Def Leppard Rocker Viv Campbell Sits Out Band's First Concert of 2025 as He Recovers from Cancer Treatment

Mar. 15, 2025

Def Leppard in March 2019; Viv Campbell in November 2023.Photo:John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock; Sam Tabone/WireImage

John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock; Sam Tabone/WireImage

One ofDef Leppard’smembers wasn’t present at the band’s first gig of the year.

Instead, John Zocco — a touring guitarist and photographer for Def Leppard — filled in for the longtime guitarist, 62.

“Vivian Campbell cannot be with us tonight,” frontman Joe Elliott told the crowd, perUltimate Classic Rock.“He’s just recovering from some treatment for his cancer. So, manfully, please say hello to the guy that’s standing in for him tonight, Mr. John Zocco on guitar.”

Vivian Campbell in June 2019.Per Ole Hagen/Redferns

Per Ole Hagen/Redferns

Reps for Campbell have not yet responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Campbell was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which affects the lymphatic system, in 2013.

“I feel fortunate that my cancer sent me an alarm call in the form of ‘the cough that wouldn’t quit,'” hewrote on Facebook in 2013while in the midst of chemotherapy. “Otherwise, how would I have known?”

The following November,Campbell wrotethat he was “officially in remission from Hodgies,” and in 2014, he said the cancer was still in remission ,although his excitement was tempered.

“I’m trying not to get too excited about it as I heard that same phrase late last year only to be disappointed again a few months after when it returned,” hewrote on Facebook. “The plan is to do a stem cell transplant as soon as the tour is finished.”

But in June 2015, Campbell revealed that his cancer had returnedon his Facebook page.

He opened up about his continued battle with the disease during an episode oftheLymphoma Voicespodcastin 2023.

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Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen, Rick Allen, Rick Savage, and Joe Elliott of Def Leppard in December 2019.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

“I’m still dealing with the lymphoma,” he said. “It’s sort of like – it’s an American expression – Whac-a-Mole. You beat something back and then it pops up somewhere else. But it’s been a pretty consistent battle, but it hasn’t been too difficult for me. I deal with it fine. I’ve been able to live my life.”

He added: “For the bulk of those 10 years, I actually was doing immunotherapy. Starting in June of 2015, I started taking a drug called pembrolizumab. I remember at the time my doctors wanted me to do radiation and maybe a combination of radiation and chemo. And I just thought, ‘Well, let’s just try this immunotherapy thing. Let’s see if this works.'”

“So I managed to get on the trial,” Campbell concluded. “I’m happy to say that it worked well for me.”

source: people.com