Vivian Campbell says Last In Line’s second album is well underway – but commitments with Def Leppard means he wasn’t able to secure its completion this year. The guitarist, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013, co-founded Last In Line in 2011 with fellow former Dio members Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain and Claud Schnell, plus singer Andrew Freeman.

Following the departure of Schnell and the death of Bain, the lineup now features bassist Phil Soussan and keyboardist Eric Norlander.

“We started writing in January and we have six songs on the go," Campbell told Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM. "It sounds amazing. It’s so, so good. We were hoping to get it out this year, but due to my schedule with Def Leppard and Jeff Pilson’s schedule with Foreigner, we have to wait.

Campbell noted that Pilson produced the band's first record, Heavy Crown, and that they would like to work with him again. "It looks like September before we’ll be able to start recording it," he said. "So it’ll probably be an early 2018 release.”

The guitarist has been receiving experimental cancer treatment similar to the therapy that’s helped former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Instead of using extremely aggressive measures to combat the illness, the pembrolizumab drug works in tandem with the body’s natural defenses.

“It’s the least of my concerns, as always," said Campbell. "I’m still doing this wonder drug that cured Jimmy Carter. It’s working well for me, holding things in place. I’m coming to the end of the two years of clinical trial – that’ll be up in June. Some time over the next couple of months my doctors will decide whether I can stay on this drug beyond the trial. I hope that’s the case. It’s really working for me.”

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