a guitarist that has very good pitch in his playing, even though he plays a lot of "out" semitones and such. Malmsteen and Frank Marino both have excellent pitch, Stevie Ray Vaughan too. Slash, although a fine and expressive player, has a tendency to never quite reach pitch. I know I might be cruising for a bruising here. Not my intention to slag good players, just point to a matter seldomly adressed. It's not just in the fingers, the ears are more important, even if you play "fast".

IMHO, I think that Campbell kind of "overdid" it in Dio, playing a bit too flashy for his own good. Haven't heard his later playing, maybe he's more precise now. His sense of rhythm is very good on the Dio albums though. You can always feel the beat when he solos, which is a good thing.

Cheers!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I agree, VC's riff writing is superb, as well as being influential.
Lynch is a god, and no comparison should be made between GL and VC: that's like comparing SRV to some blues hack like Jeff Healey.
I don't think Slash cares about whether his bends are perfect to pitch, as long as the feeling he wants is there ... the closing solo to Paradise City is a perfect example: what a mess! But, it's still fun!!!

 

[Oneeye]

Re: Vivian Campbell

I agree, VC's riff writing is superb, as well as being influential.
Lynch is a god, and no comparison should be made between GL and VC: that's like comparing SRV to some blues hack like Jeff Healey.
I don't think Slash cares about whether his bends are perfect to pitch, as long as the feeling he wants is there ... the closing solo to Paradise City is a perfect example: what a mess! But, it's still fun!!!

No argument there! One of my favourite bands is Venom and you'd be hard pressed to find a single note (or kick drum) in its proper place in that band :laugh2: