Def Leppard played their first show with the “new guy” – guitarist Vivian Campbell – On April 15, 1992.

He'd already carved out a successful career in rock prior to his role in Def Leppard, and also enjoyed stints with Dio and Whitesnake, as well as contributing to Lou Gramm’s solo work. Campbell actually forged a friendship with Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott well before they became bandmates.

“Joe Elliott would call me when he came to L.A. looking for a pickup football game on a Sunday morning,” the Irish-born Campbell told Loudwire in 2019. “When I was in Dublin, I'd see Joe, we'd go out for drinks or dinner or whatever. So, our relationship had nothing to do with music. I knew the kind of person that Joe is, and I think that he kind of knew the person that I am.”

Campbell credited that friendship with giving him a foot in the Def Leppard door. “Def Leppard probably wouldn't have called me to ask to join their band, but it was only because Joe knew who I was as a person," he recalled. "He thought, 'Well, I know this guy. I like this guy. I think he'd be right in Def Leppard.'"

The reason Def Leppard had an opening in the first place is a much sadder story. Steve Clark, who had served as the band’s lead guitarist and a principal songwriter, died in his sleep on Jan. 8, 1991, the result of a long and tortuous battle with alcoholism.

After mourning the loss of their friend and bandmate, Def Leppard decided to push forward, completing their Adrenalize album and auditioning new guitarists. Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith, former Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake member John Sykes, and Gary Hoey were among the other musicians to try out. Eventually, the band determined Campbell was its man.

“Everything about Leppard, every aspect about the band, is thoroughly unique to Def Leppard,” Campbell later noted, comparing the group to his previous endeavors. “There's a very, very serious work ethic within the band. That was the first thing I noticed.”

Listen to Vivian Campbell's First Show With Def Leppard

Campbell made his onstage debut roughly six weeks after joining Def Leppard. The performance took place in his hometown of Dublin, a warm-up show for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, which Def Leppard would participate in five days later.

For the Dublin show, the band opened with “Stagefright” and “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” two tracks from their massively successful Pyromania LP. From there, Def Leppard rolled into “Women” from Hysteria. Then, about halfway through the set, Elliott put the spotlight on Def Leppard’s newest member.

"You probably read in the music press: It's been pretty much, pretty well documented over the last few months, what's happened to us over the last few years,” Elliott told the crowd. “And we lost a very good friend. And I don't know how to say this, but I guess as one flame dies, another one rises. We'd like you to welcome to our family Mr. Vivian Campbell."

The guitarist was greeted with rousing applause. Even though expectations were high, Campbell felt immediately comfortable with his new group. "I was excited, but I wasn't at all nervous,” he’d later recall. “That show was absolutely steaming. The band was really, really good.”

The feeling was shared by the rest of Def Leppard. "When we played our first gig, it was like Vivian had always been in the band,” Elliott admitted. “It was very strange, in fact, because I didn't expect it to be that comfortable, especially since we were replacing a guy who died, not one we fired and all hated or something.

"I would be very surprised if the fans didn't accept Vivian,” Elliott added. "I mean, what do they expect? We can't bring Steve back. Steve was loved very much by everyone in the band, but we had the advantage of having 18 months since he died, so time had healed some of the wounds."

Campbell’s role in Def Leppard was further solidified a few days later on April 20, 1992, when Def Leppard played three songs as part of the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at London’s Wembley Stadium. The performance placed Campbell on the world’s stage, a place he’s occupied ever since.

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