Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell Reveals Cancer has Returned | By Kory Grow, Rolling Stone | Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell recently told radio station YSKL that he has cancer again. Campbell previously revealed that he was battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013, which returned in 2015.
“There’s only been one time that I felt it was gonna kill me,” Campbell told the El Salvadoran station. “In the winter of 2023, I got really scared about what was happening and the pace at which it was happening. And I realized at that point that I had to do a donor transplant. It was my only hope to survive. … I did that in January of ’25. … Unfortunately, it didn’t stick. So the cancer has returned, and I’m continuing treatments to manage it.
“I’ll probably have to do another transplant within a few years with another donor to try and see if maybe that would cure me,” he continued. “But in the meantime, I’m certainly not slowing down.”
Campbell said he was keeping busy with both Def Leppard and his other band, the Last in Line. He’s also doing rally driving. “I love cars and I love driving,” he said. “And as a child, I thought, ‘If I don’t play guitar for a living, I’m gonna be a race car driver.'”
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Read more here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/celebrities/def-leppard-s-vivian-campbell-reveals-cancer-has-returned/
Veteran Drummer Chris Slade, Behind Hit Rock Song ‘Thunderstruck,’Announces Retirement After 61 Years
By Emma Kershaw, Parade | Iconic drummer Chris Slade, who has performed with some of the biggest names in rock and pop music, has announced that he’s putting down his drumsticks for a final time.
On Aug. 22, 2026, the Welsh musician took to Facebook to share the news, announcing “with a heavy heart” that he’s retiring from touring and recording due to his age and previous medical struggles.
“Hello, everybody. It’s with a heavy heart that I’m announcing my retirement from drumming,” the Reel video began. “I’m near enough 80 years old.”
Slade, who turns 80 on Oct. 30, 2026, has been playing the drums professionally since he was a teenager, first with the legendary Welsh singer Tom Jones in 1965 at just 16 years old.
Across the course of his career, he has played with a multitude of musicians across various genres, perhaps most notably with AC/DC, playing with the rock band for four studio albums. This included The Razors Edge, which was released in Sept. 1990 and featured the fan-favorite hit “Thunderstruck.”
The track reached No. 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and, in July 2024, was certified Diamond for surpassing 10 million equivalent units in the U.S.
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Read more of Mr. Slade’s musical life here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/music/veteran-drummer-behind-hit-rock-song-thunderstruck-announces-retirement-after-61-years/
Photo: Chris Slade | From the Chris Slade Timeline Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1379467856882311&set=pb.100044573283271.-2207520000&type=3
Earth, Wind & Fire’s John Paris Woke Up From Coma, Needs 2 Surgeries
By TMZ Staff | John Paris has got a ways to go on his road to recovery … involving 2 major surgeries, according to a new update on his condition.
In a new post, the Standing for John Paris Facebook page shared that the Earth, Wind & Fire drummer woke up again from his coma … and this time was stable enough for doctors to evaluate him.
According to the update, the doctors ran some addition tests and determined that John will need “two major surgeries.”
This means the musician will be in the ICU “longer than everyone had hoped” while recovering from his scary medical emergency.
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Read more about Mr. Paris’ medical problems here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/music/earth-wind-fire-s-john-paris-woke-up-from-coma-needs-2-surgeries/
Support John Paris & Wife Kathy During This Difficult Time
For decades, John Paris has been the heartbeat behind countless unforgettable performances with Earth, Wind & Fire. Fans around the world know and love him not only for his extraordinary talent behind the drums, but also for his kindness, infectious sense of humor, and the joy he has shared throughout his life.
Recently, just before taking the stage in San Francisco, John experienced a critical medical emergency and was rushed to the hospital. That evening’s concert was canceled, and John is now receiving the care he needs, surrounded by the love of his family and the prayers of countless friends and fans.
His wife, Kathy Merrick, a member of the legendary group Honey Cone, has remained by his side, along with their daughter, Kyla. With their home in the Los Angeles area, this unexpected medical crisis has brought not only emotional heartbreak, but also the growing burden of travel, lodging, meals, countless unexpected expenses, and the unforeseen challenges that lie ahead.
So Kathy can remain where she needs to be—by John’s side—Shelly Clark White, founding member of Honey Cone, has canceled the group’s remaining performances for at least the next couple of months.
As friends who love and care deeply for John and Kathy, Shelly Clark White and Wendy Smith-Brune’, member of Honey Cone, along with Tazz Cole, longtime friend of Shelly Clark White and Verdine White, have created this GoFundMe to help ease these unexpected expenses and challenges so Kathy can focus on what matters most—being by John’s side during this incredibly difficult time.
Today, we’re asking family, friends, fans, and the music community to surround John and Kathy with the same love, kindness, and generosity they have shared with so many throughout the years.
Thank you with love and gratitude.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-john-paris-wife-kathy-during-this-difficult-time
Photo: Chris Slade | From the Chris Slade Timeline Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1379467856882311&set=pb.100044573283271.-2207520000&type=3
