Vivian Campbell

DEF LEPPARD/ex-DIO guitarist Vivian Campbell recently revealed plans to perform with original DIO members, stating: “I met up with the original Dio band guys, (drummer) Vinny Appice, (bassist) Jimmy Bain and (keyboardist) Claude Schnell again last night. Now that I’ve brushed-up on how to play those solos again, we’re planning to jam some more and plan to do some gigs, too. We found a great singer who can really do justice to RONNIE’s (JAMES DIO) parts.”

A new update from Campbell states: “Although there have been a couple of inarticulate naysayers, I’m happy that most of you are supportive of my plans to play with the original Dio band. However, in the meantime there’s Def Lep business at hand as we’re gearing up for the summer tour. Rehearsals start in just over two weeks and the monkey is all fired up!”

Stay tuned for updates, and find Vivian Campbell on Facebook at this location.

DARREN WHARTON

INTERVIEW AND PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ

Darren Wharton is a British keyboardist, singer, and songwriter. Wharton first came to attention as a member of Thin Lizzy when he joined bands ranks in 1980. He recorded three studio albums; CHINATOWN, RENEGADE and THUNDER AND LIGHTNING and LIVE LIFE – live album with Lizzy before band disbanded in 1983. Wharton has fronted his own band, Dare since 1989. The band has released so far six albums including the latest one ARC OF DAWN which came out in 2009. The latest incarnation of Thin Lizzy was formed in 2010 and the band: Wharton, drummer Brian Downey, guitarist’s Scott Gorham and Vivian Campbell, bassist Marco Mendoza and vocalist Ricky Warwick have since then been extremely busy and touring across the world with great success. The tour finally reached Finland in early July and then we had a pleasure to sit down with Mr. Wharton himself and hear the latest of Thin Lizzy and Dare as well. Read on!

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