Vivian Campbell wanted Def Leppard to cover ABBA hit ahead of Depeche Mode
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell says he wanted the band to cover an ABBA anthem ahead of Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’.
Last updated 9th Aug 2021
The Sheffield rockers unveiled their version of ‘Personal Jesus’ – also famously covered by Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson – last year and it also appears on their career-spanning compilation album ‘The Story So Far - The Best Of Def Leppard’.
In a video posted to Def Leppard’s social channels, Viv said that when they were formulating ideas he wanted them to reimagine ABBA’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’.
"I thought that we would rock the hell out of ABBA because of our vocals," Viv explained. "So I wrote (and email) back to everyone, and I said, '’Knowing Me, Knowing You’ by ABBA.
“I think we could do a great rock version of it, plus there's a little harmony lying in it, an instrumental line, that would have been a great rock guitar line. I know it's a bit of a happy song, but I think we could have darkened it up a bit.
“Anyway, that one got shot down in flames so I said ‘why don’t we do ‘Personal Jesus’ by Depeche Mode’.”
Released last November, ‘The Story So Far – The Best Of Def Leppard' is available to buy on the following formats; a 2-CD set comprised of 35 tracks, 1-CD comprised of 17 tracks, 2LP vinyl, and digital.
The album features blockbuster tracks from Def Leppard’s entire four-decade career and, as a bonus for collectors, the first pressing vinyl copies of ‘The Story So Far’ feature an exclusive 7” single of ‘Personal Jesus’ and Def Leppard’s festive song ‘We All Need Christmas.’
Def Leppard headline Download Festival this summer appearing on a bill that boasts Whitesnake, Slipknot, Tool, Dream Theater, Slayer, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, Rob Zombie, Skindred, Tesla and many, many more.