Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier this year, has posted an update on his battle with cancer.
“For anyone who gives a toss, after doing another PET scan and all the other follow up tests, then getting a second opinion etc., I'm officially in remission from Hodgies,” wrote Campbell. “That's the good news. The bad news is: I no longer have an excuse to not go to the gym.”
Campbell remained update throughout his treatment, and even when he broke the news to the world.
“My diagnosis was Hodgkin's Lymphoma and 6 months of chemotherapy is the prescribed treatment,” he wrote in June. “I’m about 2 months in and feeling rather spiffy, all things considered. Hodgkin's has an over 80% cure rate, so by my reckoning, if you’re going to have a cancer, Hodgie’s is the one to have!”
Campbell did not let his treatment or health issue get in the way of Def Leppard’s summer shows, or his work launching a reunited Dio band as Last In Line, 30 years after the recording of the legendary Dio albums “Holy Diver,” “Last In Line” and “Sacred Heart.” The group was joined for the shows by vocalist Andrew Freeman.
Def Leppard recently released “VIVA! Hysteria”, which captures the band during their 2013 spring residency in Las Vegas.
The UK rockers played 11 shows at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino this past spring, following in the footsteps of Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses.
The Las Vegas shows featured two sets from the band: the first, a wild card collection of songs that changed from night to night – performed under the name “Ded Flatbird”; the second presented the band’s iconic 1987 album, “Hysteria”, from start to finish.
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