LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 22: Guitarist Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard performs on the opening night of “VIVA Hysteria!,” the band’s 11-show residency, at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on March 22, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for Def Leppard)
Def Leppard guitarists Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen recently did an interview with Graspop Metal Meeting and during one of their answers they were talking about how Def Leppard has evolved with the changes in the music industry, especially with the state of rock over the last few decades.
Vivian Campbell explains why the perception of rock is different now compared to how it was in the past. Vivian says the difference is due a shift in attitude from rock bands, he added that newer bands “don’t have balls.”
“You’ve gotta find the right balance between being good at your craft and still having the right attitude…Bands who come out in this day and age, a lot of ’em, what is missing…I mean, they have talent, they can write songs, they can sing, they can play, but they don’t have balls. And you listen to something back from the ’90s or the ’80s or ’70s, there was something earthy about it, there was an intent you had to have.”
Vivian elaborated to say that bands who got popular in the 70s and 80s, despite being older today, they still go out and have the same attitude they had back then.
“Phil [Collen] is 61. I’m not far behind. We’re all at a certain level and we’ve gotten really good at our craft, but we still go out there and we play it with a real fucking rock attitude.”
Watch the full interview below. Vivian gives his answer at the 2:38 mark.
Def Leppard will begin their Las Vegas residency later on this year. For tour dates and more info click here.
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