Vivian Campbell

Talented heavy metal guitarist Vivian Campbell burst onto the Irish rock scene along with Raymond Haller, Trevor Flaming, and David Bates in a Belfast-based outfit called Sweet Savage. The opportunity to join Ronnie James Dio's band came soon after. Nevertheless, he left Dio in March 1986 after the Sacred Heart U.S. tour, assembling a new project called Trinity along with drummer Pat Waller and bassist David Watson. In 1987, Campbell stepped into David Coverdale's Whitesnake, and introduced Shadow King in 1990 with a live performance at London's Astoria Theatre. A self-titled album was released in 1991. A year later his guitar skills were requested by Def Leppard to replace Steve Clark, who died from an overdose of alcohol and drugs, and he remained with the band for the following two decades. ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide