Vivian Campbell on Not Being Able to Reconcile w/ Dio, “As long as Wendy was controlling his career”
A full in bloom News Brief
-Description:
In a brand new interview with VintageRock.com, guitarist Vivian Campbell talked about his favorite solos during his days in Dio, Wendy Dio, and what Ronnie James Dio was like to be around.
-Links-
Entire Vivian Campbell Interview w/ VintageRock.com:
https://vintagerock.com/the-vivian-campbell-interview-2022/
Vivian Campbell on Dio Holy Diver Songwriting Money, “I was coerced to sign over my publishing” :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9947ypiRew
Craig Goldy on Dio’s Vivian Campbell Money Feud, “It was his turn to make the lion’s share” Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6_EwOuRqtA
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Intro & Outro by FOOL OF FATE
#DefLeppard #Dio #VivianCampbell #BlackSabbath #RonnieJamesDio #whitesnake
@AdrianJeffreys-fj2fv
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
This is going to piss off Dio fans I love Dio in Rainbow he's lyrics were really great when he got Sabbath ok lyrics His own band everything got so mediocre the albums were alright but nothing to write home about Holy Diver great everything else half good they other half boring he also needed two guitar players and he had a great keyboard player but didn't let him do anything Jens Johansson.
@tedcrocker6283
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
I watched several guitarists work with Dio after Campbell was let go, who could never effectively cover Vivian's work.
@Brokentoy55
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
He wife in Spinal Tap
@frodofraggins
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Wendy was definitely the greedy instigator. That stupid hologram tour is just a way to line her pockets.
@TotalSinging
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
why does all the audio for this channel sound like he's on the phone? dude, good quality microphones are $100
@Smylinachya
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
I’m perplexed by Vivian’s self-admitted reason for himself being, “a total asshole” towards Ronnie at times, and, “taking most of the blame for” the relationship falling apart, was because he was “very bashful around Ronnie” and revered his so highly, even feeling as though he had to call him “Mr. Dio.”
I would think it would have put Vivian on his best and most respectful behavior at all times. But I’m sure this is just part of the story, and he was only 20 years old at the time. What’s a guy to do.
@glennnorwood21
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Wendy “Dio” is worse than Sharon Osbourne. Funny how she’s been successful in keeping the fact that she married her longtime boyfriend two years after Ronnie passed. She plays the grieving widow well.. She’d been dating her now husband for 20 years before they married. That means for the last 18 years of Ronnie’a life, she was with another man!! I find it odd that this never gets brought up.. Especially when she’s been releasing tons of Ronnie’s work. It seems like there’s a different reissue or some “special release” every couple of months. Not a word about her being remarried in the documentary that was just put out a few months ago either. The scenes of her in Ronnie’s home, going thru his belongings wouldn’t seem quite as “heart wrenching” if the viewer knew the truth though. If you don’t believe it.. just Google it. There’s only a scant few articles out there, but it’s there if you want proof.
@robertgodlewski8553
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Was the band named Campbell or Dio? Enough said!!!
@scortched73
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
I reckon Ronnie was under her thumb quite substantially. I really don't like her or how she's milking him/Dio now, even after they hadn't been together for years because she had a boyfriend for a long time even whilst her and Ronnie were still married . I mean cmon, she's a vampire.
I know a bloke who said he was Ronnie's lawyer for a time back in the 80s and he believes Ronnie was more than under her thumb. He believes she's the reason he's dead
@demigod1013
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
"I've never been a 'metal' guy.
– Vivian Campbell
@shaunduffy5180
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Wendy dio is a pile of shit just like Sharon Osbourne…..If it wasn't for Vivian..there wouldn't have been any Dio!! U notice that she waited til Ronnie was gone to start talking her shit!!! Vivian helped Ronnie become what he became…wendy definitely did NOT. Her and shitbag Sharon need to drop off the planet..permanently!!!
@davec3901
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
I have absolutely zero tolerance for successful rock groups that withhold royalties from the creative forces out of greed. It's unclear to me and would be hard to believe that Vivian Campbell still does not receive royalties for those first three albums. Vivian was as much the sound and legend as Dio was. Those first two albums would not exist in their current form without Vivian Campbell.
@re8746
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
HD, LIL and Magica are about the only DIO albums that are imo any good. His solo work was avg at best imo.
@neuregel
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
sacred heart was garbage never like it but loved the live stuff intermission
@buckodonnghaile4309
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
A boy named Sue has nothing on this fella.
@scottjohnson8401
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Deuteronomy 25:11.🌈
@LEIFanevret
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
A gentlemans agreement must be honored No matter what! Better to have it in writing! Though
@LEIFanevret
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Its sad those money manager stuff destroying bands it damages creativity
@LEIFanevret
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
THE three first albums wow! Then THE Magic was Lost!
@Kohntarkosz
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Uh, oh! That photo at 3:43, Dio's giving us all The Evil Eye! 😂Seriously, you know the story about where he got the "horns" from? From his Italian grandmother who he always saw giving it. When you you fingers upwards, you're protetcing yourself from the Evil Eye. When you POINT the fingers at someone (as Ronnie's doing in that picture) you're GIVING the Evil Eye, which if you're from "the old country" is basically the same as cursing or hexing someone. Course, in this modern world we live in, nobody actually BELIEVES in that stuff anymore, right? Right? RIGHT?!
@jeffreyp1855
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Wendy Dio and Sharon Osbourne are two peas in a pod! A couple of harpies.
@MrAirblown2009
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Vivian Campbell luckily went on to greater things, like guitarist for a bigger band Def Leopard. Even though musicians go through hardship, in the end it all seems to be for the better. #CrazyAssLife
@masterstroke2059
March 12, 2026 at 7:16 am
Don‘t take my word for it, but I know people and as far I can tell, without ever having personally talked to Ronnie, this is my impression of his persona:
Ronnie is indeed a nice guy-in private and to his fans. He can be very impulsive and will say things in the heat of it, he might later regret. Just wearing his emotions on the sleeves,
but Ronnie can turn into a monster about everything career related. Everything, that can potentially be threat to the brand Dio.
Additionally, Dio was an alcoholic. People at a certain level of alcoholism have a tendency to become mean after having some drinks.
You can tell this, from the famous „ brutally hones interview „ Ronnie has been tired and drunk.
Obviously he did not want to let down the reporter and gave this interview, although he should not have done it.
Some of his personality patterns match the stereotype of the so called Napoleon Complex, which describes an overcompensation of dominant behavior in order mask a small body size.
In has younger years, he must have been bullied because of his size, at least they tried to. There is a year book photo of him from high school going around, with the nick name Pygmy underneath. You can bet, that he hated it.
He later went through hard times establishing as a singer.
Those early songs are performed in an outstanding way, yet he kept them secret for decades, until the mighty internet brought them to light. I have an idea why he has hidden those. He has been bullied again by those record bosses, giving him songs, that make him look like a self pitty looser. To him this was pure humiliation. As soon, as he had the chance to control his career by him self, he decided to not do love songs anymore. Eventually this was part of the reason from splitting from Rainbow.
Ronnie is a control freak. He had to. I agree with Vivian, they might have it worked out in a pub over a few drinks.
There are no superhumans on earth. Ronnie is a nice guy and an A.hole at the same time, like pretty much all of us. He had the greatest voice on earth, but we should not glorify him to much. When it comes to his persona, he actually reminds me a lot of Bruce Lee, another icon in his realm.
In the end I think, if he had not passed away, they might have worked it out by now. Remember how unthinkable a Black Sabbath reunion was by 1983 and in 1992 it happened.
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