Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell joined the band’s newly-launched North American summer tour in Atlanta, GA on Sunday following news that his cancer had returned.
The group brought in Trixter guitarist Steve Brown in Campbell’s place for the first few shows of the run – which opened in Tampa, FL last week – while he addressed his health issue with doctors.
First diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2013, the guitarist had returned to action this spring after undergoing a stem cell transplant last fall before receiving word that the cancer had reappeared.
Originally set to miss the first two shows of the tour, Campbell was unable to make it to the group’s third stop – in Birmingham, AL – on Saturday.
“Despite my every effort (including trying to charter a plane),” said the guitarist, “the gods conspired to keep me from playing in Birmingham last night. But I'm Irish and stubborn; I fear no man, no god, and no cancer. Even if I have to walk, I WILL see you in Atlanta.”
Campbell says he will receive future cancer treatments to accommodate the tour schedule so he won't have to miss any more shows.
Def Leppard will play almost 50 shows with Styx and Tesla across North America in the next four months.
See also:
VIDEO: Def Leppard launch North American tour in Tampa
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