Def Leppard legend Vivian Campbell has taken another massive step in his long battle with cancer – this time undergoing a bone marrow transplant. 💉💔
The Belfast-born guitarist, who’s been shredding riffs with Leppard since 1992, has been fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma on and off since 2013. Despite rounds of chemo and treatment, the disease has kept sneaking back like a bad encore. Now, Campbell has gone through the heavy-duty option – a bone marrow transplant – to try and finally kick it into touch.
Fans across the globe have been flooding social media with messages of support for the 62-year-old axe man, who’s somehow managed to keep touring and recording with Def Leppard through most of his health struggles. Proper rock warrior spirit, mun. 🤘🔥
Viv has always been open with fans about his journey, balancing brutal honesty with dry Irish humour. Even while going through chemo, he famously quipped about playing gigs with a “chemo brain” – and still nailed those solos. 🥁🎤
It’s a tough road ahead: recovery from a bone marrow transplant can take months, and the risks are real. But if anyone’s got the grit to pull through, it’s the bloke who’s survived Dio, Whitesnake, Last in Line and Def Leppard tours without missing a beat.
From everyone here at The Riff Report – Diolch, Viv, for the riffs and the inspiration. Heal up, butt – the Hysteria ain’t over yet. 🏴💀
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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