Def Leppard Rocker Reveals Cancer Has Returned Following Liver Transplant

Vivian Campbell, a longtime guitarist for rock band Def Leppard, shared unfortunate news that he has cancer.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time Campbell’s battled the disease. In 2013 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. After treatment and more than ten years, the cancer was in remission but has since returned. This is despite Campbell having previously undergone a liver transplant. 

Campbell, 63, shared the news of his struggle with YSKL, a radio station in El Salvador. His comments were transcribed and shared by Page Six.

“In the winter of 2023 I got really scared about what was happening and the pace at which it was happening,” Campbell said of his health. “And I realized at that point that I had to do a donor transplant. It was my only hope to survive.”

At that point, he underwent a liver transplant but, the rocker said, “it didn’t stick.” 

Campbell added: “So the cancer has returned, and I’m continuing treatments to manage it.”

In addition to playing with Def Leppard since the early ‘90s, Campbell’s worked with several other artists over the years and has even recorded albums with Whitesnake, Dio and others. He also toured with Thin Lizzy when Def Leppard was off the road.

Despite his cancer returning, Campbell is far from done playing guitar. He told YSKL he’s still able to work and that he remains passionate about music. 

Along with his Def Leppard bandmates – who have sold more than 100 million records – the band is expected to release a new album in 2027. The album’s lead single, “Rejoice,” was already released in early 2026. This will be the 13^th studio album released by the band, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Until the release of the band’s new music and while they continue to record and tour (through November ’26), Campbell is using his time to spread awareness. “Life is for living,” Campbell said on YSKL, per Page Six. “And I encourage everyone to look after their own health. And if you’re unfortunate enough to get a cancer diagnosis to, you know, overcome the fear.”