Going Def

Def Leppard

Guitarist Vivian Campbell has been a member of the seminal hard rock/heavy metal ensemble Def Leppard for more than 18 years, yet he still enjoys being referred to by some veteran fans as "the new guy."

Def Leppard formed over three decades ago in 1977. Original vocalist Joe Elliott and bassist Rick Savage remain in the group. Drummer Rick Allen joined in 1978, while guitarist Phil Collen came on board in 1982. Even second drummer and supplemental percussionist Jeff Rich joined in 1986.

In fact, it's that familiarity and longevity that Campbell credits with the group's consistent popularity and ability to remain relevant and current despite constant changes on the rock scene.

Now back on tour with Cheap Trick and Poison and headed to the Sommet Center Monday night, Campbell says it's very simple why Def Leppard is still active and vibrant.

"You can call it a cliche, but we really do all still like each other a lot," Campbell said. "I've been backstage with some other bands I won't name and everyone's got separate dressing rooms, they get to the concert on their own, and they can barely stand each other long enough to play through the set. We might not hang out all the time, but we do still enjoy playing together and like spending time on the road with each other. It's part of what's made us so successful."

The other element is a blistering, wall-of-sound approach featuring multiple guitar lines, electronic drum backing and Elliott's terse, often incendiary vocals. The band has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide (35 million in America) and has ranked among rock superstars ever since its fourth disc Hysteria became only the third rock album to chart seven or more singles. It sold more than 18 million copies during its three-year chart run.

Def Leppard has survived its fair share of personnel drama and trauma over its existence. The loss of original member Steve Clark due to drug and alcohol problems led to Campbell joining the band. The group also endured the horrific auto accident that cost drummer Rick Allen an arm. Among the various moves and strategies that Campbell feels has enabled the group not just to remain together but still enjoy popularity is a willingness to continue joint tours like the current venture with Cheap Trick and Poison.

"In the current economy, you've got to do things to give fans more for their money," Campbell said. "We've found in past joint tours that these events help expand the audience for all the groups. When we went out with Journey, sometimes listening to them go through all their hits could be scary, but it also kept us focused and determined that we would go out there and really show what we could do.

“On this tour, Cheap Trick has been really great. They're a wonderful band anyway, and they sound fantastic. We've also found out that the guys in Poison are great. We knew their reputation from the '80s, but we weren't that concerned with it. The main thing is they both are fantastic, and in turn it really keeps us on our toes."

Another thing that's kept Def Leppard in the spotlight was a recent collaboration with teen sensation Taylor Swift. After filming an episode of CMT's Crossroads with Swift at the Acuff Theatre, the band later performed with her on the CMT Music Awards.

"She was a lot more focused and professional than we were," Campbell said with a laugh. "That was an interesting experience. One thing about Nashville is that there's so much energy and enthusiasm for music. You sure won't see a live musician performing in the concourse at the airport in Los Angeles."

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, Def Leppard has stayed busy throughout this decade. The group’s most recent release was 2008's Songs from Sparkle Lounge. Campbell says the band won't be doing an American tour next year so they can record a new CD. He mentions downloading as a primary reason why the current Def Leppard audience includes lots of new faces.

"I've got 5,000 songs on my iPod, and I can't say for sure every single one of them is legal," Campbell said in conclusion. "I know that the downloading thing does hurt the writers, and that's not a good thing. But the flip side is that it really has gotten a lot of young people interested in classic rock, and there's no doubt it's one of the things that's helped us remain popular."

What: Def Leppard in concert with Poison and Cheap Trick
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: Sommet Center, 501 Broadway
Cost: $35-$125
Info: 770-2000, sommetcenter.com