eonmusic: music for life.
  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Features

Vivian Campbell Reveals How Soundgarden Influenced Def Leppard, As 2017 Co-Headlining Festival Dates Announced.

7/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Vivan Campbell has revealed how Soundgarden heavily influenced Def Leppard as they were recording their 1996 album ‘Slang’. The guitarist made the revelation as a number of co-headlining festival dates across the U.S.A. featuring both acts have been announced. 
Picture
Photo: Jimmy Little Jnr.
By Eamon O'Neill On 8th December 2016. 

Vivan Campbell has revealed how Grunge icons Soundgarden heavily influenced Def Leppard as they were recording their 1996 album ‘Slang’. The guitarist made the unlikely revelation as a number of co-headlining festival dates across the U.S.A. featuring both acts have been announced. 

Speaking exclusively to eonmusic, the former Whitesnake player, who was in Belfast performing with his band Last In Line, said that the making of ‘Slang’ had marked a particularly difficult period for the hard rock five-piece. Said Campbell: “We went into the recording and writing process for that record knowing only one thing; we could not make a classic sounding Def Leppard record. Other than that, we were clueless, so we were kind of making it up as we went along.”

Going on to single-out Soundgarden’s 1994 album ‘Superunknown’ as a key reference when the band were recording, Campbell said; “We were taking on board a lot of what was going on in the current music genre. One album that we listened to more than any other when we were making that record, which I think is the best record of the grunge era was ‘Superunknown’ by Soundgarden.

Praising the Seattle icons, the original Dio band member continued; “I love the songs, I love the sound of that record, so that was a very influential record for us when we were making ‘Slang’.”

Despite thinking that some of the tracks on the album didn’t quite come off as intended, Vivian remains proud of the release; “It’s an interesting record, and sonically, that’s one of the best sounding Def Leppard records ever, because of the nature of it”, said Campbell.

He continued; “There’s more of a vibe to it; it’s more of an organic record, and I love the way it sounds. You know, I think it’s kind of hit or miss with some of the songs, but I realise why we, as a band were doing that; it was 1995 when we were recording that, it was the middle of the grunge era.”

Released in May 1996, ‘Slang’ is widely viewed as Def Leppard’s attempt to ‘go grunge’. Featuring singles ‘Slang’, ‘All I Want Is Everything’, and the Campbell-penned ‘Work It Out’, the disc saw the Sheffield band abandon their trademark polished production and layered harmony singing style in favour of a more stripped back approach.

Campbell’s comments come as both Def Leppard and Soundgarden have been announced as headliners at next years’ Fort Rock festival in Florida, as well as North Carolina’s Carolina Rebellion, which take place in May and April 2017 respectively. 

Click HERE for part one of eonmusic's exclusive interview with Vivian Campbell.
EXCLUSIVE: Vivian Campbell Chats About Last In Line, Dio & More.
REVIEW: Last In Line, Belfast Limelight, 2013.
Belfast Last in Line As Vivian Campbell Ends Tour in Hometown.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    His love of U2, and Anthrax's "Big" plans for 2021: We Talk 'Silver Linings' with Charlie Benante.
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: Rex Brown on Pantera's Rise and Fall, & Why Their Glam Years Will Remain Buried.
    Picture
    WORLD EXCLUSIVE: "There will definitely be no more Sabbath – it’s done", says Geezer Butler.
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: David Coverdale's Plans to Remix Whitesnake's Works, & His Pride and Joy in Coverdale Page.
    Picture
    Steve Lukather on the end of Toto, and the loss of Eddie Van Halen.
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: Trey Spruance Charts the Return of Mr. Bungle.
    Picture
    Rory Gallagher Remembered; 25 Years Gone.

    Archives

    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    September 2015

© 2016 - 2023 eonmusic.co.uk

Contact: info@eonmusic.co.uk
ABOUT
  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Features