Vivian Campbell, the guitarist renowned for his work on the first three Dio albums, has opened up about the complex and often challenging relationship he shared with the late Ronnie James Dio. In a recent interview Campbell shed light on the dynamics within the band and clarified the circumstances surrounding his departure, directly addressing Dio‘s public statements about him having left the group.
Ronnie James Dio is universally celebrated for his powerful vocals and captivating stage presence, a legacy forged through his time with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his solo career. While beloved by fans, Dio was also known for his strong will, which sometimes led to clashes with bandmates. Campbell, as Dio‘s initial lead guitarist, experienced this multifaceted personality firsthand.
Despite the difficulties, Campbell acknowledged Dio‘s immense charisma, comparing it to that of Thin Lizzy‘s Phil Lynott. He recalled moments of profound connection, particularly feeling a sense of partnership on stage. “I felt that way with Ronnie. I’d be on stage with Ronnie, and I knew that I was his musical partner, like I was his guitar guy, and he was very proud of me,” Campbell shared (as transcribed by Ultimate Guitar).
However, Campbell admitted Dio was a “very complicated person,” making it difficult to fully describe his character in simple terms. He revealed that while they had moments of great camaraderie, there were also frequent disagreements. Yet, he always sensed Dio‘s pride in his guitar work. Campbell recalled a specific conversation with Dio on a ferry in Scandinavia during a European tour. “We were just both standing out on the deck, wind in the hair, watching the water. And he said to me, ‘You know, I met Ozzy Osbourne a few weeks ago. I was talking to Ozzy, and I said you were my Randy Rhoads.'” This comparison, to Ozzy Osbourne‘s revered guitarist, deeply impacted Campbell: “I remembered thinking, ‘Wow…’ I just felt, at that moment, ‘Okay, I can work with this guy.’ I felt like I belonged there.”
Despite such moments, Campbell‘s time with Dio was marked by uncertainty due to Dio‘s “temperament, which ran really hot or really cold.” This, combined with Campbell‘s own anxieties about his position, made communication challenging. He likened the dynamic to being “in a band with your stepfather, because there’s this weird dynamic, culturally and generationally, except your stepfather happened to be Ronnie James Dio. But he did have that sort of a paternal affection for me. I could tell he was very proud of me.”
A significant point of pain for Campbell was the narrative surrounding his exit from the band. He clarified: “I never left the band. I was fired.” Campbell explained that Dio publicly stated he had left the band in the years following his departure, a narrative Campbell felt powerless to counter in the pre-internet era. “I mean, I never wanted to leave that band. I really give 100% to that… So, the whole thing was very, very painful to me, and so I just shut it out. I wanted nothing to do with it.”
He recalled reading the press: “And I remember reading this stuff. This is before the internet and social media; you needed a publicist to have a public forum, and I couldn’t afford a publicist. But, I remember reading this and thinking, ‘Why did he say that I left the band? I never left the band. I was fired.'”
Campbell also recounted instances where their differing perspectives led to misunderstandings. He once unintentionally offended Dio by comparing his vocal prowess to Tom Jones. “The first thing I said was, ‘You remind me of Tom Jones,’ because he had that strength, that tonality. I didn’t mean it as an insult, but I don’t think he took it well… I said, ‘You’re ballsy, you’re masculine, you remind me of Tom Jones.’ And the look on his face… I thought, ‘Ugh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that!'”
Another point of contention was Campbell‘s desire to contribute background vocals. Dio firmly rejected the idea, asserting that “Ritchie Blackmore didn’t sing. Tony Iommi didn’t sing. You’re not singing. Guitar players don’t sing.” Campbell internally countered this logic with examples like Rory Gallagher and Jimi Hendrix, but decided against pressing the issue.
As his tenure with Dio drew to a close, Campbell admitted he was exploring other musical genres beyond just metal, a fact he believes “worked against” him. He also touched on Dio‘s old-school perspective, recalling early photo sessions where Dio told him not to smile. “I’m happy!” Campbell would reply, to which Dio would simply reiterate: “Don’t smile.” Campbell recognized that Dio, coming from the 70s heavy metal scene, had a different approach to band imagery.
