INTERVIEW: Vivian Campbell chats ahead of Last In Line Limelight show on Saturday

TOMORROW (Saturday 3rd December) Last In Line finish up their Autum tour with a slot in Belfast's Limelight1 with support from Toseland.

As the band prepared for the show we caight up with Viivian Campbell to chat about Last In Line and their progress and the tragedies they faced.

But first as they draw the tour to an end was Vivian relieved the tour - like any tour - was coming to a close.

"To be honest, I think I'll be mostly sad that it's over," he said. "It's been a great tour and the band has been tremendously well received everywhere that we've played. That said, I'm looking forward to spending time with my family and enjoying the upcoming holidays".

At their date in Wales for Hard Rock Hell X the performance of Last In Line drew a rapturous response from front to back, but did the band get a sense of the buzz throughout the room?

"Absolutely," enthused Vivian. "Fans of this kind of music are very passionate about it and that

passion translates back to us. The energy that we put out from the stage is an integral part of it all, too; you can't play music like this while staring at your shoes".

Vivian and Last in Line singer

Andy Freeman on stage

at Hard Rock Hell X

While the band initially formed to commemorate and celebrate the music from the first three Dio albums they have their own new release 'Heavy Crown' tracks of which have been aired on the tour.

"The new songs seem to fit seamlessly in amongst the Dio songs that we're playing and we couldn't ask for more than that," he said. "The nature of the music on 'Heavy Crown' is very much in the vein of classic Dio.

"It wasn't really something that we intentionally set out to do, but when Jimmy, Vinny and myself play together that's the sound of the band that wrote and recorded those early albums with Ronnie, so it's natural that it would have a similar character".

The feel of 'Heavy Cown' and the classic tracks are getting such a positive response live from those who were there in the 80s and those not even born when they were aired - it is a sense of the music being 'reborn'.

"Yes, very much so. A lot of today's music is computer generated, overly compressed and/or overly corrected through digital media.

"As a result of that, it lacks some of the dynamics of old-school rock. I think there's a real resurgence of and an appreciation for great classic rock, both in recorded form and in the live arena."

Which must make it a challenge to put together a setlist from the ample supply of songs.

"We limit the Dio classics we play to the first 3 albums" he said.

"Those are the albums that featured the original band and within those albums there are many great songs to chose from. However, it's important to us that we also represent the new music from "Heavy Crown", so we try to strike a balance. We're also very adept at changing the set list as we go to reflect what we feel is the mood of the audience."

And, there are plans to once more step into the studio for the next Last In Line release.

"We're already started the writing process for the next record," said Vivian. "We don't know when, exactly we'll be able to deliver a new album, but it will be completed sometime in 2017."

However, the passing of Jimmy Bain also came recently, but he has left a substantial legacy.

"Jimmy was involved in the writing and recording of many great classic records over his long career," said Vivian. "He was a very gifted writer who I feel never got the recognition that he truly deserved. His input on "Heavy Crown" was immense and he was very, very proud of both the band and the record. I feel that "Heavy Crown" is a fitting end to an illustrious legacy."

The last time we chatted to Vivian he revealed that as well as Last In Line and playing in Def Leppard he also played in a bar band. How does a man keep his hunger for strapping on the six-string?

Vivian comfortable with his

six-string at HRH X 

"It's quite simple, really, we are what we do, and I'm a guitar player," he said. "That's all I ever wanted to do from the time I was a child and I feel incredibly fortunate that I've been able to lead the life that I have and that I've gotten to play with so many talented musicians and bands.

"There have been times in my career when that hunger has waned slightly, but as long as you keep feeding the passion it never truly dies."

And, if you never have seen Last In Line you'll realise that Vivian's passion burns bright with every note he plays. Make sure you don't miss tomorrow's show!

Interview by Jonathan Traynor
Pictures courtesy of Darren McVeigh of MetalplanetBelfast

This is not a tribute...This is the Last In Line

THERE are always a few dissenting voices when any band tries to do something, anything. Hence when Vivian Campbell announced that he was bringing back the original members of Dio back, there were people who doubted the validity of this exercise.

Campbell was quick to deal with those doubters addressing his and Jimmy Bain's authorship of the songs, and that was before he was diagnosed with Hodgins Lymphoma, and before the planned tour was curtailed to four-dates.

As always Campbell was strident in his defence of the decision to tour with Jimmy Bain, Vinne Appice, Claude Schnell and singer Andy Freeman. Last night (Thursday, 8th August) the decision of Campbell, Bain et al was justified as they turned in an superb set.

Campbell, of course, began his career with Sweet Savage, immortalised when Metallica covered Killing Time. Thus it was appropriate that Savage opened up for Last In Line, albeit with only Raymie Haller from the original line-up in place.

Determined to place their mark on the proceedings Sweet Savage ploughed straight in to their set, pushing many songs faster than previous. It was title track of the last album, Regenerator, before things settled down; however, by the time they played Killing Time it was back to a frenetic stampede.

Special mention must go to Simon McBride, who appearing for the first time with Sweet Savage, and normally best known for his blues licks, played a stormer set of solos and tight riffage.

With the questions still to be asked about Last In Line, their set opened suitably dramatically, and by the time Freeman settled into his role it was clear that this was more than re-capping old history.

An immaculate sound, with clear separation between Bain's bass and Campbell's guitar lent life and power to the songs; Appice nailed it to the proverbial 'T' and Schnell seemed a very happy camper, relaxed and adding flourishes when needed, but not over-burdening the metallic soundscape.

Running through all the standards off the first two Dio albums, plus the title track Sacred Heart from the the third LP, it was inevitable that this would be a crowd pleasing set; what was not inevitable was the panache that all five members carried the songs forward.

Campbell was noticeably happy at just laying down the familiar tracks and re-visiting the solos, with dexterity and faithfulness - no surprise being the author of them. What it did show is that he retains a fondness and enthusiasm for being a six-string leader, despite his dalliances with the softer side of rock - indeed one punter commented that "he's wasted in Def Leppard".

Freeman's role in the band was always going to be the one subject to question - how would he cope with standards like Holy Diver, Don't Talk to Strangers, Last in Linee etc.

Campbell, Appice and Bain have always been adamant that the former Lynch Mob front man was not a Ronnie copyist, and that he was not there as a sound-alike.

He did not try to imitate Dio's stage moves, nor did he try to sound exactly like Mr Dio; but with the phrasing and intonations of the songs so set it in stone it would be impossible not to repeat those lyrics like Ronnie. At times it was uncanny in how alike he sounded. Having said that he retained his own personality throughout and laid down a professional and likeable performance.

All-in-all this set, this performance and this attitude did Campbell and his cohorts proud; it laid down a marker for years to come. With Campbell wedded to his trademark Les Paul  and with a classic metal sound this does beg one question: is there life beyond re-visiting the Dio years. From the evidence on display in Belfast, could there be new recordings from this five-piece?

With all members having their own projects and band commitments such a question remains moot, but with songwriting talent and outstanding musicianship it must be something worth all the members seriously considering.

Until then it is sufficient to say that this was not a tribute, this was an outstanding replaying of memories, an opportunity to see four of the originals from the '80s pound it down with a frontman showing he was more than just a session singer.

This was a truly enjoyable night, and one can but hope that this was not be the last time the Last In Line grace stages.