Joe Elliott addressed Vivian Campbell’s absence from Def Leppard live shows by saying in a new video, “We’re in Leon in Mexico in a bit of an amphitheater. It’s a kind of a one-off gig and we’re doing it a man down as Vivian is not here.” He added, “Vivian is recuperating from cancer surgery and he’s doing very well, but he’s in a bubble he’s not allowed to travel.”
Elliott also talked about Campbell’s live replacement, he said, “So John Zocco – basically Phil [Collen’s] guitar tech – has manfully stepped up to the plate because he’s a phenomenal player himself and he can sing a bit as well. So, rather get some stranger in that we don’t know, he’s doing it, which is fantastic.” Joe added, “We have every confidence that it will go swimmingly until our boy Vivian is back on the stage with us.”
Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell recently offered an update on his health struggles, “Thank you for all the recent messages and support. As you all may know, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma several years ago. I recently had a bone marrow transplant as part of my treatment plan, and it’s safe to say that thus far it’s been a very successful transplant! I just have to keep my head down and my spirits up for the next 100 days of primary recovery.”
