“Gary Moore Was My Ultimate Guitar Hero” | Vivian Campbell on Solos, Writing & Last In Line

Hailing from Lisburn in Northern Ireland, guitar hero Vivian Campbell rose to prominence after joining Dio at just 20 years old, debuting his distinctive chops on the band’s 1983 full-length album, Holy Diver, including the now-iconic solo of the album’s titular track. After a late 1980s stint with Whitesnake, Campbell would cement his legacy by joining Def Leppard in 1982. Sweetwater’s Nick Bowcott catches up with Campbell to chat about his amazing “side project,” Last In Line, as well as his early influences, playing with physical intensity, his soloing approach, the importance of Thin Lizzy, and much, much more. Check it out!

00:00 — Intro 01:23 — Thin Lizzy & Last In Line 04:23 — Vivian’s Early Influences 05:30 — Intensity vs. Speed 06:09 — Percussive, Rhythmical Playing 06:49 — Vivian’s Approach to Soloing 09:59 — Behind the iconic “Holy Diver” solo 11:00 — Last In Line’s Recording Approach 13:00 — Songwriting with Last In Line 

Hear Last In Line’s latest full-length release, Jericho