Vivian Campbell opens up about being fired from Dio
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- Guitarist #VivianCampbell shares his memories about #Dio firing. You can check out the full conversation here: www.ultimate-g...
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I was front row for a show when Dokken was opening for Dio. Vivian threw several picks to me but they kept getting snatched away by taller fans. After the encore and final bow, he ran over, stepped down onto a barricade support and firmly pressed his last pick into my hand, gave me a good natured smack across the head then a huge grin and thumbs up. Since then I've always known he was a good dude who cared.
That's fuckin awesome. I saw Slaughter at a small club called Mabel's in Champaign-Urbana circa 1994. Guitar player threw about 10 picks out and I kept getting fucked. He concentrated to throw it right at my head and I thought I grabbed it but it disappeared...then it magically appeared in between my two fingers, a 1 in 1,000 shot. LOL
@Gordon Fuck! Yes, I was just reading about that a few months ago,that whole crazy story, but I didn't connect it to the pick story. I'mma hit the drawer where I have a little Ziploc with a few special picks and see if it has his name on it. When I come back I have another story, a funny one re: Slaughter backstage pass.
@Gordon Damn Gordon...It's a D'addario Tim Kelly 1995 "Fear No Evil" guitar pick. It's especially weird because like I said, I just read about his death a few months ago and didn't even think about the pick. He appreciated how hard I was rocking that night and tried so many times to get me a pick and finally I got it. I also got permanent ear damage from that show, it was SO loud my right ear has never been quite the same, lol. They rang for 3 days after. Cool shit, thx for your story and for clueing me in on my own!
@Gordon Really? That's pretty shitty. WTF. I got on this whole thing tonight because of Vivian C., and I learned tonight how Dio's ex wife Yoko Ono'd everyone and was why Viv got canned. Also shitty, but at least it all worked out for him. Theb I just searched for "Slaughter Mabel's Champaign 1995" and the 3rd or 4th Google entry was for Dio!? I think for a 1997 show there. Weird coincidence.
@Gordon Tim Kelley was his name
Never ever trust someone's word on money down the road GET IT IN WRITING
Words to live by.
Yeah, but Vivian isn’t a lawyer -he’s a musician that took Ronnie at his word...
@@2204JCM and that's why we (musicians ) need people like Irving Azoff the best manger in the business you have to have someone that looks out for you ,be it band leader or record company you have to protect your material and yourself
Agree however viv was 19 when he joined the band so was probably not very smart business wise.
Dennis Applegate Yep, and never pay rent with cash.
Dio's best albums were done with Vivian Campbell!
Predice Hendricks Something about the first four albums of major groups. Success hits, dope shows up now you don’t wanna deliver. Over and over. Dio never did get the magic back in HIS band. Thank god for Heaven+Hell I guess.
Predice Hendricks totally... the band went downhill after them
AMEN.
Dio's best albums were done with Rainbow and Sabbath.
Only Dios first album was good the rest were the same old thing rehashed for people that never heard his old stuff!
@Randy Porter looks like rather than make your point you'd rather argue.Thats fine too. I'll reply once and not waste my time with you anymore.
I've been a Dio fan since Elf and own an Elf Album. So I think I know his best work as much as anyone.
You sounded like a Dio fanboy that got his pink panties ruffled because you don't like what I said.
The truth is Dios best work was with other bands. His first album rocked . Anything after that was pure plagiarizing his old work.
I couldn't even listen to it!!
I could tell you where every riff from every song came from previous albums.
I left it to newbie fans that didn't know any better. I guess that is you!!
Almost (40) years later and Mr. Campbell, the real metal heads know, they have never heard any ax slinging any better than your work with Dio. To this day, your solos on those first (3) albums BLOW OUR MINDS!! Thank you man and All the Best.
The only non Vivian Campbell era album that stands with the likes of Holy Diver, and Last in Line, is Magica.
This is really about an experienced veteran musician talking advantage of a younger less experienced musician. Get a contract, get it in writing, take your share of the songwriting credits...
Randy Rhodes admitted shortly before he died that he was performing his last tour with Ozzy for the same reason. He realized he was being screwed-over and his brilliance was a large-part of what saved Ozzy as he launched his solo band.
yeah he was talking about wanting to quit performing altogether for a while after that so he could go back to school and get his masters and do classical music as he was getting burned out on touring and the whole heavy metal scene in general.
When it's your name on the records you can do want you want. No matter how great Randy or Vivian were,they are hired hands. Instead of being negative be grateful for exposure that was given to you.
@@shawncoito1498You have to pay for talent. He should have got it in writing or leave the band if he was being underpaid.
I'm glad that Tony iommi has remained the leader of black Sabbath. And it doesn't matter that he doesn't sing. Him and Geezer came up with the Riffs that made Ozzy famous
Randy Rhoads,a "hired hand"?
Hahahaaa!
Vivian Campbell was by far the best guitarist Dio had. He was a major key in the success of that band. I saw Dio on all three tours Viv was with the group. He is such an electrifying performer. God bless you Vivian.
It's sad to know how badly Vivian was screwed over by Dio and his power queen of a wife. He is such a brilliant guitar player and writer and I'm happy he finally gets respect in Def Leppard. His music and playing will always be legendary. Rock on Vivian !!!!
I stopped listening to Def Leppard after the 2nd album. They became a POP band on Pyromania. I was soooo annoyed when a great talent like Vivian joined Leppard. Glad that he is back playing real music.
There's two sides to every story though "Wendy stated about the controversy surrounding Ronnie‘s relationship with Campbell: “[Vivian] always said that he hated all the albums that he played on with Ronnie, and that was very hurtful to Ronnie. Very hurtful. Would you like someone who said something like that about your albums? He said a lot of things in the press that I don’t wanna get into, because it really wasn’t Ronnie‘s feud at all. Ronnie didn’t fire him. I fired [Vivian]. He wanted as much money as Ronnie wanted. He thought he was as important as Ronnie was, and that was just wrong. But I don’t wanna get into that. It’s water under the bridge. It doesn’t matter.”
Ian,have you ever listened to Vivian's album Two Sides Of If?You really get to appreciate how good the man is,blues based and fcukin' brilliant
Does he truly get respect from Phil Collen though?
I'm not sure.
@@johnNYjets12 I think so? Whether Phil likes to share the solo duties on stage , i doubt it ? Saw them in Toronto on their last tour and Vivian looked pretty comfortable and i'm glad for him. We'll see what the future holds.
When the story starts with "we're gonna make money later", it can't have a good ending. But Viv was young and eager to be successful, shame on Ronnie...
Yeah shame on him, especially since he did so much bitchin about Blackmore!!
I hate hearing stories like this, of grave injustice done to key band members. It reminds me of the ugliness of some of my own work and family situations.
I hate it too, it's very much like the original Blizzard of Oz band Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley were done up like kippers which I fucking hate, Ozzy is much to blame as his fucking wife to treat these fine men like this, for that as much as I love Ozzy and Ronnie they didn't have the balls to stand up to their stupid wives, I also believe if Randy hadn't died the same would have happened to him. Back to DIO the band, the original line up are all DIO and always will be, I hate this sort shit that happens to brilliant musicians and good blokes
@@garyunsworth726
Agreed, and don't forget how badly Ozzy and his wife treated Jake E. Lee! He got incredibly shafted by them. Really awful, horrendous stuff they pulled on him after all the great work he did for them.
@@garyunsworth726 RJD was a textbook case of "small man syndrome".
@@mr.d.572 forget about him don costa got slagged off so hard by ozzy go check it up jake himself narrates the incident
One The Greatest Guitarists Of His Gen.The Sad Story Of Rock-N-Roll Back Stabbing'Greed
That explains something I always wondered about. I had the opportunity to meet Vivian back in the mid-80s at a guitar shop in Mesa, AZ. This was shortly after he left Dio.
He was such a nice guy, soft-spoken, no rockstar attitude. There were only about six people there but he stayed, talked to us and signed some autographs.
Finally, someone got a Les Paul out, plugged it in and asked if he would play something.
Vivian paused a moment, sat down, took the guitar and played Crazy Train... now I know why.
I appreciate Vivian's honesty. As a fan of the original band, it is sad to learn the truth that the firing of Vivian from the band was so unjust and unnecessary. For years we were lied to by the management about Vivian and to this day there are those who still want to continue perpetrating the lie about Vivian. As the saying goes, let the music do the talking and it is clear now that Dio as a band lost a crucial ingredient in Vivian's exceptional musicality. As an example, would the band Queen be the same without Brian May? Or was it all about Freddie Mercury. The answer is that Ronnie miscalculated and the greatest bands in the world always made sure integral members were rewarded fairly.
Well said, alexkopela.
R T VERY VERY WELL SAID. I FEEL IDENTICALLY AND GOTTA EAT A LOTTA HUMBLE PIE ON THIS ONE.
Thank you for showing the class that I always hope people will show when the truth, no matter how bad it looks, is spoken.
Peace.
If I remember right, Adrian Vandenberg kind of slagged VC over his time in Whitesnake, which kind of further a nail in it. If what was said was true VC would not have done well in DL. So it's cool it worked out in the end. In his guitar tape VC came off as a cool dude.
Ronnie doesn't like the early Rainbow stuff because he thought Ritchie overplayed on that album. He had a HUGE ego and seemed to not enjoy the spotlight being on others... Shame because he's one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time. Guitarists can be devas but man lead vocalists are next level
Viv made that band happen .. Yes Ronnie was great but when Viv played and did his Solo's ... That what made me buy the albums and made me a Vivian fan ... And we all know that's a true fact ...
He never played that beautiful after those Dio records though.
Zombie Machinery well that’s because he was playing other people’s music. Essential, he was playing the gig. That’s what you have to do a lot times and Vivian understood that.
@@panzerlieb, his soloing in those Dio records still blows my mind.
I second and third that man. Last in line solo....enough said.
Yep. His riffs and solos on those albums are some of the most underrated playing of that decade.
Phenomenal guitarist, by far one of the most underrated of the 80's
That line up was and always will be DIO! Vivian was pure greatness on those albums.
Several things have happened recently that shows this woman's true colors.
First was her auctioning off all his collectibles ,merchandise and memorabilia.
Second is the Hologram tour.
She is doing nothing short of pimping out the great memory of Dio..
She has quickly turned Dio into a circus sideshow..
There is one good thing she did, and that was she got some of guys to try and finish some of the demos for Magica 2.
I think her goal was to keep his memory alive.
Saw all three tours with Vivian, the Sacred Heart tour at Reunion Arena in Dallas I watched Vivian throw his guitar overhand to the side of the stage because his guitar was cutting out during a solo, you could see tension building then. Those 3 shows were some of the most incredible rock shows in history and I've seen them all pretty much from early VH, Iron Maiden first seven tours, almost every JP tour from POE. first 4 slayer tours, every incarnation of Ozzy from DOAMM including Black Sabbath reunion 97 Pantera opened (seen Pantera more than 20 times) Wasp first tour. If you weren't there then you missed pure metal greatness. The 80's were the best.
It's the same story time and again in hard rock and metal......Lynch/Dokken Campell/Dio Coverdale/Sykes Ozzy/Jake E Lee Blackmore/Everyone else
I agree almost 100% with Blackmore he did get for all his writing credits .. and the Rainbow singers never had any payments problems or for what they've done ( composed ) in Rainbow
I guess the good thing was he was a young man and was able to recover and able to go on and be really successful. When you see guys his age that are bitter it’s really sad, he seems to be a nice person and in the end he is the last man standing.
One thing I wanted to say for Viv. I've never cared for how Dio or others have slammed him for joining Whitesnake and then his perennial gig, Def Leppard. I say good on Viv! He's survived in a business that doesn't care about musicians, and he did it as a shredding guitarist. Viv is one of the ONLY shredders from the 80s who not only plays as well as he did as a young man, but has gotten better. Look up some concerts of Viv shredding on his Les Paul with Last In Line. He plays better than ever and his tone is better than ever. All that AND he's beaten cancer. He's the ultimate ax wielding badass and my number 1 guitar hero of all time.
Wow. Ronnie James Dio seemed like such an honest, straight forward type of guy. I have a whole different opinion of him now.
He wasn't that honest of a guy for one he lied about his own past and lied about his age until the day he died
@@tomsenick2033p can you provide evidence? Where did he lie about his age?
Yeah, agree. I heard him boast on an interview saying he's so good at what he does. In such a boastful and arrogant way. Changed my view of him since that and now I'm shocked th a t he didn't pay viv Campbell fairly. Hmmm
As a guy who stumbled through many of your licks playing in a bar cover band in the eighties, we thought Dio was great, but many of us in the guitar cult thought you were even better, and recognized the genius of what you laid down on vinyl. Always loved your style and expression Viv.
Imagine Holy Diver without Vivian. You simply cannot. Last in line without Vivian. Simply impossible. Dio was incredible but man it's called a band for a reason and he always had a huge ego. I love Vivian even more now hearing this, it's obvious he's a good guy and this is the truth. I wish I could meet this man and tell him how much his work on Holy Diver meant to me. I'm only 30 and first hearing the solo on invisible, his riffs on caught in the middle... Just seriously some of the most melodic shredding I've ever heard
Vivian's contribution to those 3 albums is incredible. Those songs totally blew me away and Mr Campbell's guitar playing was 60% of the reason why. No musician should be criticized for expecting to be paid fairly for his talent and time. I am grateful for much of the music RJD created in his career but I am very disappointed to know how unfairly he treated some of his fellow musicians.
I believe April Wine said it best with...Rock n Roll is a vicious game.
April Wine were great at their best.
Wow ! So Glad you said that ! I Absolutely Love April Wine !
How can you not love Vivian... A true rock treasure.
When you hear these kinds of stories it makes you remember what the ancients have warned about over and over again: Don't be greedy for riches. You'll end up miserable with no true friends in the end.
Definitely my favorite guitarist Dio had.
He's doing ok tho...
Vivian Campbell net worth: Vivian Campbell is a Northern Irish musician who has a net worth of $20 million. Vivian Campbell was born in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland in August 1962...and been jamming ever since.
dio wouldnt of been dio without this man !!!!
I didn't realize that Ronnie screwed his band over like Ozzy had. Greed.
@Darren Thompson There are. This is true. But, upon looking at what/how Sharon Osbourne is, she sure as hell appears to be much like Dio's ex-wife. Both Pieces Of Shit.
Really enjoy your interviews! You help to get the truth out sometimes decades later. It's really unfortunate to hear this story and how rampant greed is in the music business...broken contracts, unfulfilled promises, etc...George Lynch, Jake E. Lee, just to name a couple of guitar heroes with similar stories. So happy to see Vivian making peace with it & playing killer guitar with his new sideband 'Last in Line'. Always loved Viv's playing! 🎶🎸🔊🔥 Subbed!
Too bad. We might have enjoyed another 8 or 10 albums with that awesome lineup. That's a lesson for any business. Pay your talent. Without them, it won't work.
I have always had my doubts about the whole thing, its always been the managers and establishment that screw up with the musicians, its unfortunate but real
It is a tremendous of shame for many reasons but honestly that band was never the same without Vivian much respect much love ❤️
Such a humble person Vivian Campbell!!
Don't dream of women, Cause they only bring you down!! (lyrics from: Don't talk to strangers)
Dio had clearly realized that as well.
I remember reading an interview with Vivian right after the split back in the 80s. This is exactly how it went down. Dio burned him.... plain and simple.
That original lineup was the best man!
I love Vivian's playing with Dio! I will keep in mind, this is only one side of the story. Also if you are a cowriter, you would still receive publishing royalties, even if you are not getting mechanical royalties. Vivian has done well for himself and I'm happy for his success!
Remember the story of Jake E Lee and drummer Randy Castillo who did not receive any royalties as cowriters of BATM and TUS albums ??? Yeah, Ozzy was dishonest and greedy too. And he even removed Castilho's battery in the 24-bit remastered reissue. And Jake did not accept the invitation to return to Ozzy if he did not receive his royaties.
He mentioned he, and the rest of the writers, didn't get any royalties. If you look the songs up on Wikipedia, the author is Dio. No one else mentioned. Very sad.
@@OnBendedKneeMusic No, what's sad is you think Wikipedia is gospel. What's also sad is you apparently don't listen, he never said he and the rest didn't get any royalties. He, Bain, and Appice received royalties in accordance with their songwriting credits. They all got their publishing money.
@SabuPtolemy No, they didn't get "stiffed," they were entitled to receive and indeed received income resulting from royalties from their songwriting publishing credits.
@guitarwithdofka You are Wrong. Publishing rights legally cover “words” and “melody” which Ronnie greedily made sure he was the sole recipient. Most BANDS simply divide up the rights based on contribution to the overall composition. Unfortunately publishing rights were not shared with others.
l remember Viv saying in an interview back in the day. lt was also the magazine article headline "Ronnie never shared his dream with me."
l got to see his replacement Craig Goldy when Dio toured Australia in '88.
My my .... Ronnie just lost a little of my respect .... maybe a little more than a little
On this guys word. ok.
Wendy Dio - another Sharon.
Man THAT ain't NO lie!
@@haitolawrence5986 he never changed his story. This is obviously what happened. How can you doubt the veracity of what he is saying?
@@phillynott2459 The other "two in the room" have said that is not what happened.
It's about time people hear Viv's side of the story. Viv just get thrown all the flak at him by a lot of people and I honestly think that's unfair for his part. We're only human and we get hurt sometimes. Thanks for this honest interview!
firing Viv was Dio's biggest mistake...... with him on board, the band would make many great records....... not saying other albums suck, some of them are quite good, but still nowhere near those Viv albums...... "Dream Evil" was Dio's last very good album, but that was only because the songwriting was still amazing, even when it didn't have such great guitar work as those Viv albums.....
@Victor R. heard that album once or twice...... never needed to revisit that record ever since...... "Strange Highways" seems much more interesting to me......
One of my favorites from the 80’s...
This happens so much in every industry. Creative people are constantly being ripped off by egotists and non-creatives every day. Wendy Dio...?
Vivian Campbell was Dio. I never bought one of those cassettes to listen to the singing. I can listen to early 80's guitar solos by Campbell all day long and they are still fresh.
Well said Vivian. Another example on how a wife/ manager can mess up the creative chemistry of a great rock band. I have will never aknowledge the first 4 Ozzy records as anything but Blizzard of Oz. Sounds like Wendy Dio messed things up like Sharon Osbourne. You are the best Vivian!!
NOTHING was executed without Ronnies ok. Period. Nobody is to blame but him. Nobody, not even Wendy could have fired Vivian on her own. Dont be naive.
So why did Vinny Appice and Jimmy Bain not stick up for Vivian?? Or why not force RJD to replace all 3 guys?
Not sure i buy it? Why were the other two guys ok with this?
Well according to an interview that Campbell did in 2017, the other two didn't press Dio on it because the gig with Dio was the best that they had going for themselves at the time. Even though they were getting shortchanged, it was still a paycheck, and if Dio did cut them loose, they didn't have a real backup plan to pay their bills or their mortgages. So Viv was the only one who kept pushing for it because, in his words, he was the only one who " had nothing to lose. I wasn’t married, I had no kids, I didn’t even have a home, I had no mortgage- I didn’t know any better."
Bain was so deep into substances that he couldn't afford to lose the salary (but was eventually fired due to those problems). Appice as drummer didn't have as many songwriting credits so also wasn't getting much from ASCAP or BMI.
Exactly my thoughts. Not buying this.
@@Thebeastfromnorth75 Vivian Campbell waits til 10 years after Dio died to make these claims....
his credibility should have been checked at the door, and I agree that Wendy should be bitch smacked for the way she is singlehandedly destroying Ronnies legacy, but calling Dio a cheap skate and not paying you is disgusting. From all the great things he did throughout his career...screwing people wasn't one of them.
@@mikeking3507 What's your credentials on the matter?
Nice to hear a mature and considerate view on that! Way to go, Viv ! Keep rockin' !
The first solo album was outstanding. It was never beaten as far as i was concerned. It was a powerhouse of a recording.
The Holy Diver lineup , in my opinion, was the best. Obviously they were all looked upon as replaceable and also looked down upon. Very sad indeed. What was DIO thinking..oh dear me.
He was arrogant, like Ozzy. Dio’s arrogance did him in though, Ozzy still managed to put out okay albums but Dio’s went right down the tubes after the first three. Ozzy never topped the first two albums, but did manage to put out higher quality stuff than Dio.
@@greenmartian4578 Yeah, i loved the first 2 Ozzy albums. Also Bark at the moon was great with Jake on guitar. At the time everyone was playing Crazy Train..and Mr Crowley.
@@greenmartian4578 Ozzy was one of the few metal artists that never stopped having platinum success throughout the 90's and 2000's. No matter who he had in the band he was still successful. That's the thing people want to trash Ozzy for what went down with his original solo band but he was ultimately the common denominator in his success. Whether the music is good or not he has star power and people are drawn to that. Was Ozzy arrogant? Seems like he was more messed up on drugs where as Dio never had any drinking or drug problems.
@@Davy.J.Y No More Tears is a solid album and so is No Rest for the Wicked.
Holy diver one of the best guitar solos ever without him and the rest of the band it wouldn't have been as great as these albums are Vivian is very underrated
I feel terrible for Vivian! He is a Great Guy and a Wonderful Human Being! He beat Cancer which I believe was brought on by all the stress he was under in Dio! I have lost pretty much all the respect I had for RJD because of the way he mistreated Vivian and the other band members! THE FACT THAT HE COULDN’T STAND UP TO HIS WIFE IS A JOKE! In fact, he should not have waited until the third albums to compensate his band fairly! It shows what a tremendous guy Vivian was to wait that long and to believe RJD would follow thru with his promise! The old saying was never more true, GET IT IN WRITING!
I heard Vivian Campbell speak about this many years ago and he came across very bitter and twisted, I think he got a bit of a bad rep for his attitude at the time, but it seems he was truly shat on from a great height. I'm glad he's happier and TBH it was Dio's loss because the band was never the same after Campbell was dumped.
Dio's best Guitarist by far and a perfect gentleman. His firing scenario reads like a script from Spinal Tap. The girlfriend/manager...
It was amazing to see Ronnie and Vivian on the Holy Diver and Last in Line tour! Amazing for a kid in high school. Didn’t bother to get a ticket to Sacred Heart. Seemed sub-par to me. I thought some force had pushed the creativity into a really bad direction on that one.
Firing Campbell showed exactly where Dio's head was at. He cared more about money than keeping his band happy. Dio gets a great guitar player who makes the band sound great then treats him like a day laborer. Nice guy..
How ironic that a video recently came up on my feed of how RJD felt Ritchie Blackmore didn’t know how to treat people. What an incredible band, that seems to have been completely mis managed.
Vivian Campbell, and I have a lot in common. We both got screwed in Biz by people we loved...and we reacted in the same exact way. Hurt...beyond Hurt. I wasn't fired by my band. I was fired from a company that I started from scratch by scum investors, and the very people that I brought into my company. That's some F'n Pain right there bro. It's like getting your baby ripped from your arms while you are handcuffed. I appreciate Mr Campbell on a Much Greater level today...when you get to the next level in any business. There are evil scum bags just waiting to steal your dreams...hey, that was by accident haha They'd blind your eyes if they could as well! lol Stay Strong Mr. Campbell. You're loved by the only people that matter:-) Your Family & the fans that got to know you personally. Everyone that saw this interview is a better person by osmosis.
You can’t shred Lmao You compare yourself to Vic lmao 🤡😂💩
Such a great guitarist. I absolutely loved those albums.
Dio was lost without Vivian. After he got fired a lot of his fans lost interest, I was one of them.
This story is more or less confirmed by Vinnie Appice, a close friend of Ronnie. Management screwed up, and Ronnie's amazing revenge (after Black Sabbath) at a high age (considering the genre: metal), was damaged, and so was his whole career. And Wendy's comments (Ronnie was worth more than the others bla bla) show a huge lack of wisdom, lack of knowledge about band chemistry etc.
Kim Larsson Agreed ten gold. Without your team you’re shit and it’s always us who notice first. Sad.
The lack of knowledge ironically was Ronnies. RONNIE and RONNIE ALONE decided who was in that band. To think otherwise ridiculous. Management is there to take the heat publicly. But to think that Ronnie walks in to the office and Wendy says “uhh ron, we fired vivian because we cant come to terms” yeah right. It was all planned. Ronnie had Craig Goldy all ready to go…. the entire setlist including the live musical variations and medlys. Swapped out Vivian in a single day. Ronnie made the decision long beforehand.
This is a great interview and my hats off to how Viv ended it.
There were 5 people in the room when that promise went down, I was there. And I know that wasn't the only time they spoke of it.
Ronnie had absolutely NO problem standing up to Wendy when they disagreed. I was there for those too. It's impossible to hide that while I lived there
They all got paid $100 a week before the album advance came in cause Ronnie got stiffed by Sabbath and Ronnie was in litigation with them trying to get what was owed to him. Jimmy and Viv lived at Ronnie's house, Ronnie paid for everything for them, food, guitars, amps,strings, picks, cables, regearsals, transpertation, restaurants plus $100 a week, which would've been the equivalent of nearly $750 per week, but it all went on a credit card of Ronnie's while he waited for his Sabbath money to come in. Vinny had a house of his own and so did Jimmy eventually once the Sabbath money and the Holy Diver advance came through. The ONLY reason the lighting director got paid more was because Ronnie had to pay to bring in more lighting and enlarge the inhouse speaker systems in those arenas just like every band did back then. The company that Ronnie paid to have those things, that company paid the crew wages.
The bus drivers always made more money than we ever did.
But it was Ronnie paying for the tour buses, hotels for the entire band and crew, Truck drivers to haul their gear, catering for each concert, per diems for all band and crew at an extra $210 per person per week for food on days off. The record sales, ticket sales and merchandise that Ronnie got once it was split with the record company went towards paying for all that.
I got to sit down with the tour accountant and he showed me how much money was made.....and how much money had to be spent. And that if it were an equal share band....after expenses....they would've made less or sometimes broke even with what they were getting paid!
Viv exaggerates his losses.
He doesn't explain songwriter and publisher shares of songs.
Most publishing companies in the 80's were giving out $50,000 advances for the songs they wrote.....per person, per year.
I know, cause I was one of them after Viv.
When you add up the album advances, publishing advances and $1,500 per week salary they were all actually paid while on tour plus $210 per diem per week for every year.....it adds up to quite a lot. But THAT truth wouldn't get Viv any sympathy.
My first year with Dio was over $150,000.
If you multiply that by 4...it comes out about right with Claude in there.
50% goes to the lyrics and melidies and the other 50% goes to the music.
Now, since Ronnie wrote all lyrics and melodies as it says on each Dio album. That automatically makes the remaining 50% split between 4 other guys. When Ronnie wrote any of the music which he always did.... his percentages go to 60-75% of each song.
The remaining 40%-25% now split between 4 other guys.
That is not the rule Ronnie made.....it's the rule the music industry did.
Those guys all had really nice houses and cars, I know cause I was in them. They got paid very well.
Viv did NOT approach Ronnie in a respectful way about the equal share thing.
Even though Vinny said they all felt the same way Viv did......then where was the united front?
Why was it left up to only Viv?
The only united front that Vinny, Jimmy and Claude attended was when they came after me wanting me to give them some of the money I made writing the "Dream Evil" album. So.....just remember.....as nice as Viv sounds in this interview...there is always 2 sides of every story! And I saw and heard both!!!
Viv made those albums masterpiece s, if it were another guitarist in his place on those first Dio records (specifically the first two) we wouldn't have such amazing songs like Holy Diver, Stand Up and Shout, Last in Line etc. As we all know, when Viv was gone so was the magic. Just a shame he was not treated as an equal when he was just as important as Ronnie in making those albums the classics they are today, it would not have happened without Viv. Rock fans around the world respect this work and Vivian Campbell will always be regarded as a true rock legend. Although you were not treated with respect nor given the monetary value and recognition so well earned and deserved, we thank you for giving us some of the best hard rock that has ever been created.
Vivian should have gotten royalties for Holy Diver no question without him that album isn't as huge
Vivian will always be one of the greatest guitar heros in my book. Ronnie should have kept his word, now i have no sympathy for Ronnie's rant against Black Sabbath. You have to take care of and stand up for each other especially when the team has good chemistry. so much for "stand up and shout"...so sad.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should have a wing for wives/girlfriends who broke up bands.
right. always blame the women.
I met you on the Holy diver tour Im Katherine Ereaux Mc Broom you said I reminded me of your lil sis . your a great guitar player M the best is happening
No publishing!!! Those guys lost out on Millions!
Everything went down hill after Vivian Campbell. Such an underrated guitar player. He's on my top ten list which includes Tony Iommi, Van Halen, and Randy Rhoads.
In retrospective, time gave you something with more value than money, the respect, admiration and recognition from thousand of fans around the world (including me, of course)!
I saw Dio 5 times, the only reason I went was to see Vivian Campbell.
Just like the ozzy situation
Huge influence on my playing in 83/84, my fourth and fifth year of playing guitar. After Vivian left, I didn't have the same passion for it.
Vivian you will always be my top guitarist of all time . I wasn't just listening to Ronnies voice when you made those records. Be proud of your accomplishment. The Devil horns are for you 🤘👍
That is an absolute shame. Ronnie stabbed Viv right in the back, and blamed it on his wife. That is a cowardly way to treat someone who helped build their legacy. I was unaware of these events and this has cast a bad light on my admiration for Ronnie. I don't wish to speak ill of the Dead - he may have been a great front-man, but a despicable person to do this to a young, and impressionable (and gullible) kid. Glad things went great for him with Def Leoppard. Man, it's true - "Never meet your heroes. You may find out they're zeroes."
Mike Vee 123 Well said, and my thoughts exactly! Shame on Ronnie for being such a backstabbing bitch to his bandmates.
Everyone says what a class act Ronnie was. I knew a guy that saw him signing autographs He was charging money and was very egotistical! The other thing that tells me how Ronnie really was. That video that surfaced years back. Again Ronnie is signing autographs. Someone asks him about Vivian. He stops and says "did you hear all the despicable thing's he said about me"? He goes on to cuss Vivian out. Which I understand. It's when he said "I hope he dies"! That told me everything I need to know about Ronnie as a person.
@@rickschroeder3127 Yeah I was disgusted when I saw that myself.
Do you think Vivian is a better human being!? Lol. Dickriders on Campbell.
Finally, I open up about hearing this story many, many times.
Always get it in writing! Can't stress that enough!!!
If you don't have it in writing you don't have anything at all remember that.
I saw Dio with Accept opening. Accept was getting very very popular that year. Their whole show Udo's mic kept fucking up, and the sound kept dropping out. Funny thing was Dio's show was flawless. Now this makes me wonder. And we had no idea Vivian wasn't with the band any more. I think they brought our Craig Goldie and everyone was like WTF is this shit?
The original band was the best period. When Campbell left it went south, seen Dio 4 times twice in Dio And twice with tony iommi and heaven and hell
Love Dio. But it appears he graduated from the Ozzy School of Music Management.
Dio would’ve been nothing with a little drum machine.
Vivian is a killer rhythm player, and his solos are just amazing both creatively and technically. The riff is such a huge part of the track. All the players on those songs are killer - Vinnie too
I love Dio and Vivian Campbell.
Fabulous interview.
I wonder what Ronnies net worth was by the 3rd album.
My guess is Dio's worth then was a few million. He'd been in Elf, Rainbow and Black Sabbath before going solo. His net worth was around 10 million dollars when he died.
@@amerocker agreed and he worked hard since the seventies for that which honestly isn't much for the body of work he created.
Arkund the the time dio died and afterwards i was a memeber of dios fan page on facebook managed by wemdy and it always gave the vibe of co..ercializing everything about dio. Now i understand why.
Let’s not forget jimmy Bain; he reminds me of bob daisley- doing is job laying it down like a boss
A great player. Great sound. Not only filled the bottom end, punched through the middle too!!! Great player. Greatly missed!
The flying Scotsmen on bass. Played in rainbow and gary moore plus others. Great bassist RIP
He sounded very honest, it's all about money and music is also business there's no escape, this is an (extra-)ordinary work.
This scenario happens ALL THE TIME . Even in garage bands , or amateur artists trying to make it . In fact , IT HAPPENED TO ME . And yes , you feel completely BETRAYED on many levels .
My first Dio concert was the Sacred Heart tour with Vivian, before he was fired. Ironically, the second time I saw Vivian on stage, he had been hired to tour with another famous singer, who had fired his entire band.
Ronnie was a crook. He should've let everyone know about the deal he had made. Ronnie had nothing to complain about. I would've been broken.
Sad to think that if you had a popular song on the radio the first thing you do when you hear it is turn the radio off.
Vivian is a class act!
If it makes any difference, Dio didn’t make a single decent record post-Vivian.... nothing even close to the quality of the first 2 records.
That is completely untrue. Wow
Best move they made because then Def Leppard aquired him. By far one of the most talented guitarist, I've had the pleasure to see. ❤
I saw Dio with Vivian many times. I would predict that Ronnie & Vivian would argue during the show and then Vivian would get pissed off and turn in a incredible performance. I came to expect it at every show.
More often than not it would be the case.
I always thought that Vivian was very underrated. I never left a show disappointed with his playing. He always delivered. That's why I would go see them so many times.
He is still underrated to this day but I always appreciated Vivian and would go and see him at every opportunity.
I will never understand women, though.
Almost a similar situation happened to Jake E Lee during the ‘Bark at the Moon’ recording. That is why I believe in getting any agreement in writing and notarized by an attorney.
Wow I never knew this and I’ve met Windy , I was a Ronnie’s funeral in Burbank Ca , it’s was Vivian guitar work that made the band for me and want to learn the songs , I only see Def Leopard because Vivian’s playing
As Blackmore recently said, Dio was an 'angry, little bitter man'. I always saw that after the Rainbow and Black Sabbath days because he always spoke bitterly about Blackmore and others when he had a chance, and sought control and fame above all.
Coming from the ego maniacal Richie Blackmore that's pretty rich. Ask his Deep Purple bandmates about him.
I have so many things to say about this, but at this point and would it really matter ? I dont think its so that it really went down that way cause who could have really been able to live like that . That would be so out of character for RONNIE to be that far out of line knowing him the way I do . TO live like that for that kind of money where is Vivian Campbell living under a bridge ? IF OTHER BAND MEMBERS HAD THE SAME THING TO SAY I WOULD BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE .
Vinny Appice said the same thing, and then of course Vinny, Jimmy Bain, and Vivian got back together as a band since 2011