Def Leppard Guitarist Vivian Campbell Pulls Out From Tour For A New Cancer Diagnosis

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell will not be joining his bandmates in the opening dates of their summer tour as his cancer has returned and would require immediate medical attention.

According to Rollingstone, Campbell posted on his official Facebook page informing fans of his medical condition three days before the band started their shows with Styx and Tesla.

"I'm saddened by the fact that my cancer has returned. However, I'm beyond consolation that its return will prevent me from being able to do my job for a while. I'm still working on a schedule of treatment with my doctors, but I will see you all very soon," he posted on Facebook.

The show, however, must go on and the band will take Trixter guitarist Steve Brown to take Campbell's place in the band's 48-city North American tour on Saturday night in Puerto Rico.

A representative for Def Leppard has also assured that Campbell would not also be absent that long as he will undergo a 'tailored' health regimen that hopefully can bring him back to his performances sooner, EW reports.

It was on June 10, 2013 that Vivian Campbell officially announced that he is battling with Hodgkin's lymphoma and should undergo chemotherapy, E! Online said.

The tabloid further recalled that two years after his announcement in 2013, the British guitarist posted a photo on Facebook of him performing on stage. He joked saying "I suppose I ought to update my profile picture while I still have some hair."

Vivian Campbell joined Def Leppard in 1992 but had performed in other bands like White Snake and Shadow King before that, CNN remembered.