Viv Campbell slams Gibson

[Bengal]

Since popularity is the driving factor here, can the Hannah Montana signature model Les Paul be far behind? Hey, she sells way more records these days than either Foo Fighters or Def Leppard. That must mean she's really good.

Why not? If Avril Lavine can get a signature Fender Tele, why not Hanna?

[John C]

Just to move this from Hannah Montana back to Viv Campbell, but it sounds like his GW interview was just warming things up for him to kick Gibson to the curb. In the short piece on Def Leppard in Guitar Player he only mentions playing his Les Pauls (and Phil mentions his Jacksons - with oversized necks compared to the production models).

Per this post over on the PRS forum Birds and Moons, Campbell is back with Buddy Blaze (designer of the NightSwan guitar) - He is evidently playing Blaze's take on the Les Paul:

http://www.buddyblaze.com/BB-Instrument.php?ID=5

Someone saw Campbell playing one and thought it was a PRS Singlecut, which started the post on BAM:

http://forums.birdsandmoons.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48898&page=2

EDIT: Sorry; hosed the image link so I went back and put in the link to the Blaze prodcut page.

[shreddermon]

Viv was clearly slagging Gibson because he was turned down for artist support. It's not that Gibson doesn't deserve the slagging - it's that Viv was airing "dirty laundry" and taking a cheap potshot at the company, when he was really just upset about being denied artist support. It's very clear that Viv just doesn't like his lot in life, and is a bitter guy in general. He just sounds like an @ss more and more.

He also made a statement in the most recent Guitar Player (?) mag, saying that DefLep "isn't the most challenging" stuff to play or something to that effect. It was a total back-handed compliment-type of BS. A pro shouldn't go shitting in his own bed like that.

If I was one of the other members of DefLep, I would've been totally P.O.'d at the choad. If you're not liking it, then get out of the f**kin' band. You're doing the other members - and the band as a whole - a disservice by whining like that. There's plenty of other guys who would love to be doing what you do, and would be genuinely appreciative of it every day. And they'd probably be much better songwriters than Viv, too.

[BTB007]

I knew something was up when I saw this pic on the news sections of deflep.com. This was taken last week in Manchester.

[horns666]

Rudy, Really Goldy blew on the last Dio tour. I only saw him around '00 during the Magica tour when Yngwie opened for him. He played and sounded pretty outstanding that night. BUT I think they did play newer material tho and a few Rainbow and Black Sabbath tunes.

Yes, I do have Goldy's solos stuff and they do truly suck. I always liked his playing even with Guiffria even tho that sounded like Journey or some shit. I do like his solo spot in the Starz project..

[Bengal]

I will give Viv his due. I was listening to Holy Diver while walking to work and I must say that the solo in that song is very, very tasty. I've always loved that solo. Even if his tone was a little thin.

[savage]

I will give Viv his due. I was listening to Holy Diver while walking to work and I must say that the solo in that song is very, very tasty. I've always loved that solo. Even if his tone was a little thin.

I myself have nothing against VIv's playing(he can throw down) but cant stand his attitude

[CharvelRocker]

If Viv doesn't take a chill pill he's going to have a skullet in a another year or so

[SEEGERMANY]

He also made a statement in the most recent Guitar Player (?) mag, saying that DefLep "isn't the most challenging" stuff to play or something to that effect. It was a total back-handed compliment-type of BS. A pro shouldn't go shitting in his own bed like that.

Didn't Viv make the comment a year or two ago that he was glad to give up the whole "shred fest" image and was enjoying the more straight ahead rock and roll performed by DL?

[savage]

If I was one of the other members of DefLep, I would've been totally P.O.'d at the choad. If you're not liking it, then get out of the f**kin' band. You're doing the other members - and the band as a whole - a disservice by whining like that. There's plenty of other guys who would love to be doing what you do, and would be genuinely appreciative of it every day. And they'd probably be much better songwriters than Viv, too.

they should dump his ego ridden ass!
talkin shit about yer own band is not cool at all!

[Bengal]

In the same issue Michael Schenker slams Def Leppard.

He says something like somebody brought over "On Through The Night" and after they played it he asked Michael what the thought of it, he said "Not much".

He then said they went to see them in concert and had to leave it sounded so bad.

Damn, GW has become a bitch fest.

I love it.

[SEEGERMANY]

In the same issue Michael Schenker slams Def Leppard.

Now that's a hoot!

[roodyrocker]

that may be true of many of JCFers, who grew up listening to metal & hard rock in the 80s. But young guitarists, guys in their teens or 20s now, would probably have little idea of who Viv is. Maybe their parents like soft cock rock, or their mum got the new Def Leppard album for mother's day, or they're digging back into metal history a bit like guys my age might've done with Led Zep or Sabbath and discovered stuff like Dio. But most of them would have a much better idea of who Grohl is, even if they consider the Foo Fighters too mainstream or sellout corporate rock or whatever.

Ah, but thats what I used to think too until about 4 years ago when I got a big surprise. My band which does 80's covers was asked to play on campus by college kids at Ohio State University after a big OSU game. We were one of about 4 bands. I thought they weren't going to recognize the music as most weren't even born when some of this stuff came out. To my surprise they knew much of it and one came up to me afterwards and said he was impressed that we pulled off Bark At The Moon. He stated that was the hardest song to play on Guitar Hero! At the time I had no clue what Guitar Hero was Younger kids have heard Guns N Roses, Rush, Ozzy, Black Sabbath etc... because of this. The other factor is that I read an article which stated that younger generations know more of their parents music than older ones because of access on the internet. They are seeking the roots of today's music that they listen to and are more likely to search for it whereas that option wasn't there for us (I'm 45 btw). It also stated that over 40% of Beatles current CD sales are among people under the age of 30! Another shocker to me! Maybe there is hope yet for them
Anyway, Grohl's music is the type that is here today, gone later today

[Bengal]

I think Grohl will have much more staying power than you have stated roody.

Lets keep in mind he's been around for about 18-20 years making platinum albums. A bit better than any hair band I can think of.

[Bengal]

And if kids know 80's hair metal it's because all their parents are tying to reclaim their youth and dragging their kids to Faster Pussycat playing at Bobs Bait & Tackle.

That and guitar hero, like was mentioned. I fucking hate guitar hero.